27.02.2026 08:31
With the changes made to the Highway Traffic Law, penalties for many rule violations such as driving under the influence, speeding, running a red light, aggressive driving, and drifting have been increased. Accordingly, those driving under the influence will face fines of 150,000, those who do not comply with the "stop" warning and those driving with a revoked license will face fines of 200,000, and fines of up to 180,000 will be imposed for persistent stalking with the intent to attack; sanctions such as license revocation have also been expanded.
The proposal for the Law on Amendments to the Highway Traffic Law, which includes regulations aimed at increasing traffic fines, has been published in the Official Gazette and has come into effect.
With the new regulation, there are significant increases in traffic fines; heavy penalties have been introduced for offenses such as aggressive driving, use of flashing lights, fake license plates, driving without a license, and praising rule violations on social media.
PENALTY FOR EXCEEDING SPEED LIMIT
For exceeding speed limits within residential areas, those exceeding by 6-10 kilometers/hour will be fined 2,000 lira, those exceeding by 11-15 kilometers/hour will be fined 4,000 lira, those exceeding by 16-20 kilometers/hour will be fined 6,000 lira, those exceeding by 21-25 kilometers/hour will be fined 8,000 lira, those exceeding by 26-35 kilometers/hour will be fined 12,000 lira, those exceeding by 36-45 kilometers/hour will be fined 15,000 lira, those exceeding by 46-55 kilometers/hour will be fined 20,000 lira, those exceeding by 56-65 kilometers/hour will be fined 25,000 lira, and those exceeding 66 kilometers/hour or more will be fined 30,000 lira as an administrative fine.
For exceeding the aforementioned speed limits outside residential areas, those exceeding by 11-15 kilometers/hour will be fined 2,000 lira, those exceeding by 16-20 kilometers/hour will be fined 4,000 lira, those exceeding by 21-25 kilometers/hour will be fined 6,000 lira, those exceeding by 26-30 kilometers/hour will be fined 8,000 lira, those exceeding by 31-40 kilometers/hour will be fined 12,000 lira, those exceeding by 41-50 kilometers/hour will be fined 15,000 lira, those exceeding by 51-60 kilometers/hour will be fined 20,000 lira, those exceeding by 61-70 kilometers/hour will be fined 25,000 lira, and those exceeding 71 kilometers/hour or more will be fined 30,000 lira as an administrative fine.
For those who violate the speed limit within residential areas by more than 46-55 kilometers/hour, their driver's licenses will be revoked for 30 days each time; for those who violate by more than 56-65 kilometers/hour, their licenses will be revoked for 60 days each time; and for those who violate by more than 66 kilometers/hour, their licenses will be revoked for 90 days each time.
For those who exceed the speed limit outside residential areas by 51-60 kilometers/hour, their driver's licenses will be revoked for 30 days each time; for those exceeding by 61-70 kilometers/hour, their licenses will be revoked for 60 days each time; and for those exceeding by more than 71 kilometers/hour, their licenses will be revoked for 90 days each time.
PENALTY FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE
Those who drive motor vehicles without a driver's license will be fined 40,000 lira, and those who drive motor vehicles despite their driver's license being temporarily or provisionally revoked by courts or public prosecutors, or by authorized officials as specified in the law, will be fined 200,000 lira as an administrative fine.
Those who drive motor vehicles despite their driver's license being canceled will also be fined 200,000 lira as an administrative fine. Additionally, the operator who allows the driving of motor vehicles will be fined 40,000 lira as an administrative fine based on the registration plate.
PENALTIES FOR RED LIGHT VIOLATIONS
Drivers who violate red lights will pay a fine of 1,000 lira. If the same violation occurs a second time within a year, the fine will be 10,000 lira; for a third violation, it will be 15,000 lira; for a fourth violation, it will be 20,000 lira; for a fifth violation, it will be 30,000 lira; and for a sixth violation, it will be 80,000 lira as an administrative fine.
PENALTY FOR SWERVING AND DRIFTING
Those who change lanes multiple times in a way that disrupts or endangers traffic, those who drive their vehicles in the opposite direction on highways or divided roads outside residential areas, and those who stop their vehicles on the road in a way that partially or completely obstructs the flow of traffic with arbitrary maneuvers while driving in a convoy or individually will be fined 90,000 lira each. Additionally, the driver's licenses of these drivers will be revoked for 60 days, and their vehicles will be banned from traffic for 30 days.
Without any obligation, those who intentionally and knowingly pull the handbrake or change the direction of the vehicle suddenly by other means outside of turning rules on the roads will be fined 140,000 lira as an administrative fine.
Drivers of motorbikes and motorcycles who perform similar acrobatic maneuvers that negatively affect driving safety, such as riding on one wheel, leaning on the seat, standing on the seat, spinning around, or skidding the wheel, will be fined 46,000 lira as an administrative fine, their driver's licenses will be revoked for 60 days, and their vehicles will be banned from traffic for 60 days.
Revoked driver's licenses will be returned at the end of the period, provided that the driver passes a psychotechnical evaluation and it is determined that there is no obstacle to obtaining a driver's license, and that all administrative fines have been collected.
Driver's licenses that are revoked for the second time within 5 years from the date of the last violation will be canceled. Those whose driver's licenses are canceled will need to attend driving courses and successfully obtain a motor vehicle driver's certificate in the exams to be able to obtain a driver's license again.
PENALTY FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL
As a result of inspections, the administrative fine for drivers found to be driving with an alcohol level above 0.50 promille has been increased from 700 lira to 25,000 lira.
For those whose driver's licenses are revoked due to driving under the influence of alcohol, the administrative fine for a second violation has been increased from 877 lira to 50,000 lira. These drivers will be fined 150,000 lira for three or more violations.
Drivers found to have consumed drugs or stimulants will be fined 150,000 lira as an administrative fine, and their driver's licenses will be canceled. Additionally, the provisions of the Turkish Penal Code will be applied to these individuals.
Drivers who do not undergo testing to determine whether they have used drugs or stimulants or the amount of alcohol in their blood will be fined 150,000 lira as an administrative fine, and their driver's licenses will be revoked for 5 years.
PENALTY FOR FOLLOWING AND GETTING OUT OF A VEHICLE WITH INTENT TO ATTACK
Drivers who persistently follow another vehicle with the intent to attack or get out of the vehicle for this purpose will be fined 180,000 lira as an administrative fine, their driver's licenses will be revoked for 60 days, and their vehicles may be banned from traffic for 30 days.
Driver's licenses revoked for this reason will be returned after the driver undergoes a psychotechnical evaluation.
PENALTY FOR NOT YIELDING TO AMBULANCES AND FIRE TRUCKS
Drivers who do not make way for ambulances, vehicles carrying injured or emergency patients, and fire trucks fighting forest fires, and who do not stop if necessary, will be fined 46,000 lira as an administrative fine, and their driver's licenses will be revoked for 30 days.
PENALTY FOR USING MOBILE PHONES WHILE DRIVING
Drivers using mobile phones and similar communication devices while driving will be fined 5,000 lira. If this rule is violated for the second time within one year from the date of the last violation, drivers will be fined 10,000 lira, and if this rule is violated 3 or more times within a year, drivers will be fined 20,000 lira each time, and their driving licenses will be revoked for 30 days each time.
PENALTY FOR FLEEING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT
Drivers who leave the scene of traffic accidents resulting in death or injury without permission, except in emergencies, will face imprisonment of 1 to 3 years. The driving licenses of drivers who leave the scene will be revoked by the relevant authorities for 2 years. To return the revoked driving licenses, all administrative fines must be fully collected.
SEVERE PENALTY FOR NOT OBEYING "STOP" SIGNALS
In inspections conducted either stationary or while driving, those who flee without obeying the "stop" signal despite police warnings and signs will be fined 200,000 lira, their driving licenses will be revoked for 60 days, and their vehicles will be banned from traffic for 60 days.