On today’s 25th session, the Assembly of Canton 10 adopted amendments to the Law on Road Traffic Safety which introduce the definition of reckless driving into the cantonal law, with monetary penalties up to 5,000 BAM, driving ban, and possibility of permanent vehicle confiscation.
The law was adopted under summary procedure and behaviour of a driver which is strictly opposite from traffic rules and seriously jeopardizes the security of other traffic participants will be considered as a reckless driving.
The following will be considered as a reckless driving: running a red light two or more times within 20 minutes, driving in a residential area at more than 40 km/h over the speed limit, driving outside built-up areas at a speed of more than 60 km/h over the speed limit.
This category will also include overtaking a line of vehicles while crossing or driving over a solid longitudinal line, operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding 1.5g/kg, and driving under the influence of drugs or other psychoactive substances.
A monetary penalty of 2,000 to 3,000 BAM, a six-month driving ban and two penalty points are prescribed for the reckless driving.
If with such behaviour a driver causes a traffic accident, the penalty will go from 3,000 to 5,000 BAM. In addition to monetary penalty, a nine-month driving ban and four penalty points will be imposed.
The police will temporarily seize a vehicle of a driver caught driving recklessly if is determined that they were previously penalized for the same offense by a final decision within the past two years.
The temporarily seized vehicle will be kept until a final court decision, and the court will be able to impose a measure of its permanent confiscation.
The amendments also prescribe the detention of the driver with a determined alcohol concentration higher than 1.5 g/kg, as well as a person who refuses alcohol or drug testing while showing signs of impairment.
The detention can last until the effects of alcohol or other intoxicating substances wear off, but for no longer than 12 hours.
Penalties for using phone while driving, not putting on a seatbelt and using devices which disturb the work of devices for speed measurement have also been increased.
The monetary fine from 200 to 400 BAM is prescribed for these penalties.
If such penalties caused a traffic accident, the penalty will range from 400 to 2,000 BAM, with one to six months driving ban, and two penalty points.
Amendments to the Law will be enforced eight days after being published in the Official Gazette of Canton 10 (“Narodne novine Kantona 10”).
