Drivers from Serbia who via North Macedonia traveling to Greece these days, a new unpleasant surprise awaits them at the border. Due to the "Safe City" system, which automatically registers traffic violations, kilometer-long queues form at the Tabanovce border crossing, and some travelers report that they wait for hours to cross the border.
The problem arose after, on August 19, fines began to be collected from drivers with foreign license plates for violations previously recorded by cameras across North Macedonia. The fine can be collected when leaving the country, and the driver who does not pay it cannot continue the journey.
According to the statements of passengers published on social networks, the wait before the border in some cases lasted about five hours, after which it was necessary to set aside a few more hours to pay the fine at a special counter.
In order to reduce congestion at border crossings, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia has enabled foreign citizens to check whether their vehicle is registered in the system due to a traffic violation.
Using the "Safe City" application, it is possible to check the recorded violation and, if there is one, pay the fine electronically. The goal is to complete the procedure before arriving at the border and thus avoid additional detention.
Cameras along the main road to Greece
The "Safe City" system is especially important for Serbian tourists traveling along Corridor 10 towards Greece. Cameras have been installed in several locations along this road, including the areas near the exit for Skopje, the "Bastion Plaza" rest area, Veles and the section in front of the Bogorodica border crossing.
Surveillance is not limited to the highway. The system also covers a large number of intersections in Skopje, as well as the areas of Kumanovo and Tetovo, while its application is also being tested in Ohrid.
"Safe City" primarily records speeding and running a red light, but the system also registers other violations of traffic regulations. Violations that can result in a fine include: speeding, running a red light, improper stopping and parking, driving with an expired registration, not wearing a seat belt, and using a cell phone while driving.
How much do fines cost?
The amount of the fine depends on the type of violation and the degree of violation.
For speeding up to 30 kilometers per hour above the permitted speed, the fine is 20 euros, while for exceeding between 30 and 50 kilometers per hour, 50 euros is paid. For exceeding 50 to 70 kilometers per hour, a fine of 300 euros is foreseen, with the possibility of a ban on driving a vehicle for a period of three to 12 months.
Going through a red light is fined 250 euros, with the possibility of being banned from driving. Driving with an expired registration can cost 100 euros for the driver, or 250 euros for the owner of the vehicle if they are not the same person.
Fines for illegal parking range from 30 to 50 euros, while not using a seat belt and using a phone while driving are fined 40 euros each.
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