This week, key changes affecting road traffic and the criminal liability of drivers come into effect in Bulgaria. The innovations provide for both administrative sanctions and a serious tightening of criminal liability for using alcohol and drugs behind the wheel.
Prison for refusing to take a test after an accident
The most significant change concerns the refusal to take a test for alcohol and drugs. Until now, this refusal was punished only administratively – with the license being revoked for two years and a fine of 2,000 leva.
After the new changes to the Criminal Code, when a driver refuses a drug or alcohol test after being involved in a traffic accident, he or she is now liable for one year in prison and a fine of 2,500 leva.
Fines for driving with an alcohol level above 1.2 per mille or with narcotics have also been drastically increased - from the previous 200-1,000 leva to 1,000-5,000 leva. In case of a repeat violation (a final conviction and being caught with more than 0.5 per mille), the penalty will be from 2,000 to 10,000 leva, compared to the previous 500-1,500 leva.
Data from the Ministry of Interior show the seriousness of the problem: since the beginning of the year, nearly 3,500 drivers have been caught driving under the influence of alcohol. Particularly worrying is the fact that there have been nearly 10,000 refusals to take tests, with 60% of cases involving refusals to take a drug test.
Strict rules for scooters
Strict rules are also being introduced for electric scooters. They can now only be driven by persons over 16 years of age, with a helmet and "Civil Liability" insurance mandatory. Scooter riding is only permitted during daylight hours and only after registration with the municipal administration. Penalties for violators range from 50 leva for not wearing a helmet to a 500 leva fine for a parent who allows a child under 16 to drive one.
For the first time in Bulgaria, average speed control via toll cameras is also being introduced. If the speed is exceeded by more than 40 kilometers per hour outside a built-up area, the license plate will be confiscated for two months in addition to the fine of 600 leva. Municipal cameras will also be able to detect speeding violations, with local authorities receiving 50% of the fines imposed.
Technical inspection
A significant change is the requirement to pay all fines and tickets before conducting a technical inspection of the vehicle. This means that car owners will not be able to pass a technical inspection if they have unpaid debts to the state. The law also provides for the introduction of one-day vignettes, but this will happen six months after the publication of the changes in the "State Gazette".
Experts from the Road Safety Institute criticize some of the measures, pointing out that penalties are being increased without solving the main problems with road infrastructure and control. According to them, the burden of road safety is shifted solely to road users, especially drivers. The maximum speed on highways remains 140 kilometers per hour.
The changes come into force one month after their publication in the "State Gazette", with longer deadlines for entry into force for some of the provisions.