Traffic fines in Denmark - for what and how much?

Brief and to the point about fines for traffic offenses:

We can receive a fine if we commit a traffic offense and the Danish police stop us in the act, that is, for example, when we drove through a red light or talked on the phone, holding it to our ear while driving, and the police were controlling traffic at that point.

Much more often we can receive a fine in absentia, i.e. not immediately after committing an offense, such as control by means of a measuring device (speed camera). In Denmark, speed cameras are usually mobile, placed along roads, on roadsides or along highways, in places where they are not immediately noticeable. You'll also find gates that record the average speed of travel.

General speed limits:

50 km / h in built-up areas
80 km / h outside built-up areas
130 km / h on the highway

The legal limit for blood alcohol is 0,5 promil. Winter tires are not mandatory in Denmark.

What is the amount of the speeding ticket?

The amount of the fine, of course, depends on the type of offense committed. The minimum fine for speeding in 2024 is 1,200 crowns.

Speed allowance
If you drove at speeds above 140 km/h in addition to the fine you will be ordered to pay a speeding fee of at least DKK 1,000.

Road works
If you drove too fast in a place where the speed limit is temporarily set due to road works or works of a similar nature on or near the road, the fine will be doubled compared to the applicable tariffs. The doubling is done in relation to the total amount of the fine.

It's worth examining the fine schedule below, where you'll find a detailed list of offenses and the prescribed speeding fines for them.

Check here what kind of fine you can get: https://sikkertrafik.dk/rad-og-viden/bil/fart/beregn-din-fartbode/

In addition to fines for blatant offenses, additional penalties have been established, such as the so-called "penalty". clips or retention of driver's license.

Clip in driver's license

What is the so-called “clip” ?

If you have committed a serious traffic offense you will get a clip, which is recorded by your driver's license number in a central registry. The clip is valid for three years after the offense, after which it is automatically deleted. You accumulate three clips up to three years you lose your driver's license. If you are a so-called "young driver," i.e. you have a driver's license for up to three years, your license will be revoked after just two clips.

For what offenses will you get a clipping ?

• Using a hand-held phone while driving (fine 2000 kr) - also tablets, computers, GPS, etc. Instead, you can use voice control, operate, for example, a phone through the car's built-in apps, as well as through a headset or a phone in a holder mounted to the dashboard,
• Speeding more than 30% over the speed limit (fine according to the tariff above) - for high speeding, loss of driver's license (see tariff above),
• if you stay too close to the car in front of you (fine 2,000 kr) - there is no set distance limit. The law says that the distance from an oncoming vehicle must be adjusted so that there is no danger of a collision,
• driving or stopping in the emergency lane (fine 2000 kr) - unless the car is damaged, in which case please remember the warning triangle placed at least 100 m from the vehicle. If you want to take a break while driving on the highway is the so-called Rastepladserne - parking lots are located every 15 minutes or so,
• Failure to buckle up passengers under 15 years of age in accordance with regulations (2,000 kr fine) or if you have children under 135 cm who are not secured with approved safety equipment appropriate to their height and weight (we are talking about car seats, for example),
• running a red light (mandate 2000 kr) ,
• Failure to obey a give way or priority sign and/or stop sign (mandate 2000 kr) ,
• Failure to obey the continuous line (fine 2000 kr) ,
• If being overtaken by another vehicle you will accelerate (fine 2000 kr) ,
• You overtake in a pedestrian lane (fine 2000 kr) ,
• if you drive on the wrong side of the road, in the opposite direction (fine 2000 kr) ,
• If you drive slalom - changing lanes, for example, at an intersection (fine 2000 kr) ,
• if you create unnecessary danger to others when, for example, changing lanes of the road, taking turns, turning on the road, accelerating or decelerating quickly (fine 2000 kr),
• If you drive on the wrong side of the road islands (fine 2000 kr) ,
• If you arrange races on a normal road (fine 2000 kr) ,
• when you cross a railroad crossing and the signal system shows that you are required to stop or the crossing is closed (fine 2000 kr) ,
• THC in the blood (hash) - The penalty for driving with a low blood THC level (0.001 - 0.003 mg / kg) is a clip and a fine of ½ month's net salary. If you have a higher level of THC in your blood, you will receive a fine of 1 month's net salary and either a conditional or unconditional revocation of your driver's license for 3 years.

Retention of driving license

There are two types of driver's license retention - unconditional and conditional.

The driver's license will be conditionally withheld if, for example:

• scored 3 clips up to3 years,
• You exceeded the speed limit by 60%,
• You exceeded the speed limit by 40% at a roadwork site,
• You had between 0.5-1.2 per mille of alcohol in your blood.

The driver's license will be stopped unconditionally if, for example:

• You had more than 1.2 per mille of alcohol in your blood ,
• You exceeded the speed limit by 100%,
• You were driving very dangerously,
• had your driver's license taken away conditionally 2 times in three years.

How to get back a seized driver's license ?

Unconditional seizure of a driver's license, means that you must surrender your license and lose the right to drive for a period of 6 months or longer. After this period, you must pass a control driving test (both a theory test and a practical test) to regain your license.

There is no requirement to attend theory or driving lessons before taking the driving test.

Conditional exemption means that you will keep your driver's license if you pass your driving test (both theory test and practical test) within the time limit set by the police - usually up to 6 months.

If you fail one of the tests, you must submit your driver's license. You will receive it only after passing both tests.

Regardless of whether the taking away of your driver's license was conditional or unconditional, once you get it back, you later have a certain „probationary period.” The probationary period is usually 3 years. During the probationary period, offenses that usually „only” exclude conditionally result in an unconditional exclusion for at least 6 months. If you are a new driver, your license is on probation for the first 3 years.

Driving under the influence of alcohol

As mentioned the maximum you can have 0.5 per mille of alcohol in your blood.

How little can you “drink”?

Don't drive when in doubt. Judging whether you've had a little too much to drink is difficult and uncertain. Even if you think you have control over how long it takes to burn off the alcohol.

That's why the Safe Traffic Council (https://www.sikkertrafik.dk/ ) recommends drinking a maximum of one drink in the amounts listed below if you want to get behind the wheel. However, it is best not to drink alcohol at all.

Below are examples from the Safe Traffic Council's website of how little alcohol you can indicatively consume to stay under 0.5 per mille of alcohol in your blood.

source: https://www.sikkertrafik.dk/raad-og-viden/i-bil/spirituskoersel

Unfortunately, there are no “magic tricks” that will speed up the burning of alcohol. Whether you dance, drink coffee or breathe fresh air.

Over the past ten years, according to the Danish Road Directorate (2009-2018), there has been a significant decrease in the number of people killed and seriously injured in traffic accidents caused by alcohol consumption.

However, positive changes stagnated between 2016 and 2018. Unfortunately, 9 out of 10 people under the influence of alcohol are men.

More about the consequences of drunk driving

Percentages between 0.5 and 1.2

• Conditional retention of driver's license,
• You get a penalty equal to your net monthly salary times the number of beams,
• You must complete the ANT course (ANT stands for alcohol, drugs and traffic). The course lasts 12 hours divided into 4 lessons of 3 hours each and costs DKK 3,200.

Proms between 1.2 and 2.0

• Retention of driver's license unconditionally for 3 years. You can also apply to drive with an alcohol interlock for 3 years (valid from December 15, 2017).
• You get a penalty equal to your net monthly salary times the number of beams,
• You must complete the ANT course (ANT stands for Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic) before you can regain your driver's license/driving with alcohol interlock. The course takes 12 hours divided into 4 lessons of 3 hours each and costs DKK 3,200.
• To regain your driver's license / driving with an alcohol interlock, you must also pass a controlled driving test (both theoretical and driving test).

Above 2.0 per mille

• The driver's license is detained unconditionally for min. 3 years Then you either have to drive with an alcohol interlock for 2 years, or you have to wait another two years to get your license back.
• You will receive 20 days of conditional imprisonment
• You get a penalty of about the equivalent of one month's net salary
• Your car may be impounded
• To regain your driver's license, you must complete the ANT course (ANT stands for Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic). The course lasts 12 hours divided into 4 lessons of 3 hours each and costs DKK 3,200.
• In order to regain your driver's license, you must pass the control driving test (both theoretical and driving test)

Recidivism

• Your driver's license will be unconditionally revoked for a certain period of time - such as 3 years, 5 years or longer,
• You will receive a conditional prison sentence; how long depends on the circumstances,
• You are covered by the Alcolock program ,
• Your car may be impounded - fine

There are no set limits for cyclists. However, you are not allowed to drive in traffic if you are driving or riding dangerously. There are also no special rules for pedestrians as to alcohol consumption limits.

For a complete and up-to-date directory of traffic fines/penalties, visit the Danish police website :Link

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