Digital bus tickets are coming

Using bus tickets in Montenegro should soon become simpler, as amendments to the Law on Road Traffic introduce for the first time the possibility of their full use in electronic form.

Although tickets can now be purchased online, the new legal solution will make electronic tickets legally recognized, which means that all carriers will be obliged to enable their reading on the bus. The current practice is that tickets are mostly used in printed form.

These amendments define that "a carrier, travel agency or bus station may sell and issue train tickets online, in accordance with the law governing electronic commerce and electronic documents", and that a passenger may have a ticket "in printed or electronic form".

Another novelty is that passengers can no longer be picked up and dropped off at "wild" stops, that carriers are registered in the Register and have licenses for these jobs, and professional drivers can drive up to the age of 70. The formation of a Council for the Management and Coordination of Public Transport is also planned, and an important novelty is the plan to establish a National Contact Point for the Exchange of Information on Carriers in Road Transport, in order to share information on vehicles, owners and users, with the same authorities in the EU.

Under the emergency procedure for closing Chapter 14

The Parliament adopted amendments to this law this week. The aim of the amendments is to eliminate the grey economy from this sector, create better conditions for the business of transport operators, and provide greater protection for the rights and interests of passengers. Montenegro must also adopt them in order to harmonise its legislation in the field of road transport with the European Union (EU) - especially to close the final benchmarks for Negotiation Chapter 14 - Transport Policy.

"The draft law on amendments to the Law on Road Transport needs to be adopted under an urgent procedure, bearing in mind that it is also necessary in order to close the final benchmarks for PP 14 - Transport Policy," states the Ministry of Transport, which is the proponent of this law.

The Road Traffic Law was adopted in 2017 and amended in 2019.

"The objectives achieved by the proposed regulation are better organization of transport, improving the quality of services, transport, protection of passengers and carriers operating in accordance with national and international regulations, with an emphasis on maintaining competitiveness in the transport market and ensuring greater opportunities in the market competition in the developed European transport services market. Financial resources are needed for the development of the Register of Carriers as a software solution, funds in the amount of 70.300 euros are foreseen in the Budget Law for 2026. Financial resources also need to be provided for the purpose of establishing the Council for Management and Coordination in the Field of Public Passenger and Freight Transport in Road Transport, 21.600 euros will be needed for the work of the Council annually," the impact assessment analysis of this regulation (RIA) states.

Prices are also in the hands of municipalities

According to the changes, in cases where stations do not exist, municipalities will have to designate locations for a central bus stop.

"The carrier shall carry out the boarding and disembarkation of passengers in special scheduled intercity passenger transport at safe areas and bus stops. The prices of services in scheduled urban and suburban transport shall be determined by the assembly of the local self-government unit at the proposal of the carrier, in accordance with the law regulating communal services. The price list shall be determined by the carrier, individually for each registered and certified timetable that it shall submit to the competent authority for verification," the amendments state.

Working conditions for professional drivers are also being tightened, with their knowledge tests being conducted before a commission formed by the Ministry of Transport and consisting of representatives of the Ministry and the Chamber of Commerce. It is also planned to raise the age limit for these jobs from 67 to 70.

Companies or entrepreneurs engaged in transportation will also have to prove financial capacity, i.e. have at least 9.000 euros of capital for the first vehicle, 5.000 euros for each additional vehicle or combination of vehicles whose weight does not exceed 3,5 tons, or 900 euros for others or those whose weight does not exceed 2,5 tons.

Licenses for 10 years

Companies will have to have their headquarters in Montenegro, i.e. they will be taxpayers, they will have to have premises where documentation, equipment and infrastructure can be accessed. The licenses they will receive for these businesses will now have more demanding conditions, but these documents will last for ten years instead of five.

All licensed carriers will have to register in the Carriers Register, which, in addition to basic information, will also contain the names and surnames of persons declared "without good reputation", until they regain good reputation, with rehabilitation measures.

"The register of transporters shall contain data on final decisions on the punishment of transporters or persons responsible for transport for serious violations that may lead to the loss of good reputation in accordance with this law, data on the risk assessment of transporters determined on the basis of records of committed violations and the results of road traffic controls. The Ministry, with the consent of the administration responsible for internal affairs and finance, shall regulate the risk assessment system for entities performing road transport in connection with the violation of the provisions of this law relating to driving time, mandatory breaks and rest periods for drivers, and the technical condition of vehicles...", the amendments state.

It is planned that the bylaws will be adopted within six months of the entry into force of these amendments. During the same period, those who perform transport on behalf of and for the account of the carrier (sub-carriers) to whom the permit has been issued will also have to obtain licenses, while those who mediate in transport will have to align their operations with this law by the beginning of 2027.

Possibility of introducing Uber and Bolt into the system

The Government will establish a Council for Management and Coordination in the Field of Public Passenger and Freight Transport in Road Transport, which will consist of representatives of the Ministries of Transport and Interior, the Police Administration, the Chamber of Commerce, the Transport Administration and the Union of Municipalities.

This Council is being formed for a period of five years, and will have a president and eight members, appointed by the Government.

A ban on arranging rides between carriers and passengers for dispatch centers that are not registered for such services is also planned.

"The dispatch center assigns rides via telephone, SMS messages, electronic applications or radio transceivers. It is prohibited for a carrier to use the services of a dispatch center that does not have a permit from the Ministry. The center is obliged to provide mediation services only to licensed carriers," the amendments state.

These provisions practically represent the legal basis for the operation of digital platforms like Uber or Bolt, but on the condition that they are registered and operate through licensed carriers.