Foreign fines are collected from Hungarian drivers

In Austria, Croatia and Bulgaria, fines due to traffic infringements, which are more than HUF 15 thousand, will be collectable from the Hungarian drivers in the near future, origo.hu said.

A mutual convention between Austria, Croatia, Bulgaria and Hungary will allow collecting the fines of infringements committed abroad among the member states. The agreement settles the administrative and technical questions of the Convention signed in Matrahaza (HU) in October 11 2012 – which is already fixed by law in Hungary. In the other signatory countries, the entry into force depends on the finishing of the parliamentary ratification procedures.

The agreement does not harmonize national laws but eight traffic offenses set out in the Directive of the European Union serve as legislative background. In these cases, the parties recognize and enforce the imposed – misdemeanor administrative – fines.

The mutual recognition infringements are speeding, non-use of seat belts, driving through a red traffic light, drink-driving, driving under the influence of drugs, failure to wear a safety helmet, traffic on prohibited lane, illegal use of mobile phone or other communication devices while driving.