This is evidenced by data collected by Digi24 in 20 municipalities—the administrative centers of counties.
For traffic fines issued in 2025 alone, local authorities are attempting to collect over 48 million RON (about $11 million). The total amount of unpaid traffic fines in these cities reached 144 million RON (about $33 million). For comparison, as Digi24 notes, these funds would be enough to reconstruct approximately 50 km of county roads.
Nationwide, on average, only 63.2% of traffic fines were collected last year. The situation is worst in southern Romania. In Craiova and Râmnicu Vâlcea, only 16% of the fines issued have been paid. In Craiova alone, the outstanding amount for last year alone is about 3 million RON (approximately $690,000).
The largest amount of unpaid fines for 2025 was recorded in Timișoara—about 21 million RON (approximately $4.8 million). In Buzău, drivers owe 11.6 million RON (about $2.7 million). Meanwhile, Cluj-Napoca and Oradea have some of the best collection rates: more than 80% of traffic fines are paid there.
According to the source, the problem is not solely financial in nature. In five cities, fines issued more than 20 years ago are still on record. The oldest unpaid fine was recorded in Focșani; it dates back to 2000. In Craiova and Deva, there are outstanding fines from 2002; in Sibiu, from 2003; and in Targoviste, from 2005.
Against the backdrop of low fine collection rates in Romania, measures are being discussed to tighten penalties for habitual defaulters, including restrictions on drivers who fail to pay fines by the deadline.
