The Government today approved the Bill on Amendments to the Road Traffic Safety Act, which introduces stricter rules for young drivers and users of electric scooters, increases fines, and increases the powers of police officers and municipal police.
Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić emphasized the importance of this legal solution at a press conference, especially considering the high statistical indicators of traffic fatalities.
He explained that reforms in the field of traffic safety are focused in four directions: preventive and repressive activities, modernization of work and procurement of modern technology, improvement of road infrastructure, and strengthening of the normative framework.
"When we talk about preventive and repressive activities, last year we had record statistics. The number of arrests for traffic safety violations increased from around 4.200 in 2022 to around 7,5 thousand last year, while testing for psychoactive substances increased three times compared to the previous year," Bečić specified.
He said that the Bill introduces clear rules for young drivers and users of electric scooters.
"Light electric vehicles - electric scooters - are finally being regulated, with a clear ban on driving by those under the age of 16, with sanctions for parents who violate this provision," Bečić said.
He said that a category of young drivers under the age of 21 is also being introduced, who cannot drive vehicles from midnight to 5 a.m., as well as vehicles with an engine power greater than 80 kW, except in the presence of an experienced driver.
According to Bečič, the law provides for greater powers for police officers and municipal police.
"Police officers are being given much greater powers, including the ability to temporarily seize a vehicle from a driver who has committed a serious traffic safety offense, if he has been convicted of a serious traffic safety offense in the previous two years. Finally, municipal police officers are also being given powers, primarily in controlling parking and stopping vehicles," Bečić explained.
He added that the law provides for an increase in fines.
"We consider it justified to increase sanctions for those who act irresponsibly according to the Road Traffic Safety Law, because the current legal framework has shown limited effectiveness in preventing violations," said Bečić.
He said that this year, the procurement of nearly 100 stationary radars is expected, which will significantly improve the situation in this area.
Bečić said that the Bill should be sent to the Parliament tomorrow and that he expects that, if not at one of the extraordinary sessions, it will be placed on the agenda of the first session of the spring session of parliament.
The Director of the Police Administration, Lazar Šćepanović, said that during the past two years, numerous measures have been taken that pointed to systemic problems and the inefficiency of certain legal solutions in the field of security.
Speaking about traffic safety, Šćepanović emphasized that the state's strategic goal is to protect the lives of citizens and reduce the number of fatal traffic accidents.
"The state's priority is to protect the lives of citizens and reduce the number of traffic accidents, because the loss of human life is irreparable," said Šćepanović.
According to him, the new traffic safety law introduces a systemic approach and state responsibility, with a focus on safer roads, vehicles and road users, as well as more efficient handling of accidents.
He cited as some of the key novelties of the law the restrictions for young drivers aged 18 to 21, who will not be able to drive vehicles between midnight and 5 a.m., as well as category B vehicles with an engine power greater than 80 kW.
Šćepanović particularly highlighted the standardization of the use of light electric vehicles, including electric scooters, with clearly defined rules and obligations.
He emphasized the importance of introducing the measure of temporary vehicle impoundment, stating that analyses show that around 90 percent of sanctioned drivers re-appear as violators.
"This, due to the preventive component, is a very important step forward in repressive action. The state must create conditions for a penal policy in order to raise the level of traffic culture and prevent the repetition of violations," said Šćepanović.
He also highlighted the institute of measuring average speed as an important innovation, as well as the expansion of the jurisdiction of the municipal police in the field of traffic, especially in the area of illegal parking and stopping.
According to Šćepanović, increasing the range of fines is the key to general prevention, given that previous punitive measures have not yielded the expected results.
He said that the introduction of the first stationary digital radars, whose value is estimated at tens of millions of EUR, is planned for this year, and recalled that in the past two years, around 250 new police vehicles have been purchased, as well as new equipment, uniforms and weapons for special and specialized police units.
Šćepanović emphasized that continuous investments in equipment and training of police officers are the key to citizen safety.
"Investment in security is the greatest capital of a country and the standard to which Montenegro aspires in accordance with European practice," concluded Šćepanović.
The Head of the Road Traffic Safety Department, Ilija Janjušević, pointed out that the proposed amendments to the law are primarily aimed at toughening penalties for repeat traffic offenders.
"The goal is not to harm anyone, but to deter perpetrators from violating regulations again," said Janjušević.
He said that young drivers under the age of 21 who commit violations, i.e. drive a vehicle from midnight to 5 a.m. and a vehicle with an engine power of over 80 kW, are subject to a fine of 300 to 600 euros.
"For using an electric scooter, since the child is not liable for a misdemeanor, a fine of 150 to 400 euros is prescribed for parents," said Janjušević.
When asked by reporters whether there has been any progress in the search for fugitive convict Miloš Medenica and former special prosecutor Lidija Mitrović, Šćepanović said that police officers are working intensively to locate them, but that publishing details of their activities would jeopardize the proceedings themselves.
Regarding the recently released footage allegedly showing Medenica, Šćepanović said that the Police Directorate informed the State Prosecutor's Office about it.
"Together with partner services, we are working to identify the person behind the profile," said Šćepanović, emphasizing that the public will be informed when all legal requirements are met.
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