OM: ‘reduce fines for traffic violations by 30 percent’

According to the AD, the Public Prosecution Service is of the opinion that certain traffic fines have become so much more expensive in recent years that they can no longer be defended. For example, unjustified parking in a disabled parking space costs 440 euros, while assault carries a fine of 400 euros. Holding a phone behind the wheel will cost around 380 euros in 2023. Moreover, another annual increase is coming: as of January 1, you would pay 300 euros for driving through a red light, just like for driving unnecessarily on the left. Non-hands-free calling or texting then amounts to no less than 420 euros.

According to the Public Prosecution Service, this situation is not sustainable, because public support for these fines would disappear with such increases. The proposal is therefore to reduce common fines, such as those for not using hands-free telephone or speeding, by 30 percent.

Although this may come as a surprise to you and us, according to the AD, this subject has been going on behind the scenes for years. The Public Prosecution Service and the cabinet were previously at odds over the amount of the fines, which are only partly determined by the cabinet. The Public Prosecution Service itself imposes higher fines for more serious violations, and these are of course directly related to the ‘fixed’ rates that apply for smaller violations. Zooming in on these two categories, the Public Prosecution Service draws another striking conclusion: fines for minor violations have increased by 150 percent since 1999, while the increase for more serious offenses is ‘only’ 76 percent. The gap between the two has therefore been reduced, and that does not seem to be the intention.

The Public Prosecution Service points out that since 1999, the fine rates for minor traffic offenses have increased by 150 percent, while the increase for more serious offenses was 76 percent. In 2022, the Public Prosecution Service decided for the first time not to increase the fines they impose themselves with the regular fine rates, as yet another chapter in this apparently long-standing battle.

Minister Yesilgöz, who is responsible for this, states that reducing the fines would have major financial and political consequences. Implementing the 30 percent proposed by the Public Prosecution Service would require cuts elsewhere, because then less money would come into the government.

What do you think: does the Public Prosecution Service have a point, or are fines for traffic violations not high enough for you? Let me know in the comments!