Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Mgebrishvili met with the ski patrol officers in Bakuriani before the opening of the ski season and instructed them in connection with their activities.
On the new winter season ski patrol will ensure security of the vacationers and preserve public order in all winter resorts of the country. Implementation of the mentioned project was initiated by the Minister of Internal Affairs in 2016. At the first stage ski patrol was operational in Gudauri as a pilot project.
On the current season new structural unit has been added to the Patrol Police Department. Specially trained 74 officers will be patrolling Gudauri, mestia (Tetnuldi, Hatsvali) Bakuriani and Goderdzi Pass winter resorts with special uniforms and equipment. New equipment was handed out by the Minister of Internal Affairs before the opening of the winter season.
“Ski patrol pilot project was a successful one. In the last winter season ski patrol operated with a great success. They rendered help to Georgian citizens and foreign tourists and prevented facts of various violations on the ski track. As I promised you in the last year, specially trained ski patrol officers will start patrolling in all winter resorts of the country, preserve public order and security of the vacationers. I believe that this year ski patrol officers will fulfill their duties with dedication”-stated Minister Mgebrishvili.
Responsibilities of the ski patrol include: preventing suspicious persons from being on the ski track; controlling behavior of those under alcohol or psychotropic substances; maintaining control and preserving safety measures of the area where beginners are learning to ski; foiling of movement of the forbidden transport on the ski track; maintaining control over the signs and safety barrier. Uniforms and ski helmets are distinguished with the –SKI PATROL and POLICE inscription.
According to the amendments made in the Code of the Administrative Offences and Law on the traffic, movement with a snowmobile or motorized sledge is forbidden except for the authorized person as well as driving a snowmobile under the influence of drugs, alcohol or psychotropic substance; law also forbids entering the closed ski rack; it is also forbidden to leave the place after crashing, without rendering help to the injured, un-notification of the authorized body or law enforcer.
