24-hour trap for traffic fines
The proposed law on traffic fines, which is claimed to be introduced to reduce traffic accidents but has the primary purpose of closing the budget deficit, will be debated in the Turkish Grand National Assembly this week. The new regulation will significantly increase fines. Furthermore, these fines will increase again by 25 percent on January 1, 2026, in accordance with the revaluation rate.
NO TOLERANCE
The proposed law gradually increases the fine for exceeding the speed limit to 30,000 lira. This article will enter into force on December 31, 2025. The following day, the revaluation rate (RRR) will increase the fine by another 25 percent to 37,500 lira. Thus, the fine will increase incrementally over 24 hours. The new bill, currently being discussed in both the RRR and Parliament, signals the start of a deterrent period for drivers. Article 14 of the proposal regulates the fines for exceeding the speed limit. Currently, the lower limit for exceeding the speed limit is 2,167 lira, while the upper limit is 9,267 lira. With the proposal, the lower limit increases to 2,000 lira, and the upper limit to 30,000 lira. The current 10 percent tolerance is also being abolished.
Those who exceed the speed limit by 6-10 kilometers per hour within residential areas will be fined 2,000 TL, while those who exceed 66 kilometers per hour or more will be fined 30,000 TL. Outside residential areas, those who exceed the speed limit by 11-15 kilometers per hour will be fined 2,000 TL, and those who exceed 71 kilometers per hour or more will be fined 30,000 TL. Driver's licenses will also be revoked for 30-90 days.
It is stated that a speed limit fine of 15,000 TL will be imposed for those exceeding 36-45 kilometers within residential areas, 20,000 TL for those exceeding 46-55 kilometers, 25,000 TL for those exceeding 56-65 kilometers, 30,000 TL for those exceeding 66 kilometers, and 15,000 TL for those exceeding 41-50 kilometers outside residential areas, 20,000 TL for those exceeding 51-60 kilometers, and 25,000 TL for those exceeding 61-70 kilometers. The fines for exceeding the speed limit outside residential areas are as follows: 2,000 Turkish Lira for those exceeding 11-15 km/h, 12,000 TL for those exceeding 31-40 km/h, 15,000 TL for those exceeding 41-50 km/h, 20,000 TL for those exceeding 51-60 km/h, and 25,000 TL for those exceeding 61-70 km/h.
Çorum Deputy Yusuf Ahlatcı, Afyonkarahisar Deputy İbrahim Yurdunuseven and Kütahya Deputy Adil Biçer submitted the bill to the Turkish Grand National Assembly regarding the amendment of the Highway Traffic Law.
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