Changes to EU traffic penalties in short


  • In December 2008 the European Commission agreed to cross-border enforcement of traffic penalties.

  • This means that your government, at the request of a foreign government, will enforce fines if you have been caught committing a traffic offence in the European Union.

  • This may also cover fines that a foreign government has already made against you that you didn't pay at that time. The amount of the fine may have increased considerably.

  • This agreement applies to all member states within the European Union.

  • Regulations currently cover fines for four types of offences:
    • speeding;
    • not using a seat belt;
    • failing to stop at a red (or orange) traffic light;
    • drink driving.
  • These regulations come into force in 2010, but will be applied retroactively to fines from 2006 onwards.

  • This website outlines the levels of fines in the most EU countries so that you can get an idea of the severity of the fine if caught. It is also a handy place to orient yourself with these four EU traffic regulations before leaving on a holiday or business trip.




This page is about the EU Commission, cross-border enforcement, traffic penalties, fines, penalty, sanction, offence, speeding, not using a seat belt, red or orange traffic light, drink driving, regulation.