Drivers not paying their fines may remain without the driving license / new changes announced by the Ministry of Development

Drivers will remain without a permit if they do not pay their contraventional fines within 90 days. Moreover, the driving license can only be returned after the holder proves that he has paid all the debts to the local budget, regardless of the reason why he was suspended, the draft law on public administration reform shows on Thursday by the Ministry of Development.

According to the document of the Ministry of Development, those who do not pay the contraventional fines within 90 days will no longer be able to drive: “The holders of the driving licenses issued by the Romanian authority cannot drive vehicles, agricultural tractors/forestry or trams if they do not pay within 90 days the receivables from contraventional fines”.

Within 15 days, the authorities must inform the driver who has not paid his fines about the obligation to pay and the moment he will lose his right to drive.

Moreover, the permit can be returned only after the holder proves that he has paid all the debts to the local budget, regardless of the reason why he was suspended: “At the end of the period of suspension of the right to drive, in order to take possession of the driving license, his holder presents the proof of payment of all the payment obligations due to the local budget”.

Unpaid fines grow by 30% to three months

If the fines are not paid within 3 months, the amount increases by 30%. If they are not paid even after 6 months, it increases by another 30%. If the fine is not paid even after 3 years, the court in the locality on which the offender has his domicile may order:

a) transforming into work for the benefit of the community;

b) the transformation into a criminal fine, with a payment term 60 days.

How can the permit suspension period be shortened

Also, the period for which the driving license is suspended can be shortened by one third if the holder presents the proof of payment of the fine of the contravention that led to the suspension.

“This reduction is approved by the head of the County Road Police or of the Municipality of Bucharest or by the head of the Road Police of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police, if the conditions stipulated are met,” the Ministry of Development project shows.

The possibility of reduction was introduced “to encourage and facilitate the regularization of the situation of contraventions, offering an additional motivation to the drivers to pay all their debts to the local budget”, the foundation note shows.

The project also stipulates that both buyers and vehicle sellers are encouraged to submit or request fiscal attestation certificates, so as to prove the payment of all taxes and taxes to the local budget.

“The electronic public services will be offered, including the fiscal situation of both the sellers and the buyers, in order to issue the fiscal attestation certificates to attest the payment of all the payment obligations due to the local budget,” the exposure of reasons shows.

The project is part of the second package of government fiscal measures meant to reduce the budget deficit, for which the cabinet has announced that it will go to Parliament to assume responsibility.

Within 6 months from the entry into force of the law, “all territorial administrative units should be registered in the national electronic payment system, so as to have a debt record.”