12 January 2004
Polish customs bars wagons from two checkpoints
Poland's customs authorities have banned station wagons from crossing the Belarusian-Polish border at the Varshavsky Most-Terespol and Domachevo-Slawatycze checkpoints.
Representatives of Belarus' Zapadny Bug Customhouse and the Belarusian State Border Troops Committee told BelaPAN they did not receive any official explanations of the move.
Sergei Maksimov, spokesman for the Zapadny Bug Customhouse, told BelaPAN that Poland had notified Belarus that it bars minivans from the two checkpoints on January 5, 2004, and that the vehicles should cross the border at the upgraded Kozlovichi-Kukuryki and Kuznica-Bruzgi checkpoints used by trucks.
However, wagons, including Volkswagen Passat and Audi Avant, have not been allowed to cross the border through these checkpoints as well. "These are cars. We let them cross [the border] at Varshavsky Most," Mr. Maksimov said. A Volkswagen Passat owner described the situation as absurd. "Me and my friend have the same cars.
His certificate says it is a "car" and the Poles let him through. Mine says it is a "wagon" and they sent me to Kozlovichi."
Sergei Romanov of the Brest regional road police department said the types of cars have been indicated in certificates only starting in 2003, that is why the same models registered in different periods may
have different descriptions. There are about 600 wagons in Brest, he said. Poland's Consulate General in Brest confirmed to BelaPAN that station wagons have not been allowed to cross the border via the two checkpoints starting January 5 but would not give any explanations.
http://brestonline.com/en/news/news490.html