Penalty points for drivers: a lawyer explains what the bill proposes and what risks it carries
8 January 17:42
Ukraine is considering introducing a penalty point system for drivers. According to the draft law, points will be awarded for traffic violations, and in some cases, this may result in the loss of a driver’s license.
Bill No. 14133 provides for the establishment of a maximum number of points for traffic violations. Drivers with more than one year of experience will lose their license after accumulating 15 points. For those with less than one year of driving experience, the limit will be 10 points.
What violations will result in points being awarded
In an exclusive comment for "Komersant Ukrainian", lawyer Igor Feshchenko explained in detail how the penalty point system for drivers could work if the bill is passed.
According to the lawyer, the bill provides for a differentiated system of penalty points depending on the severity of the traffic violation.
“Penalty points are awarded depending on the type of offense — from one to five points,” explains Igor Feshchenko.
One point is proposed to be awarded, in particular, for violations of the rules for using seat belts or motorcycle helmets, operating a vehicle with inappropriate identification numbers, violating the rules for transporting passengers, using license plates in violation of requirements, as well as for certain violations of speed limits and traffic lights.
Two points are provided for a wider range of violations, including certain cases of speeding, driving through a red light, failure to comply with a police officer’s request to stop, violations of the rules for crossing railroad crossings, and illegal use of special light or sound signals.
Three points may be awarded for more serious traffic violations, such as significant speeding or gross violations of vehicle operating rules.
Four points are awarded for violations that cause material damage, failure to provide a vehicle to police or medical personnel, as well as for driving without the appropriate documents or with a temporary driving restriction.
Five points — the highest score — are proposed to be awarded for gross violations, including leaving the scene of an accident, significant speeding, and serious violations of the rules for crossing railroad crossings.
The total number of penalty points is calculated over the previous year (the previous 365 days).
“Penalty points are calculated for the previous 365 days, and each point awarded is automatically canceled one year after it was awarded,” Feshchenko notes.
When can a driver’s license be suspended?
The draft law pays special attention to the issue of temporary suspension of driving privileges.
“It is proposed to supplement the Code of Administrative Offenses with a new Article 27-2, which will allow the temporary suspension of a driver’s license in the event of the accumulation of a critical number of penalty points,” explains the lawyer.
According to the initiative:
- for drivers with more than one year of experience — this is 15 or more points;
- for drivers who obtained their license less than a year ago — 10 or more points.
In such cases, the National Police will issue a reasoned decision, which will take effect immediately after its adoption, even if the driver appeals it in court.
How drivers will be informed
Notification of the temporary suspension of the license will be sent by registered mail to the driver’s place of residence or work. If contact details are available, the information will be duplicated via SMS, email, and the Unified State Web Portal of Electronic Services.
How to get your driver’s license back
To get their license back, drivers will have to take a full training course and retake the theory and practical exams.
“Until the exams are successfully passed, the license will be considered suspended, and driving a vehicle during this period will be considered a separate administrative offense,” the lawyer emphasizes.
After the license is reinstated, all previously accrued penalty points will be canceled.
When the law may come into force
If adopted, the law will come into force 30 days after its official publication. At the same time, Igor Feshchenko emphasizes that it is too early to talk about the rapid introduction of the system.
“The bill has only been registered in parliament and has not even been included in the agenda. There is still a long process of discussion and amendment ahead,” the lawyer notes.
According to the lawyer, the introduction of penalty points could have both positive and problematic consequences.
“There will be an increase in the number of appeals against fines, the financial burden on drivers due to the cost of lawyers, and the risk of corruption. At the same time, the police will be forced to be more thorough in their paperwork, and drivers will have to be more disciplined in their adherence to the rules,” Feshchenko concluded.
He is convinced that, if implemented correctly, the penalty point system can be an effective tool for improving the legal culture of road users.
What the police say
First Deputy Head of the Patrol Police Department of Ukraine Oleksiy Biloshitsky denied reports of the alleged launch of a penalty point system for drivers.
According to him, information is actively spreading on the internet that a penalty point system has already been in effect in Ukraine since 2026. However, this does not correspond to the actual state of affairs. Currently, there are several legislative initiatives aimed at regulating this issue in the future and introducing a penalty point system following the example of other countries. However, at this stage, the relevant changes have not yet been adopted, and the penalty point system is not in operation. He also noted that the patrol police will inform all drivers in advance and officially about the introduction of such large-scale changes.
Therefore, any driver, regardless of experience, will risk losing their driver’s license if they systematically violate traffic rules. To restore their license, they will have to retake the theoretical and practical exams, as new drivers do. This system, which is already being used successfully in many European countries, is meant to improve road safety and reduce the number of accidents by making repeat offenders more accountable. Even though the bill was registered earlier, it’s expected to be implemented in 2026, taking into account European standards.
