How fines are paid at Tabanovce — no cash, passport returned only after card withdrawal
The "Safe City" system applies to foreign vehicles from August 19; fines are paid only by card, and the passport is returned after a successful transaction.
Serbian tourists returning through North Macedonia now face new rules at the Tabanovce border crossing after the "Safe City" system began to be applied to foreign vehicles on August 19.
At the counter the border police do not accept cash: the fine is paid exclusively by payment card. The border police officer takes only the passport of the vehicle owner and returns it only after the transaction has completed successfully.
Paying on the spot also carries a financial relief measure — the amount is automatically reduced by 50 percent when the fine is settled immediately at the border.
Notifications and online payment
No paper report is issued at the counter; drivers dictate their e-mail and an automatic notification from the Ministry of Interior (MVR) arrives at the provided address. The MVR also enables checking and paying any potential fines through the web application at safecountry.mvr.gov.mk.
Cameras are installed along Corridor 10 — a route often used by travelers to Greece. Locations to watch out for include before the exit for Skopje, at the "Bastion Plaza" rest area, after the exit for Veles and on the overpasses before the Bogorodica crossing. In addition to speeding, the system registers running a red light, illegal parking and expired registration.
There are special tolerances for speed: with a limit of 50 km/h a fine is issued for speeds over 60 km/h, while with a limit of 100 km/h the "Safe City" system reacts to speeds of 113 km/h and above. All drivers transiting the country are urged to adjust their speed and to prepare a payment card with sufficient funds before reaching the border crossing to avoid additional delays.
Photo: press material from the event
