Moscow's blue light special

Posted By Mike Boyer Friday, November 17, 2006 - 3:17 PM Share

In Moscow, the blue light special sells for about $20,000 on the black market. What is it? A traffic kit including a flashing blue police light, a siren, a special license plate that exempts the driver from traffic violations, and supporting documents. Its purpose is to help you fight traffic. Why would anyone pay such a high price just to avoid traffic? Well, Moscow streets are a nightmarish clog of some 3 million cars, a 12-fold increase since the end of Communism. Here's a look:

MoscowTraffic1

MoscowTraffic2

Hat tip: English Russia (Photos by Anton Nossik)

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