Appealing Electronic Tickets and Traffic Police Fines

The camera captured someone else's car, or a different person was behind the wheel? The electronic ticket can be cancelled. "Petranov, Nedkov & Partners" Law Firm defends companies and drivers in Sofia and across the country in appeals against electronic tickets and penalty decrees issued by the Traffic Police.

What happened

A company car was captured by a camera at 83 km/h in a built-up area where the limit was 50 km/h. The electronic ticket was sent to the company manager – the owner of the car. However, he was not driving the vehicle that day; an employee of the company was behind the wheel.

How we won

Before the court we presented a logbook and a travel order showing that on the date of the offence the vehicle was driven by an authorised employee along a specific route. The court accepted the evidence and cancelled the ticket – the manager had not committed the offence.

The law is clear: the fine is imposed on the owner only if the actual driver cannot be identified. When there is evidence of who was really driving, liability cannot fall on the company or its manager.

When a ticket can be successfully appealed

• The vehicle was driven by another person and this can be proven – with a logbook, travel order, GPS data or witnesses;
• The electronic ticket contains procedural defects – an inaccurate description of the offence, wrong data on place, time or registration number;
• The technical device (camera) does not meet the requirements or there is no proof of metrological inspection;
• The procedure for drawing up and serving the ticket or penalty decree was breached.

Important for companies and drivers nationwide

• You received a ticket but the car was driven by someone else – we can help;
• A company car captured by a camera on the roads to and from Sofia – a frequent situation we know well;
• You did not file a declaration of the actual driver within the 14-day period – this is not necessarily the end, defence options remain;
• We work with clients in Sofia and the region, as well as across the country.

Steps when you receive an electronic ticket

1. Keep the envelope and the ticket – the date of service determines the appeal deadline.
2. Establish who was driving – gather the logbook, travel order, GPS data or witnesses.
3. Consult in time – we check free of charge whether you have grounds for cancellation.
4. Filing an appeal with the court – we prepare and file the appeal within the statutory deadline.
5. Representation before the court – we protect your interests until the ticket is cancelled.