Austria publishes new traffic penalty catalog: Fines to rise by up to 50 percent from January

According to a press release from the mobility club ÖAMTC, the increases are substantial: "Im Schnitt würden sämtliche Verkehrsstrafen um 50 Prozent erhöht." This puts the raise significantly above the current inflation rate. The club welcomed the harmonization step but simultaneously criticized the steep penalty increases.

The ministry rejected the criticism, pointing out that it had oriented itself to the highest fines already in force in one federal state. "Dabei habe man sich an den höchsten Strafen orientiert, die in einem Bundesland bereits gültig waren." This does not create an entirely new penalty level but merely standardizes the level that already existed regionally. According to a statement from June, the federal government expects additional revenues of 80 million euros from the adjustments.

Specifically higher fines for everyday violations

Concrete examples from the catalog illustrate the extent of the increases: Anyone entering an intersection on a yellow light will pay 70 euros in the future. "Das verbotene Einfahren in eine Kreuzung bei gelber Ampel wird mit 70 Euro bestraft." An incomplete stop at a stop sign also costs 70 euros. Those who park in a stopping or parking ban or forget the parking disc in a short-term parking zone will pay 60 euros: "Das Abstellen eines Fahrzeugs im Halte- oder Parkverbot und das Vergessen einer Parkscheibe in der Kurzparkzone kosten künftig 60 Euro."

Higher speeding violations will also become more expensive. Speeding violations of up to 30 km/h over the limit within built-up areas will result in fines between 50 and 120 euros, depending on the measured speed. The exact amounts are regulated in the Road Traffic Act and will also be raised.

Serious offenses: Emergency corridor and overtaking bans

The catalog provides for significantly higher amounts for particularly dangerous offenses. Dangerous overtaking, for example in front of pedestrian crossings, costs 140 euros. Those who overtake on the right pay 115 euros. Forming or driving in an emergency corridor is punished with 200 euros. Those who ignore the obligation to keep right on highways must pay 100 euros.

A central point of the ÖAMTC's criticism concerns the lack of transparency in the previous regulations. "Denn die Anonymverfügungskataloge der Bundesländer seien zuvor nicht in Landesgesetzblättern kundgemacht worden," said ÖAMTC chief legal officer Martin Hoffer to the APA. With the new regulation, a complete list is now available for the first time: "Bisher waren nur einzelne Beispiele der neuen Strafhöhen bei Anonymverfügungen bekannt, in der Verordnung sind nun alle aufgelistet."

Open demand: Harmonization of on-the-spot fines

Hoffer described the publication as a significant improvement: "Das sei eine wesentliche Verbesserung," Hoffer told the APA. However, for the so-called on-the-spot fines (Organmandate) — penalties imposed directly on the scene by the police — nationwide uniformity is still lacking. "Auch hier fehlt bislang eine bundesweite Einheitlichkeit." Hoffer called for harmonization but stressed: "Einheitlichkeit [dürfe] nicht automatisch höhere Strafen bedeuten."

The ÖAMTC also sees a preventive effect in the publication. "Die Höhe der Strafbeträge zu kommunizieren hätte auch eine präventive Wirkung." Those who know the specific amounts can better assess their behavior in road traffic. This assessment aligns with the ministry's reasoning, which sees the standardization as a contribution to greater transparency and legal certainty.

In the coming federal states, the increases vary in intensity. Since the new values are based on the highest previously applicable state level, federal states with previously lower fines do not benefit — they must reckon with the highest nationwide rates. In federal states that were already at the upper limit, however, the fines remain largely unchanged.

With the publication of the regulation, a transitional phase lasting several years comes to an end, during which penalty practice varied from state to state. From January, a uniform catalog for anonymous penalty orders will apply throughout Austria. Whether on-the-spot fines will follow remains open, according to the ÖAMTC.