Update to Romania's roads legislation currently under debate features higher fines for drink driving, speeding

An update to Romania's public highways legislation, which is currently under public debate, features higher penalties for drivers who are found to have drunk more alcohol than the legal limit, who exceed the maximum speed limit by over 60 kilometers per hour and who do not give priority to pedestrians on street crossings. These drivers will have their licenses suspended for 120 days and pay fines between RON 1,500 and RON 7,500 (EUR 340 to EUR 1,680 ).

Under the current law, failing to give priority to pedestrians is fined by RON 300 or RON 375, and with a 30-day suspension of the license, while drink driving and exceeding the speed limit by 50 kilometers per hour is fined between RON 675 and RON 1,500 and a 90-day driving license suspension. The project was placed under public debate yesterday, April 2, for ten days, on the Home Affairs Ministry's website. Similarly to a previous project, the one under debate forbids the use of cars registered in other countries by individuals who have their residence in Romania, for more than 30 days after buying the car or registering it among foreign cars in Romania. Those who drive cars registered in other countries will have to show Police officers the papers proving the ownership of the car and a legalized translation of these. Failure to do so will result in fines of RON 450 to RON 600, if the driver does not have these papers, and RON 675 to RON 1,500 if exceeding the 30-day limit. There are several cases in which these do not apply: if the driver is mentioned in the car's registration certificate, for those who transport goods or people, for rented cars, for employees or associates connected to the people mentioned in the registration certificate, and to those who have a leasing contract. Those who do not ask to take over property rights on a car within 30 days of buying it will be penalized by suspension of the car registration, according to the law. Driving a car whose registration was suspended will be fined with a class IV fine and with a 90-day driving license suspension. Under the new proposals, drivers who get fines but fail to pay them will have their licenses suspended until they bring proof of payment. Even if the driver goes to court to appeal the fine, it will not be suspended until the court issues a decision. Once the appeal has been made, the driver can however use his driving license. Only 35 percent of traffic fines are currently being paid in Romania, and only 2 percent of them are appealed in court, according to Mediafax, quoting data from the Romanian Police. editor@romania-insider.com