40% get away with it

EU wants to make traffic offenders pay more effectively

(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

The EU wants to cooperate more closely in collecting fines for traffic violations. The European Parliament announced on Wednesday night that around 40 percent of cross-border offenses are currently not punished. 

Negotiators from the Parliament and the EU member states have therefore agreed to strengthen administrative assistance procedures between countries. The agreement still has to be officially approved by the Parliament and the national ministers.

Negotiations are still ongoing.(Bild: Christof Birbaumer)

Penalty must be higher than 70 euros
Specifically, the agreement stipulates that authorities in the home country of traffic offenders will in future be able to collect fines and penalties imposed in other countries. The prerequisite is that the state in which the offense was committed requests this, the penalty is more than 70 euros and all other legal channels have already been exhausted. Private companies are to be prohibited from collecting fines from foreigners.

Also targeting parking offenders
According to both institutions, a list of traffic offenses that can trigger cross-border proceedings and lead to fines for dangerous driving will also be expanded. In addition to misconduct such as speeding or drunk driving, dangerous parking and dangerous overtaking as well as hit-and-run driving and disregarding solid lines will also be included in such offenses in the future.

Once the EU member states and parliament have approved the agreement, the new regulations still have to be transposed into national law. A transitional period of 30 months is planned for this. Work is also currently underway at EU level to ensure that driving bans and the withdrawal of driving licenses are enforced throughout the EU. Negotiations on this project are still ongoing.