Major Traffic Law Overhaul, Gender Equality, and New Rules for Electricity Suppliers
Over the past week, significant amendments to the Law on Road Traffic Safety were published, regulating the use of electric scooters, introducing restrictions for young drivers, and clarifying rules on vehicle towing and registration. Additionally, a new Law on Gender Equality was enacted, excise duties on diesel fuel were reduced, and quality standards for electricity supply were established.
Transport
The official concept of a light electric vehicle (e-scooter) has been introduced.
The law now defines a "light electric vehicle". This category includes vehicles with a motor power of up to 0.6 kW, a maximum design speed of up to 25 km/h, and an unladen mass of up to 35 kg. The amendment was made to Art. 7.
Strict rules for riding light electric vehicles have been established.
Persons under 16 years of age are prohibited from operating light electric vehicles on public roads. Carrying passengers and towing trailers are forbidden. If there is no bicycle path, riding on the roadway is permitted on roads where the speed limit is up to 30 km/h (or up to 50 km/h for persons over 18). The rules are set out in the new Art. 90a.
Restrictions have been introduced for young drivers under 21 years of age.
Drivers who have not reached 21 years of age are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle between 00:00 and 05:00. They are also forbidden from driving category B vehicles with an engine power exceeding 80 kW, unless accompanied by a person who has held a valid driving license for at least five years. The restrictions were added to Art. 176a.
Speed rules now apply to average driving speed as well.
The law stipulates that provisions relating to speed apply not only to the currently measured speed but also to the average speed of a vehicle on a given road section. The norm was introduced in Art. 38a.
Cyclists are required to wear a reflective vest outside populated areas.
A bicycle driver moving on the roadway of a public road outside a settlement is obliged to use a vest with light-reflecting properties at night and during the day in case of reduced visibility. The requirement is specified in Art. 89.
The decision to tow a vehicle is now made exclusively by the police.
The mention of a communal inspector has been removed from the article regulating the towing of improperly parked vehicles. Now, the order to move a vehicle to another location is issued exclusively by an authorized police officer. The change was made to Art. 294.
Vehicle registration rules for persons with refugee status have been clarified.
A provision has been added to the law stating that the registration of a vehicle for a natural person can be carried out according to the place of residence of a person who has been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection. The norm is prescribed in Art. 269.
An explicit ban on damaged license plates and stickers on them has been introduced.
It has been clarified that license plates on a vehicle must not be damaged. In addition, they must not contain other markings and content that are not prescribed. The requirement was added to Art. 277.
Special Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms
An Agency for Gender Equality is being established.
The new law provides for the establishment of a specialized Agency that will monitor and analyze the state of gender equality, conduct independent research, and make recommendations to competent authorities. The Agency's competencies are described in Art. 32.
Fines have been introduced for state bodies for non-compliance with gender equality.
The law prescribes fines from 30 to 2,000 euros for the responsible person in a state administration body and local self-government. A penalty can be imposed, for example, for not using gender-sensitive language or failing to assess the impact of decisions on gender equality, according to Art. 48.
Energy
A minimum quality of electricity delivery and supply has been established.
Rules have been adopted establishing the minimum quality level of electricity transmission, distribution, and supply services. The standards are mandatory for system operators and suppliers in relation to each customer, as stated in Art. 5.
Customers have gained the right to financial compensation for poor-quality services.
If a supplier or system operator fails to meet the established minimum quality, they are obliged to provide financial compensation to the customer within 30 days from the date the irregularity is determined. The payment procedure is regulated by Art. 29.
Budget and Tax Law
The excise duty amount on diesel fuel has been temporarily reduced.
The Government has adopted a decision to reduce the excise duty amount for the turnover of gas oils (diesel fuel) used as motor fuel. The amount has been reduced to 352 euros per 1000 liters (0.352 euros per liter). The measure applies from July 28 to August 10, 2026, according to Art. 2.