The "Institute for Road Safety" warns of illegal actions by the "National Toll Administration" and "Border Police" at the country's border crossings. The control authorities systematically pressure drivers to pay compensatory fees on the spot for a missing electronic vignette, using the installed POS terminals.
According to the experts' report, the officers issue unregulated warnings to immediately remove the license plates of the cars or temporarily withhold the personal documents of the travelers, in order to force payment at the time of the inspection.
Bulgarian legislation gives drivers the right to pay the compensatory fee voluntarily within 14 days, without incurring full administrative liability in the form of a heavy fine. However, this right arises only after the official delivery of an act or electronic slip in due course. Payment on the spot at the border crossing is not a mandatory condition for continuing the journey.
Experts advise drivers not to pay amounts on the spot if they are not given an official document, and to request their legal deadline for reaction by bank transfer.
The Supreme Administrative Court and the Constitutional Court already have a categorical and final practice on this case. "Border Police" officers do not have the legal authority to carry out checks for unpaid fines and tickets at the border, nor to restrict the constitutional right to free movement of citizens due to pending administrative obligations.
The practice of imposing fixed sanctions for the lack of a vignette was also subject to consideration by the Court of Justice of the European Union. In its decision in the "Ekostroy" case (C-61/23) European magistrates ruled that Bulgarian fines are disproportionate and contrary to European law. Based on this act, Bulgarian courts began to massively cancel electronic tickets issued by "BG Toll".
Drivers can check the status of their vignettes and the presence of violations through the official portal of the toll system. The "Road Safety Institute" calls on citizens to report any attempt at unlawful pressure or withholding of documents, as institutions are obliged to comply with court decisions.