MIA: More than half of Safe City violations were recorded on vehicles with foreign licence plates

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) says the Safe City system has recorded 310 865 traffic offenses since it began operating in February, and that more than half of those were committed by vehicles with foreign licence plates.

"The Ministry of Internal Affairs informs the public that in the period from 02.02.2026 to 20.08.2026 the 'Safe City' system recorded a total of 310 865 offenses, the majority of which relate to driving a vehicle at a speed greater than the permitted limit – 301 835 offenses," the MIA said.

According to the ministry, of those 310 865 violations, 180 378 were registered on vehicles bearing registration plates from other countries. In the 19–20 August period specifically, 5 514 offenses were recorded by vehicles with licence plates different from domestic ones.

"With regard to the offenses committed by vehicles with foreign registration plates, in the period from the start of the 'Safe City' system's operation a total of 180 378 offenses have been recorded, while in the period from 19.08.2026 to 20.08.2026 a total of 5 514 offenses were recorded by vehicles with foreign registration plates," the ministry added.

Checks at the Tabanovce exit and border enforcement

The MIA began imposing fines on foreign drivers who committed traffic violations while passing through North Macedonia from Wednesday, 19 August. Enforcement started at the Tabanovce border crossing on the North Macedonia–Serbia border, where officers check outgoing vehicles that the Safe City system previously registered for offenses.

"Drivers are informed that an offense has been recorded and are issued a report for the committed traffic offense with a penal order, with the possibility to settle the fine according to the legal procedure," the ministry said. The initial application of this mechanism caused congestion and longer queues at the crossing, a result the MIA attributed to starting enforcement and the processing of previously recorded violations. The move drew the strongest objections from citizens of neighbouring Serbia.

The ministry also announced a new web application that allows foreign drivers to quickly check whether they have traffic offenses recorded by the Safe City system, to view issued penal orders and to pay fines electronically.

Photo: MVR