Can I contest a traffic fine?
Yes: you can contest the fine by a complaint to the district court, within 15 days. The contravention report can be challenged by a contravention complaint, filed within 15 days of the fine being served (handed over). After this period, an uncontested report becomes an enforceable title. The complaint is filed at the district court (judecătoria) where the offence was committed or where you live. An important advantage: the complaint suspends enforcement of the fine, from registration at the court until the decision is pronounced. You need: the complaint (in two signed copies), a copy of the contested report and proof of paying the 20 lei stamp fee. Missing essential details from the report (the officer's name, the offence, the signature) can render it void.
📋 The rules
- Deadline: 15 days from the fine being served
- Complaint to the district court (offence place or home)
- The complaint suspends enforcement until the decision
- Stamp fee: 20 lei; complaint in 2 copies + report copy
- Essential defects in the report: can mean nullity
🔓 Exceptions
- After 15 days, the uncontested report becomes an enforceable title
- The hearing date set by the court is usually within 30 days
- Missing mandatory details in the report: grounds for nullity
⚠️ Penalties & fines
If you don't contest within 15 days, the report becomes an enforceable title and the fine is enforced (garnishment, forced execution). If you contest, enforcement is suspended until the case is resolved. The cost is low: the stamp fee is just 20 lei. To contest properly: draft the complaint in two signed copies, attach a copy of the report and proof of the fee, then file it at the competent district court within the 15 days. Check the report: if essential details are missing (the officer's name and position, your data, the description of the offence, the signature), you can invoke nullity. You can also ask to suspend a complementary sanction, where applicable.
📎 Official sources
- GO 2/2001 on the legal regime of contraventions →
- GEO 195/2002 · appeals against the report →
- Ministry of Internal Affairs · contesting fines →
❓ Frequently asked
How long do I have to contest a fine?
Within 15 days of the contravention report being served (handed over). After this period, the uncontested fine becomes an enforceable title and can be enforced. So, if you want to challenge it, it's important to file the complaint within the 15 days.
Where do I file the complaint against the fine?
The contravention complaint is filed at the district court where the offence was committed or in whose area you have your home or registered office. You need the complaint in two signed copies, a copy of the contested report and proof of paying the 20 lei stamp fee.
Do I have to pay the fine while contesting it?
No. An important advantage of the complaint is that it suspends enforcement of the fine, from registration at the court until the judicial decision is pronounced. So you're not obliged to pay the contested fine until the court rules definitively on your case.
How much does it cost to contest a fine?
Very little: the stamp fee for the contravention complaint is just 20 lei. This is the main cost of the procedure, to which you can optionally add lawyer's fees if you choose to be represented. The procedure is therefore financially accessible.
When is a fine report void?
The report can be void if essential details are missing: the officer's name, surname and position, your name and personal identification code, the description of the offence and the issuing officer's signature. These defects can be invoked in the complaint and can lead to the court annulling the fine.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
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