In order to prevent the impunity of foreign drivers, on Wednesday the MEPs strengthened the cooperation of the EU states in identifying road traffic violators.
Taking into account the fact that 40 percent traffic violations committed by foreign drivers go unpunished, MEPs have renewed EU rules that will oblige EU countries to cooperate more closely in exchanging information on violations and identifying unruly drivers. After receiving information about the offender, the EU countries will have to respond to the request for mutual assistance within two months. In addition, at the request of the state where the traffic violation was committed, the state where the driver lives permanently can take over the recovery of the fine, but on the condition that the fine is greater than 70 euros, and the violator has not paid it and exhausted all possibilities of challenging the fine.
According to the new rules, the list of violations that would trigger international cooperation is expanded. In addition to information on speeding, drunken driving and running through a red light, EU countries should exchange data on foreign drivers' dangerous parking, dangerous overtaking, crossing a continuous lane or leaving the scene after injuring a person.
The EU state where the violation was committed will have 11 months from the moment of the violation to decide whether to impose a fine. At the same time, the main details of the fine notices are determined, such as the place and time of the violation, the circumstances and the right to contest the fine. In addition, the MEPs managed to include a provision that two years after the transposition of these rules into national law, private companies will be prohibited from helping EU states collect traffic fines from foreign drivers.
In order to increase the transparency of the rules and facilitate their implementation, the Commission is obliged to create a portal for information on violations of road safety rules. It will have to publish information in all EU languages about the road traffic fine systems in force in the EU countries, their payment procedure and the conditions for contesting.
EP rapporteur Kosma Złotowski (European Conservatives and Reformers, Poland) noted: "In order to increase road traffic safety, EU countries must strengthen cooperation and have effective measures to punish road traffic offenders from foreign countries. The updated rules will help achieve this, but at the same time will also benefit drivers, who will have to receive information about the violation within a set time, in their own language and with an explanation of what to do if the violation is not recognized. In addition, banning private companies from collecting fines will protect drivers from fraudulent reports and leaks of personal data."
The new rules were supported by 570 MEPs, 36 opposed and 24 abstained. Their entry into force still requires the formal approval of the EU Council. EU countries will have 30 months to prepare for their application.
