The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works has proposed changes to the Road Traffic Act, which have already been published for public consultation.The aim is to make fines fairer by being linked to the real value of the fee owed and the severity of the offence.
The changes were prepared following a decision of the Court of the EU, which found discrepancies between the Bulgarian system of sanctions and European law.
For passenger cars (up to 3.5 t)
- If the car is driven without a vignette, the fine should be equal to twice the price of the annual vignette - BGN 194
- If the driver pays the vignette on the day of the inspection, the fine should be €49.59/BGN 97 (as much as the annual vignette itself).
- Currently the fine is €153.38/BGN 300, and within 14 days a compensatory fee of €35.79/BGN 70 can be paid.
For trucks and buses (over 3.5 t)
To introduce a differentiated system according to the type of violation:
- No fee paid within the day – a fine in the amount of five times the amount of the due fee (between 59.30/116 and 920.30/1800 €/BGN for the driver).
- Toll paid for another section of the road – a fourfold fine (from 44.48/87 to 766.94/1500 €/BGN for driver).
- Falsely declared data and partially paid fee – fine in three times (from 40.90/80 to 664.68/1300 €/BGN for driver).
For the owners of trucks and buses (individuals or legal entities), the sanctions will be higher - up to €1,278.22/ BGN 2,500 for unpaid tolls.
With these changes, fines will be calculated more clearly and proportionately, taking into account mitigating circumstances - for example, the possibility to pay the vignette immediately and reduce the penalty.