Public consultation: Cross-border cooperation on traffic offences to be strengthened within the EU

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is requesting views on the draft government proposal that would implement the EU's new legislative provisions concerning cross-border cooperation related to traffic offences. At the same time, regulation concerning the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities would be implemented nationally. Responses may be submitted until 28 August 2026.

The draft government proposal would implement the amendments to the CBE Directive on facilitating the cross-border exchange of information concerning traffic offences. The amending directive was issued in December 2024. The purpose of the amending directive is to enhance the investigation of traffic offences and the enforcement of sanctions for offences committed by vehicles registered in an EU country other than the one in which the offence took place. This applies, for example, to situations where a driver from another EU country commits a road traffic offence in Finland or a Finnish driver commits a road traffic offence in another EU country. The aim is to improve road safety.

According to the government proposal, the legislation would provide for cooperation and mutual assistance between the authorities in different EU countries. The police authorities could request another EU country to provide technical data relating to a vehicle or the personal data of the person concerned to enable the identification of a person responsible for the traffic offence. If the person cannot be identified on the basis of information from a register of vehicles, for example, the police authorities could request additional information from the authorities in the vehicle's Member State of registration or the Member State of residence of the person concerned.

The proposal would also provide for mutual assistance between the authorities regarding the service of documents relating to traffic offences. An authority in another Member State could assist in delivering the documents to the person concerned when service of the documents by the police authorities is not possible.

In addition, cooperation between Member States would be expanded to include the enforcement of administrative financial penalties imposed for traffic offences. If a financial penalty imposed in Finland is not paid, assistance with its enforcement could be requested from the person's Member State of residence or registration.

In Finland, the national point of contact for the CBE Directive would be the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.

At the same time, regulation concerning the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities would be implemented nationally. The aim of the regulation is to harmonise the parking cards for persons with disabilities used within the EU, ensure their recognition across borders, and reduce related risks of forgery and fraud.

What’s next?

Responses to the draft government proposal may be submitted via the public consultation service at Lausuntopalvelu.fi. Responses may be submitted until 28 August 2026. The feedback received during the public consultation will be taken into consideration when the preparation of the legislation continues in the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

The government proposal is due to be submitted to Parliament during the autumn session of 2026.

Inquiries:

Sofia Johansson, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 342 090, [email protected] (CBE Directive)

Juuso Suomento, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 342 071, [email protected] (parking card)