The new rules on the cross-border exchange of information on traffic offenses related to road safety were adopted today by the European Parliament at its plenary session in Strasbourg with 570 votes in favor, 36 against and 24 abstentions, the press service of EP, quoted by BTA.
Once the Council of the EU, which represents the member states, approves them, the states of the union will have 30 months to prepare for their implementation.
Given that approximately 40 percent of cross-border traffic offenses currently go unpunished, MEPs updated the rules to ensure that EU countries cooperate more and help each other in finding a foreign driver responsible for a traffic offence. The new rules oblige national authorities to respond to requests from another EU country without delay and no later than two months after they have collected the necessary information.
In addition, at the request of the Member State where the offense was committed, the offender’s EU country of residence can take over the collection of road traffic fines, provided that the amount is greater than €70 and has not been paid after exhaustion of all legal possibilities.
The updated rules will expand the list of traffic offenses committed by foreign drivers that trigger cross-border assistance and can result in a fine. In addition to speeding, drink-driving or running a red light, EU lawmakers added dangerous parking and overtaking, crossing a continuous line and leaving the scene of an accident, among other offences.
The EU country where the traffic offense occurred will have 11 months from the date of the offense to issue a traffic offense notice. The infringement notice must include the time and circumstances, as well as information on how to appeal the fine.
At the initiative of MEPs, private entities will be banned from helping EU countries collect traffic fines from foreign drivers.
In order to increase transparency and facilitate the application of the new rules, the European Commission has been tasked with creating an online portal that will, among other things, indicate the rules, the appeal possibilities and the corresponding fines for a traffic offence.
