Parliament agreed

Traffic offenders: EU-wide prosecution becomes more concrete

In future, EU states are to cooperate much more closely with each other in the prosecution of traffic offenders. This plan cleared another hurdle in the EU Parliament on Wednesday.

The majority voted in favor. Negotiators from the Parliament and the EU member states had previously agreed to strengthen administrative assistance procedures between countries. Currently, around 40 percent of cross-border traffic offenses go unpunished.

Whether speeders, parking offenders or wrong-way drivers: if a citizen commits a traffic offense in another EU country, the authorities of the respective home country can collect fines according to the new rules. This also applies if another country has imposed the fine. Private companies will be prohibited from collecting fines from foreigners.

The list of infringements
In addition to speeding and drunk driving, the list of offenses that will trigger cross-border proceedings will in future also include dangerous parking and dangerous overtaking, as well as hit-and-run driving and disregarding restricted lines.

The EU member states still have to agree. However, this is considered a formality. A transitional period of 30 months is planned for implementation into national law.