Drivers from North Macedonia lose cars in Bulgaria after speeding

Two drivers connected to North Macedonia had their cars taken off the road in Bulgaria after being caught driving well above the speed limit near the Gjueshevo border crossing. Bulgarian traffic police ordered temporary vehicle removals and two-month driving bans following the speed checks.

The first driver was a 22-year-old who was stopped driving a Seat Leon at 102 kilometres per hour on the stretch where he was recorded. A second case involved a 36-year-old United States citizen driving a Škoda at 100 kilometres per hour.

Measures and procedures applied by traffic police

Authorities treated both incidents as serious speed offences — described in the reports as exceeding permitted speeds by more than 40 km/h in inhabited areas or by more than 50 km/h outside populated places. After the checks the drivers were taken to the Traffic Police sector in Kyustendil for further legal procedures.

In both cases officials imposed a two-month ban on driving motor vehicles. The cars were temporarily removed from circulation for one month and transferred to the parking lot of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Kyustendil, where they will remain for the duration of the measures.

The same set of measures was also applied in a separate case in the village of Grljano, where traffic police recorded a 60-year-old Serbian citizen driving a Lotus at 99 kilometres per hour. He received an identical two-month driving ban and a one-month vehicle removal.

Authorities emphasised that these sanctions go beyond ordinary fines: in addition to losing the right to drive for a period, offenders can be temporarily deprived of the use of their vehicle, which may complicate travel plans. Drivers planning trips through Bulgaria are advised to follow posted speed limits carefully, especially when passing through populated areas where limits are lower.

Photo: press material from the event