Using a mobile phone behind the wheel can cost you a lot of money. In addition to the fine, you can also lose your driver’s license

The Ministry of the Interior has run out of patience. He claims that fines for using the phone behind the wheel are no longer enough. And so he proposes a tightening, we could lose our driver’s license.

From fine to revocation of driving license

The Ministry of the Interior submits to the comment procedure its new idea of ​​the fight against telephony and, in fact, against the use of a telephone behind the wheel in general. It doesn’t matter if I’m looking for a number or setting up navigation. It also doesn’t matter if I have the phone in my stand or in my hand. Only hands-free allowed. However, this is how the rule is set today. The proposal for new rules will thus differ fundamentally in the consequences of such an infringement.

Today’s form of the ban, which will not change its definition, reads as follows and expresses such a ban:

„Pdriving time holding or otherwise operating a telephone set or other telecommunication, audiovisual or similar device, except for the use of a free-hand system“Or performing any other similar activity unrelated to driving.”

If you are stopped by a patrol and able to prove that you have broken this ban, you may be fine up to EUR 100 on the spot, if you do not agree, then in the proceedings at the traffic inspectorate the rate is up to 200 EUR. The Ministry of the Interior states in the preparation of new sanctions: “Every day, however, you can see a number of drivers calling behind the wheel, setting their way in the navigation, truck drivers watching laptops. The possibility of imposing only a fine of a fine for a given offense no longer fulfills the meaning for which the sanction is imposed. Violation of this obligation is the second most common reason for imposing a fine in road traffic. “

The new rules will already classify telephone use as a serious traffic violation, which will result in several changes. On the one hand, the possibility of imposing a fine on the spot will increase to EUR 150 (then from the Transport Inspectorate from EUR 60 to EUR 300), but it is important that the sanction, which is new, imposing an activity ban within two years. And this can be quite radical and frightening. Come for two years (it’s maximum time) for a driving license the intervention can be not only for a professional who makes a living from driving, but also for handling routine activities.

The proposed changes are due to take place on May 1, 2022. However, it will be questionable whether the ministry will succeed in convincing the government, parliament and ultimately enforcing such a change. The argument based on statistics and the ineffectiveness of fines can be decisive.