Greece’s lawmakers approved the bill introducing new penalty fines for traffic code offenders and thus according to income criteria. Those with low and medium income will pay less but those with annual income of more than 50,000 euros will pay more. The new fines are reduced at 40 percent when compared to current situation and only for certain violations.
According to the bill provisions, low and medium incomes will pay the normal fines without additional income criteria.
The bill eliminates the practice that motorists would be granted a 50% reduction if they would pay within a certain period of time – some ten days.
For motorists with income €50,000 – €100,000 the fines will double, while they will triple for those with income above 100 thousands.
Fines for low risk level will be around €100, medium level €1001-€300 and high level €301 -€600.
Two new categories have been added: high frequency and antisocial behavior. For these violations of traffic code, the driving license will be removed for 60 days.
Also with removal of license for 60 days and of license plates will be punished:
- throwing a cigarette from a car, not wearing safety belt or helm, using the emergency lane, using cell phone during driving.
The 40% discount excludes violation like: alcohol consumption, STOP and RED LIGHT violation, illegal overtaking.
Truck divers will face driving license and plates removal for 30 days if they constantly use the left lane or use it for overtaking.
Traffic policemen will carry tablets electronically connected to data bases.Policemen will only confirm the traffic offense but neither they nor the motorist will know the amount of the fine that will be ultimately sent to offender’s address per post.
Policemen will not have access to information about the motorist’s income but only to the income category. However, even this restriction raises issues about the private data protection.
The bill contains also restrictions for Uber and online taxi platform Beat (former Taxi Beat).
Transportation Minister Christos Spirtzis said the bill will go into effect as soon as possible.
It is obvious: Concentrate on fining Mercedes, Audis, BMW’s, Volvos, Porches, etc., and maybe that will get the country out of the red.