Dozens of Fines on Transfăgărășan as Police Tighten Checks on DN7C

Transfăgărășan, one of Romania’s most spectacular mountain roads, has recently seen intensified enforcement as Sibiu authorities increase checks on DN7C. In a single operation, officers issued dozens of fines targeting illegal stopping and other serious violations that jeopardize road safety on this route. The measures focus mainly on illegal stopping and parking, but also address other serious offences that endanger road users on this mountain road.

Summary of the police operation on Transfăgărășan

According to a press release from the Sibiu Police Inspectorate (IPJ Sibiu), in a recent action conducted on DN7C, law enforcement identified numerous violations of traffic legislation. Mixed patrols consisting of traffic police and mountain gendarmes imposed 34 contravention penalties solely for illegal stopping and parking.

The complete tally of the operation includes:

• 113 contravention penalties totaling 45,000 lei
• 3 offenses detected under the traffic regime
• 11 driving licenses seized
• 10 registration certificates withdrawn
• 15 vehicles tested with a sound level meter

Noise pollution checks

An important aspect of the controls is testing the noise level produced by vehicles. Of the 15 cars checked with the sound level meter, 2 drivers were sanctioned and their registration certificates were withdrawn. They were found driving cars with exhaust systems illegally modified, exceeding permitted noise levels.

Unauthorized exhaust system modifications are a common issue on mountain roads, where many drivers believe such changes boost vehicle performance. In reality, removing the catalytic converter or mounting a sport exhaust without homologation can lead to substantial fines and withdrawal of the registration certificate.

Incident in Sibiu: driving without a license

On August 13, traffic police faced a serious case in the city of Sibiu. A 26-year-old man attempted to evade a roadside check by accelerating upon seeing the police. The chase ended in the area of Piata Unirii, where the suspect was blocked in traffic.

Investigations revealed that the driver did not have a valid license, his permit being suspended. In such cases, Romanian law provides for severe penalties.

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Legal framework: driving without a license

According to Article 335 of the Penal Code, driving a vehicle without a driving license is a serious offense:

• Paragraph 1: Driving on public roads a motor vehicle or tram by a person who does not possess a driving license is punishable by imprisonment from 1 to 5 years.
• Paragraph 2: Driving a vehicle by a person whose license has been withdrawn, canceled, suspended, or who does not have the right to drive in Romania is punishable by imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years or by a fine.
• Paragraph 3: Entrusting a vehicle to a person known to be in one of the situations mentioned above is punished with the same penalty.

In the Sibiu case, a criminal case was opened for the offense provided in Article 335 paragraph 2 of the Penal Code.

The Romanian traffic fine system

The value of the penalty point for 2022 remains unchanged at 145 lei, a sum established in 2017 based on the gross wage in that period (1450 lei). Under the Traffic Code, a penalty point represents 10% of the average gross wage in the economy.

Although there were discussions about raising the value of the penalty point to 255 lei, this initiative was not implemented.

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Penalty classes for individuals and legal entities

The Romanian traffic fine system is structured into five classes:

For individuals:

• Class I: 2-3 penalty points (290-435 lei)
• Class II: 4-5 points (580-725 lei)
• Class III: 6-8 points (870-1,160 lei)
• Class IV: 9-20 points (1,305-2,900 lei)

For legal entities:

• Class V: 21-100 points (3,045-14,500 lei)

The maximum penalty for individuals is 2,900 lei, while legal entities can be fined up to 14,500 lei.

Importance of following the rules on mountain roads

Transfăgărășan attracts thousands of tourists and car enthusiasts each year, and is considered one of the most beautiful mountain roads in the world. However, the road’s characteristics — tight hairpin curves, large elevation changes, and sections without barriers — make adherence to traffic rules essential for everyone’s safety.

Illegal stopping, excessive speed, and illegal modifications to vehicles not only attract penalties but can also lead to serious accidents under the specific conditions of a mountain road. Enforcement and prevention actions by police and gendarmes aim to keep traffic flowing and to prevent incidents that could pose a real danger to road users.

As the tourist season continues, authorities remain vigilant in monitoring driver behavior on Transfăgărășan, applying firm penalties for any traffic violations.