European traffic rules apply in Montenegro. They are not particularly different from Russian ones, but they still have their own characteristics:
- In cities and other populated areas, the maximum speed is 50 km/h, outside the city limits – 80 km/h. The fine for exceeding the speed limit is from 30 to 2,000 euros.
- Dipped beam when driving is mandatory 24 hours a day, all year round. Not using low beam headlights will make you €30 poorer.
- Seat belts are mandatory for all passengers. The fine is from 40 to 100 euros.
- The one on the wheel has the right of way on a circular road . The fine is from €100 to €450.
- The driver is allowed to talk on a mobile phone only using the hands-free system. Driving with a mobile phone on your cheek “costs” from €60 to €150.
- Children under 5 years old are transported only in special seats that hold them. It is forbidden to transport children under 12 years of age in the front seat without a child seat. The fine for violation is from 40 to 100 euros.
- Let’s assume that the alcohol content in the driver’s blood is up to 0.2 ppm. Fine for driving under the influence of alcohol – from €70 to €2000, possible arrest
- At a traffic light with an additional section, the main green signal allows movement in all directions. That is, if the main green light is lit, and there is no right arrow, you can still turn right.
As a rule, in Montenegro, the fines have some variation “from” and “to”. The maximum fine is assigned to a person who violates not for the first time, has greatly exceeded or “does not admit guilt”, that is, behaves aggressively and inappropriately in a conversation with a police officer, threatens or tries to bribe.
If you have been stopped in Montenegro, be calm and polite. If you know even a little Montenegrin, it helps.
Say hello. Show the driver’s license and technical passport for the car. If the car is rented, the contract must be with you.
How to pay a fine in Montenegro
If you violate traffic rules, the policeman will take away your license and issue a fine. He has no right to take cash, so he will either have to pay by card (if the policeman has a terminal), or go to the bank or the post office. After payment, you need to bring the receipt to the policeman, and he will return the license. If the time is later and the post office is not working, then you can pay the fine the next day, but you will have to pick up your license at the police station of the city where you were detained. That is, if you live in Bari, and you got to Tivat, then the next day you have to go to the Tivat police and pick up your license there.
In case of serious violations, the driver will have to visit the police judge in the city where he violated traffic rules. The judge determines the amount of the fine and issues two documents with details: for the payment of the fine and court costs (about €20). They must be paid at a bank branch. Two different receipts are filled out to pay the fine and costs.
Receipts are filled out by hand, in 3 copies. The cashier will leave one copy at the bank, keep the second for yourself just in case, and take the third to the court. After checking the receipts, the documents will be returned to you.
Such a long procedure can be avoided if the offense is not serious and the fine is less than €100. Before the police officer starts filling out the documents, ask him to “pay in cash on the spot”, say that you are a tourist, admit your fault, but you violated it by accident, apologize. Of course, this is illegal, but a police officer may agree. Maybe even let go just like that.
Is it easy to drive in Montenegro?
If you are going to Montenegro for the first time, you will definitely have questions: what are the roads like in the country, how do the locals drive, will you be comfortable driving?
We will try to answer comprehensively. So, there is nothing terrible or particularly difficult about driving a car in this country. The distance is short, settlements are quite frequent, the roads themselves are in good condition. If you have a map or navigator with you, you will not be in danger of getting lost or staying “far from civilization” without gasoline.
There are several points to consider:
- Locals drive quite aggressively, but carefully and attentively, pedestrians are allowed through.
- In cities, some streets are quite narrow, and cars parked along the sidewalk create an additional obstacle. It turns out that the two-way road is as wide as one lane. How to drive through such streets? There is only one piece of advice: be careful and give way if possible. The good news is, rest assured, you will be treated as well.
- Sometimes it happens that two cars have blocked the intersection, and the drivers are enthusiastically talking to each other. To honk They will disperse and miss.
- Some mountain roads are very winding and narrow – about one and a half lanes. You have to be very careful here, but you should not be afraid of them, because even the buses depart normally. There is a general rule followed by all drivers in Montenegro: the one who is more comfortable pushing to the side of the road lets pass. Sometimes, in order to pass oncoming traffic, you have to reverse to the nearest pocket.
- There are also wide mountain roads in Montenegro – two lanes in each direction. It is very convenient to move along them, but even here there are rules: if you drive in the left lane and you are honked during the day or blinked in the distance at night, then you have to move to the right and let them pass.
- Flashing headlights warn of traffic police posts on the road.