Amendment to the Road Traffic Act

The Chamber of Deputies of Parliament approved in the third reading an amendment to the Road Traffic Act which implements relevant EC regulations concerning driving licences. This amendment also introduces the absolute liability of the owners and possessors of vehicles in cases it which is impossible to identify the driver at the moment of the committal of a driving offence.

The holder shall not be liable for the driving offence only if he proves that the vehicle was being transferred to another person or that the vehicle had been stolen before the offence was committed. The aim is to put an end to the traditional practice of abusing the excuse involving a next of kin which enables one to avoid one’s liability by merely alleging that the driver was a relative whose identity one is not obliged to reveal.

July 18, 2011