In the previous year, the state budget garnered 9,519,551 euros from fines imposed by traffic patrols during road checks, along with penalties for non-compliance at technical inspection facilities.

Nevertheless, according to the 2024 Report on the State of Road Traffic in Montenegro, only 156,566 euros, or 12% of the public procurement budget for last year, was allocated for essential resources for traffic patrol operations.

The report highlights logistical challenges faced by the traffic police, indicating they fall behind regional counterparts in technological advancements…

“Every year, the Road Traffic Safety Department submits a budget proposal requesting funds for the acquisition of modern material and resources necessary for the traffic police’s duties, which would significantly enhance their working conditions and positively impact road safety in Montenegro. However, requested funds have either not been allocated for years or only a minimal amount has been provided, resulting in unsatisfactory equipment conditions,” the document notes.

For instance, the proposed budget for approval in 2024 requested 1,244,517 euros excluding VAT for various needs, but according to data from the Ministry of Interior’s finance division, contracts amounting to 239,442 euros excluding VAT were signed, of which 82,876 euros excluding VAT will be paid from funds earmarked for 2025.

Throughout 2024, the state budget benefited from 4,152,856 euros collected from fine orders under the Road Traffic Safety Act, while 3,398,840 euros were collected through judicial processes related to misdemeanor charges under the same act.

Last year, the traffic police sanctioned vehicle inspection station owners with fines totaling 72,803 euros, with nearly the same amount collected via extraordinary transport regulations.

FORCED TO COLLECT 1.8 MILLION

In the preceding year, personnel from the Department for Enforcement of Forced Collection diligently worked on facilitating the collection of unpaid final and enforceable misdemeanor orders issued by the police officers.

The enforced collection of outstanding misdemeanor orders led to a revenue generation of 1,821,605 euros for the budget, as stated in the report.

The document also indicates that the Department focused on issuing as many enforcement orders as possible to prevent the statute of limitations on fines related to traffic safety violations.

While forced collection orders are served by the Police Directorate officers, delays occur in practice due to a lack of personnel and vehicles, resulting in some orders becoming time-barred…

“In 2024, officers from the Department for Implementing the Forced Collection Procedure issued a cumulative 115,345 enforcement orders for 70,937 misdemeanor orders, yielding a total revenue of 1,821,605.78 euros.”

In the reporting period, controllers were issued 70 misdemeanor orders totaling 21,900 euros due to identified shortcomings in their work.

Despite these efforts, several misdemeanor orders have lapsed due to delays in serving enforcement orders and insufficient staffing within the Department for the Implementation of the Forced Collection Procedure, as well as the absence of penalties for non-compliance by recipients of the orders,” the report highlights.

16 STATIONS SUSPENDED

Due to noted deficiencies, 16 decisions were issued to revoke the operational approvals of vehicle technical inspection stations during supervisory inspections.

Revocations occurred due to equipment malfunctions, false certifications of vehicles that were not fit for inspection, and lapses in maintaining inspection records…

Over the past year, officers from the Road Traffic Safety Department issued 136 misdemeanor orders against legal entities, responsible individuals, and inspectors, totaling 108,450 euros.

Moreover, 33 misdemeanor orders amounting to 71,800 euros were issued to legal entities for irregularities identified in vehicle technical inspections.

Additionally, 33 misdemeanor orders were issued to responsible parties in these companies, totaling 14,750 euros, for inadequate supervision of technical inspection activities.

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