Transport Minister calls for wealth related traffic fines

Transport Minister Vít Bárta has called for motorists’ fines to be related to their ability to pay. Mr. Bárta has apparently been inspired by the systems in Switzerland and Finland where such wealth related penalties exit. He says such fines could help stop Czech roads being a Wild West for rich young drivers.

Although the police have welcomed the idea, it has been given a cool response from the two other government coalition parties, TOP 09 and the Civic Democrats. Prime Minister Petr Nečas said on Sunday he was opposed to the idea. Fears have also been raised that such a step might be unconstitutional because it infringes the principle of equal treatment before the law. The minister wants to table his proposal by the end of the year.