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It is illegal to stop travellers at border because of unpaid fines

Photo: BNR

Bulgaria's  Constitutional Court has ruled that unpaid fines cannot be collected at the borders and the travel of Bulgarian citizens cannot be restricted, lawyer Ivan Todorov has told the BNR. However, the exact same mechanism has been introduced through an order to the Border and Traffic Police.

The measure directly restricts the right to free movement in the EU, which is part of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and several decisions by the Court of Justice. Authorities have the right to take such measures when stopping a vehicle in the country, but not at the borders. That is why there have already been lawsuits filed against the practice of collecting fines at border checkpoints, Mr. Todorov added.



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