Estonian Police Consider Raising Speeding Fine Threshold to 6 km/h

The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) is considering raising the speeding fine threshold for speed cameras from the current 3 km/h to 6 km/h. Deputy Director General Kristi Mäe stated that this would allow focusing on more serious offenders and reduce the number of fines for minor speeding violations.

According to her, about 50 percent of violators exceed the speed limit by only 2-3 km/h. In the future, these drivers would no longer receive fines. However, traffic safety expert Dago Antov, a professor at TalTech's Department of Transport Planning, warns that drivers might interpret such a decision as permission to drive faster. He emphasizes the importance of explaining why such decisions are made.

The Estonian parliament (Riigikogu) this week passed amendments requiring police to warn drivers about mobile speed cameras in the future. One of the initiators, Reform Party MP Valdo Randpere, considers the police proposal reasonable. In his opinion, the current practice of fining for minor speed violations is excessive and focuses more on issuing fines rather than improving road safety.

The police noted that the initiative is in the analysis phase and would not require changes to the law – an internal decision by the department would suffice.