Drivers who perform public transport services without an authorization issued by the public administration can be fined by the local authorities, according to a draft law recently passed by the Government, cited by local Mediafax. That is to day paid hitchhiking, a still wide spread practice in Romania, will no longer be allowed.

Thus, those who do not have a license to transport passengers, but who pick up hitchhikers, will be fined by the authorities with amounts between RON 1,000 (EUR 227) and RON 5,000 (over EUR 1,100). The project was sent for approval to the Parliament.

The bill was drafted and put into debate by the Ministry of Transport in July.

Paid hitchhiking could become illegal in Romania, as new draft law sets fines for drivers without transport license

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com