The Traffic Bill Under Debate Again
In Romania, the new overarching Traffic Bill has sparked renewed strife within the ruling coalition.
Corina Cristea, 03.10.2013, 16:06
In an attempt to reduce the number of victims of road traffic accidents, considering that in 2012 four people every hour died of such causes, legislators have decided to take measures. Transportation companies are against these rules, as the new law is one more week under public debate.
Minister of the Interior, the Liberal Radu Stroe, insisted on the law getting passed as an emergency executive order. This procedure, however, would enforce the law by default, unlike the version of a law debated in Parliament supported by both the ruling Social Democrats and the opposition Liberal Democrats.
In its present form, the new law on road traffic, stipulates, depending on the issue, fines as high as 9,600 lei, around 2,100 Euro, and suspending a license for as long as two years.
Radu Stroe: “It is true that the punishment got harsher, up to two years, for driving under the influence of alcohol, for driving over 60 km/h, for driving the wrong way, for driving over a railroad, and, obviously, for driving without a license.”
Punishment for running a red light is gradual, depending on the consequences, and starts with suspending a license for 60 days and six to eight penalty points on the license. In the revised form of the bill, a road accident caused by a failure to stop at a railroad crossing with barriers down or while descending, that does not cause victims, only material damage, results in a penalty of 51 to 200 penalty points, plus suspending a license for a year.
Incidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol, upon first violation, also result in suspending a license for six months and 21 to 50 penalty points. Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who said he was in favor of higher driving safety, called on the Interior Minister to introduce on the traffic bill more changes, in addition to those relating to fines, such as taking away a license after a serious accident pending a court decision, adding that he would not endorse a bill lacking that provision.
Ponta also wishes for the way in which the local authorities will communicate with police representatives for cashing in fines be detailed.
