Ukrainians are massively entering the Register of Debtors due to traffic fines
29 May 2025 16:38
ANALYSIS FROM 
Every year in Ukraine, the number of administrative penalties, i.e. fines, is growing. And the amounts for some violations are constantly increasing. Lawmakers are not resting on their laurels – they are constantly introducing new penalties for citizens.
New fines: for noise, drifting and stopping on the highway
Drivers are the most unlucky. In order to put things in order on Ukrainian roads – to reduce accidents and deaths – lawmakers are constantly coming up with new ideas. The most recent one is that the Verkhovna Rada proposed to fine drivers for speeding from 10 km/h. A group of MPs has submitted draft law No. 13314, which changes the approach to recording speeding on Ukrainian roads.
Currently, the current rule allows speeding up to 20 km/h without any consequences in the form of fines. However, the new draft law proposes to tighten it up and impose fines for speeding over 10 km/h. In addition, a new scale of fines is proposed:
- exceeding 10 to 20 km/h – UAH 340 (previously, such a fine was applied for exceeding 20 km/h);
- exceeding 20 km/h – UAH 680;
- exceeding 30 km/h – UAH 1360;
- exceeding 40 km/h – UAH 1700;
- exceeding 60 km/h – 2720 UAH;
- exceeding 80 km/h or more – UAH 3400.
Currently, a fine of UAH 340 is imposed for speeding more than 20 km/h but less than 50 km/h. For exceeding 50 km/h – UAH 1700. Creating an emergency situation due to speeding – UAH 1445 or deprivation of the right to drive a vehicle for up to 1 year.
Another draft law, No. 12172, has also been submitted for consideration, which provides for increased liability for traffic violations at intersections and pedestrian crossings. Drivers will face a fine of UAH 1,020 for violating the rules at traffic lights and crosswalks, and up to UAH 2,550 for repeated violations. In case of systematic recidivism, the court will be able to deprive the driver of his or her license for up to one year. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, by the end of the year, cameras will be launched in Ukraine to record red and yellow traffic signals. So far, the fine for this is UAH 510.
In addition, MPs are preparing fines for exceeding the permissible noise level by vehicles. The first offense will result in a fine of UAH 17,000, the second offense will result in a fine of UAH 34,000, and an additional penalty is the deprivation of a driver’s license. Drifting in populated areas is also prohibited: the first violation is UAH 8,500, the repeated violation is UAH 17,000 and the driver’s license is deprived for a year.
The Cabinet of Ministers has also added fuel to the fire by banning stops on highways, allowing stops only in places marked with road signs 5.42.1, 5.42.2, 5.42.3 or in parking areas with a sign 5.43 “Parking space”. It is also allowed to stop in rest areas marked with sign 6.15. Violation is punishable by a fine of UAH 340. If such a stop poses a threat to road safety, the fine increases to UAH 680.
In general, Ukrainians are most often included in the Register due to unpaid fines for traffic violations – 1.9 million or 21.4% of the total. Another 20% are debts for administrative offenses: more than 1.8 million. Penalties in favor of the state budget round out the top three – 18% or 1.6 million, according to Opendatabot analysts.
A new problem is the massive refusal of drivers to undergo drug testing
Another problem has emerged: recently, police have been accusing drivers of drug use more and more often. This is because drivers are refusing to undergo drug testing on a massive scale – in courts, they say they are afraid of ending up in a TCC (territorial recruitment center) instead of a hospital. As a result, such drivers are punished by deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of 1 year and a fine of 17 thousand hryvnias by court decision after the police draw up a report under Part 1 of Article 130 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.
However, according to the police, the most common fines are not even for speeding, but for improper parking, ranging from UAH 1,020 to 1,700.
The good news is that the monetary amounts of fines for administrative offenses in Ukraine have remained unchanged. Their amount depends on the amount of the tax-free minimum wage, which is currently UAH 17.
Massive fines for refusing to go to a drug treatment center
Not everyone immediately runs to pay the fine, and some may not even know about its existence until it increases. The sooner you pay, the smaller the amount will be, because it grows later.
But, according to lawyers, if you are sure that the fine was received illegally, then it is worth appealing it. However, you should not hesitate, as you have only 10 days from the date of the decision. If it is not appealed within this period, it will come into force.
The court can cancel the decision to impose a fine and send the case for a new consideration to the competent authority (official), or cancel the decision and close the case of an administrative offense. The same can be done by the police authorities if a complaint is filed with them.
In this case, the driver is not considered a violator, and the “repeat offense” measure no longer applies to him. And, hand on heart, I can say that people do not go to court to appeal minor fines for minor speeding or improper parking. People go to court when the case is serious – when they are prosecuted for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Indeed, many drivers now refuse to go for a test because they are afraid that they will be taken to a drug dispensary instead of a medical examination center, and there have been such cases. But the police sometimes deliberately provoke them, claiming that the driver is under the influence of drugs and is also wanted by the TCC. Patrol policemen draw up a report under Part 1 of Article 130 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, and the court decides on a fine and deprivation of the driver’s license,” says
[Kommersant] lawyer Valentin Serkov tells "Komersant Ukrainian".
However, as the human rights activist notes, one of his clients received a fine of 17 thousand for refusing to undergo a drug test, and at the same time a fine from the TCC for not updating his data – 17 thousand UAH.
Author – Alla Dunina
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