Citizens in BiH owe around 100 million KM in fines

Drivers in BiH owe the state around 100 million convertible marks due to unpaid traffic fines, writes the BH news agency Patria.

According to data from the Agency for Identification Documents, Records and Exchange of Data of BiH (IDDEEA), citizens of Republika Srpska owe about 32.2 million marks for traffic violations, and citizens of the Federation of BiH owe 63.2 million KM.

Of this 100 million marks debt, as much as 22 million relates to fines drivers incurred for driving under the influence of alcohol. A large number of fines were also issued for not wearing seatbelts, illegal parking, and other violations.

Predrag Kurteš, Minister of Internal Affairs of FBiH, told the Patria agency that BiH has major problems when it comes to collecting traffic fines, but that there are still no indications of how this could be resolved in the near future.

Although a law came into force in BiH in 2006 according to which citizens who have not paid a traffic fine cannot register a vehicle, citizens find loopholes in the law by transferring vehicles to a family member. After that, they wait five years, after which the fine expires. This year, fines issued in 2009 will expire, and the state will lose several million KM from that year alone.

Neighboring Croatia had a similar problem, but its Government made a decision to reduce fines by as much as 50 percent if drivers pay them on the spot. A bonus of a 50 percent discount on the fine was later introduced for all those who pay the fine within three days. This decision by the Croatian Government contributed to a several-fold reduction in the number of unpaid fines in that country.

Minister Kurteš says that, as far as BiH is concerned, there are still no indications that such a law could be passed here either, writes Patria.