19.03.2026 11:03
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi shared security and traffic measures that concern millions of citizens with the public before the holiday break. Minister Çiftçi announced that more than 313,000 security personnel would be on the field across the country; he provided important assurances regarding the "trap radar" application that drivers are curious about, delays in license plate production, and regulations for in-vehicle multimedia screens, emphasizing that the application would be focused on guidance rather than punishment.
Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi announced that 313,745 personnel will be on the field for the safety of citizens during the Ramadan Bayram holiday.
Çiftçi answered questions from representatives of news agencies regarding traffic measures to be implemented during the Ramadan Bayram holiday and the Law on Amendments to the Highway Traffic Law at the Security and Emergency Situations Coordination Center (GAMER) of the ministry.
Stating that they published a comprehensive circular for governorships, district governorships, and law enforcement units to ensure that citizens spend the holiday in peace and security, Çiftçi said that all security measures have been taken.
Emphasizing that their goal is for citizens to spend the holiday in peace and security with their families, Çiftçi said, "Our General Directorate of Security and our Gendarmerie Command will conduct intensive traffic inspections. We will carry out speed checks, and we will have radar inspections. We will be visible in the field to ensure that our citizens comply with the rules. Because we want no one to rush to meet their loved ones. In other words, they should obey traffic rules, adhere to speed limits, and be able to reunite with their families safely."
Çiftçi noted that radar inspections will be conducted especially on routes with high traffic density, and that seatbelt and alcohol checks will also be carried out.
Çiftçi stated that they can monitor traffic flow in real-time on main arteries and critical junction points with helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles, and that the information obtained will be transmitted simultaneously to the teams in the field.
Emphasizing that smart transportation and traffic management systems will be used effectively and efficiently, Çiftçi explained that risky points will be monitored in real-time with camera and electronic monitoring systems, teams will be directed to designated areas to ensure the flow of traffic, and law enforcement units will provide assistance wherever needed.
CONTROL FROM AIR AND LAND
Minister Çiftçi provided the following information about the personnel who will be on duty and involved in inspections during the holiday:
"313,745 personnel from the police, gendarmerie, and Coast Guard will be on duty during the holiday, and they will be in the field. At the same time, they will be on duty throughout Turkey with 50,150 cars and motorcycles. In addition to the inspections we conduct on land, 16 helicopters, 1,222 UAVs, and drones will conduct aerial inspections. Additionally, 390 ships and boats will also participate in these inspections with our Coast Guard units. They will also assist our citizens in ensuring that the holiday is spent in peace."
Pointing out that there will also be movements at airports, bus stations, shopping centers, living areas, and tourist centers, he stated, "Our teams will also take all precautions there and will increase security measures."
"HOLIDAY HOMES SHOULD NOT TURN INTO HOUSES OF MOURNING"
Çiftçi drew attention to the fact that drivers and passengers should not use vehicles when tired and sleep-deprived, and he stated:
"I appeal to bus drivers or citizens traveling in their own vehicles. They should not travel while tired and sleep-deprived. They should not put their own lives and the lives of our citizens at risk. When they feel sleepy, they can pull over to the side of the road or to parking areas and rest there. After resting for a while, they can continue on their way. They should not rush to reach their destinations in a short time and bring sadness to their families and loved ones. We want the joy of the holiday not to turn into sorrow. We do not want holiday homes to turn into houses of mourning. Therefore, I want to especially express that we expect sensitivity from all our citizens on this matter."
TRAP RADAR INSPECTIONS WILL NOT BE CONDUCTED
Çiftçi emphasized that their goal regarding radar applications is not to punish citizens or cause them pain, but to ensure that citizens reach their homes safely by complying with the rules.
Minister Çiftçi expressed the following:
"For this reason, we will definitely not conduct radar inspections in a trap-like manner; we will have warning signs. Our citizens will be informed about this as well. I urge our citizens once again to comply with speed rules. Thus, they will not face administrative penalties and will reach their hometowns in a more peaceful and secure manner. Because the current speed limits have changed according to the previous law. Previously, there was a limit of up to 10% that could be increased both inside and outside the city. Now it varies between 6 units and 10 units. Therefore, I think it is beneficial for our drivers to adjust their speeds considering this."
AMENDMENTS TO THE TRAFFIC LAW
Reminding that the regulations made in the Highway Traffic Law came into effect on February 27, Çiftçi said, "I was in my hometown Konya when the law came into effect. There, I saw that citizens were queuing intensively, creating crowds, especially regarding license plates, both at notaries and at the drivers' association."
Çiftçi stated that citizens found the regulations made quite appropriate except for two issues, saying, "For example, there is no problem in society regarding running a red light. There is no problem with people who insistently follow someone in traffic, cut them off, take a stick and walk towards drivers, dance in the road, drift, or weave in and out; these behaviors are accepted."
Minister Çiftçi reminded that the institution authorized to print license plates is the Turkish Drivers and Automobile Federation (TŞOF) and the chambers affiliated with it.
Explaining that how the license plates will be printed and what the standards will be are determined in the regulation, Çiftçi stated:
"Standard plates are certain. Nevertheless, the drivers' association prints two types of plates. The first is a standard plate, and the second is a plate with slightly thickened letters that still carries the required features of the plate, including the blue stripe, 'TR' label, seal, and QR code. As long as they are issued by the drivers' association, we will not take any action regarding these; we consider them as regular plates, they are valid, and there is no problem with them."
If any additions or modifications are made by the driver to the plate issued by the drivers' association, that is where the problem begins. If the driver took the plate from the drivers' association and thickened the letter or number groups or erased the blue stripe, or made some additions, modifications, or deletions according to their own preferences, the law foresees a fine of 4,000 lira for this. There are also plates printed by advertisers outside. They do not contain any 'TR' label, seal, or QR code in any way. The spaces between the numbers and letter groups are completely closed.
These are also penalized by the law with a fine of 140 thousand lira. "
The farmer, recalling that there was a density in the drivers' chambers after the plate regulation, said, "We saw that our citizens would be victimized, so at least let's give them some time, and during this period, let's guide them. However, we decided to impose administrative penalties later on those who do not use plates that comply with the standards, and we have implemented this."
"WE GAVE ADDITIONAL TIME TO ELIMINATE PLATE VICTIMIZATION"
Stating that they continue to discuss with TŞOF, the farmer said, "For example, in one of my meetings, they expressed to me: 'Our 573 chambers print 60 thousand plates a day, and despite this, we cannot meet the demands.' This indicates that there is no possibility of meeting this in a short time; if the citizen has applied, and the Drivers' Chamber could not print and provide the plate on time, we think it is not very fair to penalize our citizens here."
The farmer said that they have given a little time to eliminate the victimization in this regard.
MULTIMEDIA REGULATION
Regarding the use of multimedia and visual devices in vehicles, Minister Çiftçi made the following assessment:
"This is one of the issues that society is currently reacting to. The law stipulates the following: First, it should not affect or obstruct the driver's field of vision. Secondly, when the vehicle starts moving, for example, those multimedia environments will be turned off. Both of these need to happen together. There is no problem regarding this in original vehicles. For example, in factory-installed multimedia systems, when the vehicle starts moving, videos cannot be played, movies cannot be watched, but in those that are installed later or in those where the warranty period has expired, you can watch movies and play videos even when the vehicle is in motion. This is one of the issues that the law prohibits and imposes administrative penalties on."
The farmer pointed out that a regulation needs to be issued to clarify the use of multimedia and visual devices in vehicles.
"MY CITIZENS SHOULD BE AT EASE"
"Which ones endanger driving safety, and which ones do not? A regulation needs to be issued regarding sound systems and communication systems," said the farmer, announcing that they will not implement any application related to this article of the law until a certain standard is established and the application becomes clear. "
Interior Minister Çiftçi stated that they aim to issue the application regulation as soon as possible with the consensus of all parties, and he concluded his remarks as follows:
"Our work is ongoing; we are working intensively, and we will issue it in the shortest time possible. We do not intend to prolong this period too much. Until the regulation is issued and the application is clarified, our guidance efforts will continue. Therefore, our citizens should be at ease, meaning they should not be worried in any way. We will prepare a regulation that can satisfy them and ensure driving safety, achieving both together, inshallah."