Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has developed a legislative package aimed at maximising compliance with traffic regulations and preventing road traffic accidents, which includes amendments to the Administrative Offences Code providing for increased fines.

According to the Ministry’s information, in recent years, against a backdrop of significantly increased numbers of vehicles and growing mobility, road safety remains a challenge, and despite progress achieved, hundreds of people are killed or sustain serious injuries in road traffic accidents in Georgia every year.

“Accordingly, road traffic accidents and the associated mortality rate oblige the state to take effective steps towards stricter enforcement of road safety regulations.
Analysis of the causes of road traffic accidents confirms that it is essential to review and toughen existing sanctions significantly to maximise public safety.

Consequently, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has prepared a legislative package, according to which:
Fines for violating vehicle manoeuvring rules on the road will increase to GEL 100. Additionally, 20 points will be deducted from a driver’s license (every driver’s license has 100 points) for this offence.

The penalty for exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 km/h but not more than 40 km/h will increase from GEL 50 to 100.

The penalty for failure to use a seatbelt by the driver or passenger whilst driving a car will increase to GEL 50. Additionally, 10 points will be deducted for this offence.

The penalty for a driver using a mobile phone whilst driving a car will increase to GEL 50.

In the municipalities of Kutaisi, Batumi, Mtskheta, Rustavi, Gori, Telavi, Poti, Zugdidi, and at Georgian resorts, the fine for parking and stopping violations will be increased to GEL 50, similar to Tbilisi.

Additional liability is established for driving in the opposite direction on a bus lane by any vehicle other than public transport, which will result in a fine of GEL 200.

Furthermore, parking or stopping a vehicle on a pavement or pedestrian crossing will be defined as a new offence, resulting in a fine of GEL 100. Additionally, if this offence is committed under the conditions specified by law, the vehicle may be confiscated and taken to a designated secure impound yard.

This legislative package has already been submitted to the Parliament of Georgia,” the information states.