Government approves expedited procedure bill to handle petty offences
The government approved a bill on Thursday that will allow authorities to issue penalties on the spot and according to fixed amounts. The measure applies to penalties from €20 to €80 for petty offences.
Any penalties issued as part of this kind of expedited procedure won't be entered into the offender's criminal record. This way, the bill will also make a clear difference between petty and more serious offences.
The expedited procedure comes with a list of penalties assigned to specific cases. For example, driving without a license plate will incur a penalty of €20, driving with the seatbelt unfastened €40, and driving without insurance €80.
Speeding fines will be treated the same, but based on the penalties as already fixed for offenders who get caught by speed cameras.
In the case of a penalty issued as part of this expedited procedure, the offender has 15 days to either pay or contest the fine.
The government expects some 45,000 cases a year to be handled like this in the future. If passed by the Riigikogu, the law would enter into force on Jan. 1 next year.
A few examples of offences and fines:
- Driving with an unreadable license plate €20
- Parking where parking isn't allowed €20
- Smoking in a no-smoking area €20
- Using public transport without a valid ticket €20
- Crossing a red light €40
- Disregarding pedestrians' right of way €40
- Driving with the seatbelt not fastened €40
- Riding a motorbike without wearing a helmet €40
- Driving without insurance €80
- Driving an unregistered vehicle €80
- Driving without the vehicle having passed general inspection €80
Editor: Dario Cavegn