With Law No. 7574 entering into force in 2026, comprehensive changes have been made to the Highway Traffic Law. The most important changes include increases in fines for drunk driving, speeding, mobile phone use and red light violations. This article will discuss the main points of the new law and ways to protect drivers' rights.
Important Fines (2026 Tariff)
- Drunk driving: 1st time 14,000 TL + 6 months license revocation, repeat 28,000 TL + 2 years
- Alcohol over 0.50‰: Converts to judicial fine (TCK 179)
- Mobile phone use: 1,350 TL (previously: 472 TL) — 186% increase
- Speeding (30%+): 5,000 TL + license revocation
- Red light violation: 1,500 TL + 20 penalty points
- Not wearing seatbelt: 850 TL (previously: 235 TL)
- Driving without license: 12,000 TL + vehicle impoundment
License Revocation Periods
The penalty point system has changed with the 2026 regulation:
- Driver reaching 100 penalty points: 2 months license revocation (previously warning)
- 100 points in repeat: 4 months
- 3rd repeat: 1 year
- 4th repeat: Indefinite cancellation (must complete driving school again)
New Violation Types
New violations were defined in 2026:
- Driving while controlling drone/UAV: 2,000 TL
- Driving during social media broadcast: 1,500 TL + license revocation
- Entering electric scooter into traffic (on roads other than motor vehicles): 500 TL
- Distracting attention in autonomous driving mode: 1,000 TL
Objection Periods and Routes
Against a traffic fine:
- Administrative stage: Objection to the superior of the one who issued the fine within 15 days of notification (e-Government or written)
- Criminal magistrate: Application within 15 days from the rejection of the administrative objection or from notification
- Administrative court: For some special fines
Cases Where the Fine Is Annulled
- Notification irregularity
- Contradiction in the on-site report
- Radar/camera calibration period has expired
- Violation location and plate not matching
- Driver change (someone else was driving) — with proof
- Statute of limitations (5 years)
Driver Determination in Automatic Fines
If the "I was not driving" objection is accepted in fines issued by radar or MOBESE, the vehicle owner must notify the real driver within 30 days. If not notified, the fines remain with the vehicle owner.
Discount and Early Payment
When paid within 15 days of notification without objection, a 25% discount is applied. If not paid within this period, it is collected by enforcement by the tax office.
As Elazığ Law Office
In traffic fine objection processes, we provide our clients with services in: fine report review, administrative objection petition, criminal magistrate application, defense in drunk driving cases and representation in license restoration applications.