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Türkiye has overhauled its traffic penalty system, sharply raising fines and tightening enforcement after the Turkish Grand National Assembly approved sweeping amendments to the Highway Traffic Law. The changes usher in heavier financial sanctions, longer license suspensions and tougher consequences for repeat offenders, marking one of the most significant crackdowns on road violations in recent years.
Designed to strengthen road safety and clamp down on reckless behavior, the new framework rolls out steep penalties for speeding, drunk and drug-impaired driving, aggressive road conduct and ignoring police stop orders, signaling a far stricter approach to traffic enforcement nationwide.
Speeding penalties rise sharply, especially in residential areas
Under the new law, fines for exceeding speed limits now scale up steeply depending on how far a driver goes over the limit.
In residential areas, drivers who exceed the limit by:
License suspensions also apply in serious cases. For example, exceeding the limit in residential zones by 46–55 km/h (28.6–34.1 mph) results in a 30-day suspension, while 66 km/h (41 mph) or more leads to a 90-day suspension.
Outside residential areas, penalties follow a similar structure, with fines reaching ₺30,000($686.95) for exceeding the limit by 71 km/h (44.1 mph) or more. Serious violations also trigger license suspensions of up to 90 days.
Anyone driving without holding a valid driving license will face a ₺40,000 ($915.33) fine.
Drivers who operate a vehicle despite having their license temporarily suspended or revoked will be fined ₺200,000 ($4,577). The same ₺200,000 ($4,577) penalty applies to those whose licenses were formally cancelled but who continue to drive.
In addition, vehicle owners who allow unlicensed drivers to use their cars will receive a ₺40,000 ($915.33) fine through the vehicle’s registration plate.
A first-time red light violation carries a ₺1,000 lira ($22.88) fine. However, repeat offenses within one year increase dramatically:
The law also targets dangerous driving behaviors often referred to locally as “drift” and “makas,” a term used for weaving through traffic by repeatedly switching lanes in a risky manner.
Drivers who endanger traffic by weaving across lanes, blocking traffic flow or driving against traffic on highways face a ₺90,000 ($2,059) fine, a 60-day license suspension and a 30-day vehicle impoundment.
Intentional drifting, defined as deliberately pulling the handbrake or sharply changing direction to spin the vehicle, carries a ₺140,000 ($3,203) fine.
Motorcycle riders performing acrobatic moves such as riding on one wheel face a ₺46,000 lira ($1,052) fine, a 60-day license suspension and a 60-day vehicle ban.
Repeat license suspensions within five years may result in full license cancellation, requiring drivers to re-enroll in driving school and pass exams again.
Drivers found to have more than 0.50 promille (0.05% blood alcohol concentration) will now face a ₺25,000 ($572) fine.
A second offense raises the penalty to ₺50,000 ($1,144), while a third or subsequent offense results in ₺150,000 ($3,432).
Drivers found to be under the influence of narcotics or stimulants will be fined ₺150,000 ($3,432) and have their licenses permanently revoked. Criminal provisions under the Turkish Penal Code also apply.
Refusing a police-requested alcohol or drug test carries the same ₺150,000 ($3,432) fine and a five-year license suspension.
Drivers who aggressively pursue another vehicle with intent to attack, or who exit their vehicle for that purpose, face a ₺180,000 ($4,119) fine, a 60-day license suspension and up to 30 days of vehicle impoundment.
Failing to yield to ambulances, fire engines or vehicles responding to forest fires will result in a ₺46,000 ($1,052) fine and a 30-day license suspension.
Using a mobile phone while driving now results in a ₺5,000 ($114.42) fine. A second offense within one year increases to ₺10,000 ($228.83), while a third or further offense within a year leads to ₺20,000 ($457.67) and a 30-day license suspension each time.
Leaving the scene of a fatal or injury-related accident without authorization can result in a prison sentence of one to three years, alongside a two-year license suspension.
Drivers who ignore a police “stop” order during roadside checks face a ₺200,000 ($4,577) fine, a 60-day license suspension and a 60-day vehicle ban.
The new framework significantly raises the financial and legal stakes for traffic violations in Türkiye, particularly for repeat offenders and behavior considered life-threatening.
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