At the beginning of 2026, Serbia is expecting a new, significantly stricter Law on Road Traffic Safety, the draft of which should be ready by the end of this year. The announced changes bring drastically higher fines for traffic violations, and one of the loudest innovations is the possibility that the amount of the fine is determined according to the offender’s income, it says. Blic.rs.
Drastic increase in fines
Experts and the public agree that the existing penalties for certain traffic violations are too low. The head of the traffic police administration, Slaviša Lakićević, recently said that “certain fines have lost the purpose of prescribing them, especially fines from 3,000 to 5,000 dinars”.
According to announcements, a significant increase will follow. “Misdemeanors that used to be 10,000 dinars (about 85 euros) will now be 20,000, and for certain ‘mild misdemeanors’ sanctions of as much as 50,000 dinars are planned,” announced Lakićević.
One of the most drastic examples is the penalty for not using a seat belt or using a mobile phone while driving without a hands-free device. The current fine of 10,000 dinars could jump to even 50,000 dinars. Also, it is considered that the driver is responsible for unfastened passengers in the vehicle, for whom the same penalty would apply.
Lakićević also clarified other examples: “Infractions that were previously punished with 3,000 dinars will cost 10,000 dinars in the future. For example, listening to too loud music in the vehicle, so that you cannot hear anything around you, nor other road users.” On the other hand, misdemeanors that amounted to 5,000 dinars, such as improper distance or exceeding the speed limit in the settlement by 10 to 20 km/h, will be fined 15,000 dinars.
Stricter measures for recidivists
One of the key novelties concerns drivers who repeat offences. It is proposed to abolish the possibility of paying half the amount of the fine within eight days for those who commit the same offense a second time.
“And when they repeat the offense for the third time, or the fourth time, or more times, they will receive a 50 percent increase in the fine in a fixed amount,” Lakićević was specific. Particularly severe sanctions are provided for the illegal transportation of children and committing offenses while children are in the vehicle.
Revolutionary idea: Punishment according to the amount of salary?
Among the citizens’ proposals that were seriously considered is the one on adjusting the fines to the amount of income, which would be a precedent in Serbian legislation. Milan Ilić, advisor to the director of the Agency for Traffic Safety, explained the idea, reports Index.hr.
“This means that if someone has a salary of one million dinars and commits a traffic violation, his punishment will be significantly higher compared to someone with a salary of 50,000 dinars,” Ilić explained, adding: “We must be brave and pragmatic with new solutions, if it can save even one life in traffic.”
(TIP/Photo: Screenshot: MUP of Serbia)
