Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

It is illegal to stop travellers at border because of unpaid fines

Photo: BNR

Bulgaria's  Constitutional Court has ruled that unpaid fines cannot be collected at the borders and the travel of Bulgarian citizens cannot be restricted, lawyer Ivan Todorov has told the BNR. However, the exact same mechanism has been introduced through an order to the Border and Traffic Police.

The measure directly restricts the right to free movement in the EU, which is part of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and several decisions by the Court of Justice. Authorities have the right to take such measures when stopping a vehicle in the country, but not at the borders. That is why there have already been lawsuits filed against the practice of collecting fines at border checkpoints, Mr. Todorov added.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Band of rain to sweep across Bulgaria from west to east

On Friday, morning temperatures will range from 10 to 15°C, with 10°C in Sofia. Rain is expected in the western regions in the early hours. During the day, skies will remain cloudy as rain moves from west to east, gradually easing in the afternoon with..

published on 10/23/25 7:05 PM
Rumen Radev

Bulgaria and Vietnam should capitalise on their strategic geographic positions, says president Radev

Bulgaria and Vietnam should make the most of their strategic geographic positions – Vietnam in Southeast Asia and Bulgaria in Southeast Europe – acting as a gateway for goods and services from Asia to Europe , President Rumen Radev said on Thursday. He..

published on 10/23/25 4:03 PM

INSAIT model gives robots unprecedented 3D spatial intelligence

The Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT) at Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’ has released SPEAR-1, an open-source AI model that gives industrial robots 3D spatial intelligence . The technology is..

published on 10/23/25 3:57 PM