MOSCOW, December 14 - RAPSI. St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly deputies have proposed amending the Criminal Code article on toughening the punishment for stealing cars, the Izvestia daily reported on Friday.

"We have proposed merging two crimes under the Criminal Code's articles on stealing and theft," Deputy Sergei Shatunovsky said. "And to introduce an article stipulating liability for car theft regardless of the thief's intentions."

Thieves who are caught driving someone else's car typically claim that they were not going to steal the vehicle, but rather that they wanted to take it for a ride.

In some cases, it is nearly impossible to prove the car was stolen. Presently, the stealing article stipulates a minimal punishment of three years probation. Thus, perpetrators often avoid imprisonment or fines.

Shatunovsky, who has advocated toughening the punishment for these crimes, said introducing these changes is of immense importance. Meanwhile, Alexander Kholodov, a member of the Interregional Non-Government Organization of Car Drivers, has stated that the article on stealing should not be changed.