Russia Deploys AI Patrol Vans to Fine Illegal Street Vendors

Neural network–powered vehicles in St. Petersburg are now issuing fines worth hundreds of thousands of rubles to clamp down on unlicensed kiosks and other urban violations.

In Russia, mobile neural network complexes known as 'Gorodovoy' have proven their effectiveness in cracking down on illegal street trade. Since early August 2025, eight specially equipped vans with wide-angle cameras and AI systems have been patrolling St. Petersburg on a daily basis. Each vehicle carries two high-resolution cameras and an onboard processing unit.

The technology automatically identifies unlicensed kiosks, stalls, and other unauthorized retail structures, generating penalty notices without human input. Owners or tenants of these makeshift businesses are fined 50,000 rubles (about $625) per violation.

In just one month, the system flagged 14 illegal structures, resulting in total fines of 700,000 rubles. Data about violations on residential properties is now automatically forwarded to the state housing inspection service for enforcement.

The 'Gorodovoy' system does more than police street trade: it also detects graffiti, hazardous icicles, violations during emergency roadworks, and improperly mounted air conditioners on buildings—essentially acting as a roaming digital inspector for urban life.