Penalty for unauthorized emergency lights and unregistered firearms increased, additional authority to neighborhood watchmen

A law containing regulations in the field of internal security was published in the Official Gazette. According to the law, the penalty for using unauthorized emergency lights and sirens has been increased to 96,000 lira. The prison sentence for carrying unregistered firearms has been raised, with the minimum sentence now set at 2 years and the maximum at 4 years. The law also introduces a penalty of 5 to 12 years in prison for those who bring parts of firearms into the country.

According to the law passed by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on November 21, 2024, the Ministry of the Interior will conduct inspections and evaluations for determining the first-class administrative officers twice a year at most.

Those who bring or sell parts of firearms such as barrels, slides, bodies, frames, cylinders, mechanisms, extractors, firing pins, and similar components into the country will face 5 to 12 years in prison.

The minimum prison sentence for carrying, purchasing, or possessing unregistered firearms has been raised from 1 year to 2 years, and the maximum sentence from 3 years to 4 years.

For veterans and their families (mother, father, spouse, and children), there will be no time limit for acquiring a weapon license.

A fine of 96,000 lira will be imposed on individuals who use unauthorized emergency lights and sirens. Their driver’s licenses will be revoked for 30 days, and their vehicles will be banned from traffic for the same period. Data from the vehicle registry and registration system maintained by the Union of Turkish Notaries will be shared in real time with the Gendarmerie General Command.

New Powers for Neighborhood Watchmen

Neighborhood watchmen will now have the authority to check a person or their vehicle if they have sufficient suspicion of carrying a weapon. They can physically pat down individuals or check the visible sections of vehicles for weapons. (source: ekonomim)

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