The Saeima¹ has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following law:

Road Traffic Law

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. Terms Used in this Law

The following terms are used in this Law:

1) road owner - the State, local government, natural or legal person who owns the relevant road on the basis of property rights;

2) road manager - an owner or other natural or legal person to whom the responsibility (management) of the relevant road has been transferred;

3) road - any territory constructed for traffic (motorway, street, boulevard, cross-street, and similar territories in full width, including the carriageway, footpaths, shoulders, central reserve, and islands). The road system elements include a road, artificial structures (bridges, viaducts, tunnels, culverts, drainage installations, support walls, and other structures), road engineering structures (public transport stopping points, and pavilions, deceleration and acceleration lanes, vehicle parking places, rest areas, bicycle paths and footpaths, road communication and lighting lines, contact lines for electrical vehicles and other engineering structures), technical means of traffic organisation (traffic signs, traffic lights, signal poles, protective barriers, pedestrian barriers, vertical and horizontal road markings, and other technical resources);

4) road safety audit - an independent and systematic inspection procedure of projects (also construction designs) and the road network during which potential dangerous points where conflict situations can arise and also present dangerous points and sections are evaluated from the point of view of road traffic safety and an audit report is drawn up on the results of it;

5) road traffic - relations arising from movement on roads with transport vehicles or without them;

6) road traffic participant - any person who is on the road or directly participating in road traffic;

6¹) road safety impact assessment - a strategic comparative analysis of the impact of a new road or a substantial modification to the existing network on the safety performance of the road network;

7) road traffic accident - an accident that has occurred in road traffic which involves at least one vehicle and as a result of which an individual has died, he or she has been caused physical injury, or damage to the property of a legal or natural person or to the environment has been caused, and also when an accident has occurred in some other place, where driving with a vehicle is possible, and which involves a vehicle;

8) Road Traffic Regulations - the legal act of the Cabinet which determines the procedures for road traffic and is binding upon all natural and legal persons;

9) dark hours of the day - from nightfall till the end of dawning;

9¹) electric scooter - a vehicle equipped with an electric motor the maximum designed speed of which does not exceed 25 kilometres per hour, which does not have pedals, and which is intended for one person and is equipped with a handle-bar that is mechanically connected to the surface of the foot pad;

9²) electric vehicle - a motor vehicle which according to the construction thereof uses the energy from the electricity stored in the vehicle or driving force storage facility as the only mechanical driving force;

10) pedestrian - a person who travels on the road on foot or using a wheelchair. This term does not apply to persons who perform work on the carriageway and to traffic controllers;

10¹) Intelligent Transport Systems - systems in which information and communication technologies are applied in the field of road transport (including infrastructure, vehicles, and road users), in traffic management and mobility management, and also for interfaces with other modes of transport;

10²) interchangeable towed equipment - any vehicle which is designed to be towed by a tractor-type machinery, which changes or adds to its functions, which permanently incorporates an implement or is designed to process materials, which may include a load platform designed and constructed to receive any tools and appliances needed for the abovementioned purposes and to store temporarily any materials produced or needed during work and where the ratio of the technically permissible maximum laden mass to the mass in running order of that vehicle is less than 3.0;

10³) interchangeable technological machinery - the interchangeable machine equipment of tractor-type machinery (combination of machines, installations), a component of a vehicle which is completely lifted off the surface of the ground or which cannot turn around its vertical axis when it is being moved with the help of tractor-type machinery when temporarily participating in road traffic;

10⁴) vulnerable road user - a pedestrian, a driver of an electric scooter or a driver or passenger of a bicycle, moped, motorcycle, quadricycle, tricycle;

11) motor vehicle - a self-propelled vehicle which moves on the road under its own power (including tractor-type machinery and trolleybus), except for rail vehicles and electric scooters;

12) moped - the motor vehicle referred to in Clause 12.¹, 12.², or 12.³ of this Section;

12¹) two-wheel moped - a two-wheel motor vehicle the maximum power of which does not exceed 4 kilowatts, the maximum designed speed of which exceeds 25 kilometres per hour, but does not exceed 45 kilometres per hour, and, if the abovementioned vehicle is equipped with the engine of the spark ignition type, the cylinder capacity of its engine does not exceed 50 cubic centimetres;

12²) three-wheel moped - a three-wheel motor vehicle the mass in running order of which without the driver does not exceed 270 kilograms, which does not have more than two seats (including the driver's seat), the maximum power of the engine of which does not exceed 4 kilowatts, the maximum designed speed of which exceeds 25 kilometres per hour, but does not exceed 45 kilometres per hour, and, if the abovementioned vehicle is equipped with the engine of the spark ignition type, the cylinder capacity of its engine does not exceed 50 cubic centimetres or, if the abovementioned vehicle is equipped with the engine of the compression ignition type, the cylinder capacity of its engine does not exceed 500 cubic centimetres;

12³) four-wheel moped - a four-wheel motor vehicle the mass in running order of which without the driver does not exceed 425 kilograms, which does not have more than two seats (including the driver's seat), the maximum power of the engine of which does not exceed 4 kilowatts (for a vehicle with a closed-type compartment of a driver and passenger - 6 kilowatts), the maximum designed speed of which exceeds 25 kilometres per hour, but does not exceed 45 kilometres per hour, and, if the abovementioned vehicle is equipped with the engine of the spark ignition type, the cylinder capacity of its engine does not exceed 50 cubic centimetres or, if the abovementioned vehicle is equipped with the engine of the compression ignition type, the cylinder capacity of its engine does not exceed 500 cubic centimetres;

13) motorcycle - a two-wheel motor vehicle (with or without a sidecar) which is not to be classified as a moped. This term shall apply also to snowmobiles;

14) poor visibility - such conditions (fog, rain, snow, and similar conditions) due to which the visibility on the road is less than 300 meters, also during twilight;

15) emergency vehicle - a motor vehicle to which the status of emergency vehicle has been assigned in accordance with the specified procedures and which participates in road traffic with a flashing blue or blue and red special warning lamp switched on and a special audible signal switched on;

15¹) auxiliary engine - an engine which is built into the vehicle or installed on it, however, is not utilised for the propulsion of the vehicle;

16) passenger - a person who is present in a vehicle or on it (except for the driver of a vehicle) and also a person who gets into a vehicle or gets on a vehicle, gets out of it, or steps out of it;

17) mass in running order - the mass of a vehicle supplied according to the State standard together with a driver, but without passengers and freight;

18) trailer (semi-trailer) - a vehicle that is intended for driving in combination with a mechanical vehicle. This term does not apply to the sidecars of motorcycles;

19) technically permissible maximum laden mass - the maximum permissible mass of a vehicle together with a driver, passengers, and freight which is stipulated by the manufacturer. The technically permissible maximum laden mass for a towing vehicle with a trailer shall be the sum of the technically permissible maximum laden masses of the towing vehicle and trailer, but for a towing vehicle with a semi-trailer - the sum of the towing vehicle's mass in running order, passengers' mass, and semi-trailer's laden mass;

19¹) specialised vehicle for tourists - a mechanical vehicle which in combination with one or several trailers intended for carriage of passengers drives following a certain route;

19²) special tractor-type machinery - tractor-type machinery which is not intended for use in the road traffic by the manufacturer;

19³) military combat vehicle - armoured machinery, engineering machinery, and other special self-propelled machinery with an engine, provided that it is not built on the basis of an automobile and, according to its design, is intended to be used in military exercises and battle conditions;

19⁴) military transportation vehicle - a motor vehicle which is built on the basis of an automobile and, according to its design, is intended to be used in military exercises and battle conditions and has been registered in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations regarding vehicle registration;

19⁵) trailer of a military combat vehicle - a vehicle which is intended for driving only in combination with the military combat vehicle and, according to its design, is intended to be used in military exercises and battle conditions;

19⁶) trailer of a military transportation vehicle - a vehicle which is intended for driving only in combination with the military transportation vehicle, according to its design, is intended to be used in military exercises and battle conditions, and has been registered in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations regarding vehicle registration;

20) international road transport operations - any transport operations by road vehicles, crossing the border of at least one country;

21) tractor-type machinery - a self-propelled vehicle on wheels or tracks which moves under its own power and has at least two axles, the principal function of which is traction, which is specially designed to pull, push, carry, or operate certain installations, machines, or trailers, and the use of which for carrying persons or freights by road or drawing vehicles used for the carriage of persons or freights on the road is only a secondary function;

22) tram - a vehicle intended for driving along rails in combination with an external electrical power supply source. This term shall not apply to electric trains;

22¹) national access point for transport-related data - a digital access site where data in accordance with the following regulations are collected, processed, and made available for exchange and re-use:

a) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 885/2013 of 15 May 2013 supplementing ITS Directive 2010/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the provision of information services for safe and secure parking places for trucks and commercial vehicles;

b) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 886/2013 of 15 May 2013 supplementing Directive 2010/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to data and procedures for the provision, where possible, of road safety-related minimum universal traffic information free of charge to users;

c) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/962 of 18 December 2014 supplementing Directive 2010/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the provision of EU-wide real-time traffic information services;

d) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1926 of 31 May 2017 supplementing Directive 2010/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the provision of EU-wide multimodal travel information services;

23) vehicle - a machine the designed maximum speed of which exceeds 6 kilometres per hour and which, according to its design, is intended to be used in road traffic with or without the help of an engine;

23¹) crew member of vehicle - a person who drives a vehicle or travels on it in order to perform carriage of passengers or freight for reward or hire or on own account on behalf of the natural person or legal person for whom they work;

23²) certificate of vehicle conformity - a document which, in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding conformity assessment of wheeled vehicles and components thereof, certifies that a motor vehicle (except for an off-road vehicle) or a trailer (semi-trailer) thereof has undergone the conformity assessment;

24) owner of a vehicle - a natural or legal person who owns a vehicle. Within the meaning of this Law the direct or indirect State administration institution on the name of which a vehicle has been registered shall be considered the owner of a vehicle of the State or local government;

24¹) technical condition of a vehicle - technical condition and operating characteristics of a vehicle (in general) and certain systems, parts, and parameters thereof, and also provision of a vehicle with vehicle equipment provided for in the laws and regulations;

25) holder of a vehicle - a natural or legal person who uses a vehicle on a legal basis (property renting, lease, lending contract, etc.). A person who uses a vehicle on the basis of service or employment relationship shall not be considered as the holder of a vehicle;

26) technical specifications of vehicle records - a set of technical data required for the registration of a vehicle;

27) prescheduled medical check-up of the driver of a vehicle - health examination in order to identify the existence of medical contraindications if the driver of a vehicle has driven a vehicle under the influence of alcoholic beverages, narcotic, psychotropic or other intoxicating substances or there are reasonable suspicions that the driver of a vehicle has medicinal contraindications for driving (illness, injury);

28) driver of a vehicle - a natural person who is driving a vehicle, including during the period of driving skills examination which takes place in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations or who is training a person who does not have the right to drive a vehicle of the relevant category. This concept applies to a person who has driven a vehicle, up to the moment when another person starts to drive this vehicle;

29) possessor of a vehicle - a person under the legal possession of which is a vehicle on the basis of the right of inheritance;

30) tricycle - a three-wheel motor vehicle with symmetrically arranged wheels which is not to be classified as a moped. The mass in running order of the tricycle without a driver shall not exceed 1000 kilograms;

30¹) quadricycle - a four-wheel motor vehicle with symmetrically arranged wheels which is not to be classified as a moped. The mass in running order of the quadricycle without a driver shall not exceed 450 kilograms (600 kilograms if it is designed for carrying cargo);

31) trolleybus - a mechanical vehicle intended for driving on the road in combination with an outer electrical power supply source;

31¹) cycle rickshaw - a bicycle made especially for carrying passengers or goods and with width exceeding one metre;

32) bicycle - a vehicle which is driven, using the muscle force of a human and using pedals or handles. A bicycle may be equipped with an electric motor the main function of which is to help pedalling or turning handles, the power of which does not exceed 1 kilowatt, and which disconnects when the vehicle reaches the speed of 25 kilometres per hour or when the driver of the bicycle stops pedalling or turning handles;

33) towing vehicle - a mechanical vehicle which is driven in combination with a trailer (semi-trailer);

34) shared-use vehicle - a vehicle which may be rented or leased individually by an unspecified range of persons for a short period of time, using a mobile application or website services.

[15 February 2001; 8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 15 December 2005; 15 February 2007; 19 February 2007; 19 February 2009; 13 May 2010; 3 March 2011; 9 June 2011; 23 February 2012; 30 October 2014; 10 December 2015; 27 April 2017; 12 April 2018; 25 March 2021; 15 June 2021; 16 June 2022; 22 June 2023 / Paragraphs 22.¹ and 31.¹ shall come into force on 1 September 2024. See Paragraphs 57 and 61 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 2. Purpose of this Law

The purpose of this Law is:

1) to prescribe the organisational and legal basis for road traffic procedures and road traffic safety in Latvia in order to protect human life and health, the environment, and also property owned by natural and legal persons;

2) to govern the acquisition of property rights, the rights to hold and to use motor vehicles, and also the liability of owners, holders, and users of a vehicle.

Section 3. Legal Ground of Road Traffic

(1) The legal ground of road traffic shall be this Law and other laws, the Road Traffic Regulations, and other regulatory enactments of the Cabinet, State standards, and also international agreements to which Latvia is a member state.

(2) The procedures for the road traffic shall be determined by the Cabinet, approving the Road Traffic Regulations.

[8 July 2003]

Section 4. Road Traffic Management and Provision of the Fulfilment of this Law

(1) General management of road traffic shall be effected by the Cabinet and local governments according to the competence thereof.

(2) Road traffic management shall be effected by the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Agriculture according to the competence thereof.

(3) The Ministry of Transport shall organise and coordinate the development and implementation of the State policy, and also shall perform the State supervision upon conformity with the laws and other regulatory enactments in the field of road traffic safety. The Minister for Transport shall issue deeds related to road traffic safety.

(4) The State Police shall ensure the procedures on the roads in accordance with the Law on Police, govern the movement of vehicles and pedestrians, perform supervision of traffic, control the state of the roads, and also the technical condition of the technical means for traffic organisation and vehicles.

(5) Valsts akciju sabiedrība "Ceļu satiksmes drošības direkcija" [State joint-stock company Road Traffic Safety Directorate] (hereinafter - the Road Traffic Safety Directorate) shall register vehicles, grant, and annul the rights to drive a vehicle and issue driver's licences, ensure and maintain the State register of vehicles and their drivers, carry out the roadworthiness testing of vehicles and control the technical condition of vehicles in operation, the training process of drivers, give the authorisation to participate in road traffic, perform a road safety audit and general supervision, on the basis of the information which is provided by the Information Centre of the Ministry of the Interior in accordance with the procedures and in the amount stipulated by the Cabinet, ensure statistics regarding road accidents and analysis thereof, issue the passes referred to in Section 45, Paragraph two of this Law, and also perform other operations related to road traffic safety according to the competence thereof. The Road Traffic Safety Directorate shall, within the competence thereof, issue a deed related to road traffic safety. The Cabinet shall issue regulations regarding the approval of a price list for services of the Road Traffic Safety Directorate specified in the laws and regulations, and also determine the range of persons who shall be released from the payment for the abovementioned services.

(5¹) The Road Traffic Safety Directorate shall ensure the operation of the Riga Motor Museum, maintain and develop museum holdings as a part of the National museum holdings, ensure the availability of museum values for the public, carry out the scientific research and educating of the public.

(5²) In accordance with the objectives and tasks specified in the road traffic safety policy planning documents, the Cabinet shall, not less than once in three years, assess the impact of the laws and regulations in the field of road traffic on road traffic safety. The assessment shall be submitted to the Saeima and also published on the website of the Ministry of Transport.

(6) The State Technical Supervision Agency shall register the tractor-type machinery and trailers thereof, carry out the roadworthiness testing of the tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof and control the technical condition of the tractor-type machinery in use, the training process of the drivers and instructors of the tractor-type machinery, give permission to participate in road traffic, grant and annul the rights to drive the tractor-type machinery and issue driver's licences for the tractor-type machinery, and also ensure and maintain the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof. The State Technical Supervision Agency shall, for the public services provided, collect a fee in the amount stipulated by the Cabinet.

(6¹) An official of the State Technical Supervision Agency is entitled to stop tractor-type machinery in operation in order to control the technical condition of the tractor-type machinery and its trailer.

(7) The Ministry of Education and Science shall ensure the teaching of the Road Traffic Regulations and the basics of road traffic safety in pre-school and general school education institutions according to programmes agreed upon with the Road Traffic Safety Directorate.

(8) Valsts sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību "Latvijas Valsts ceļi" [State limited liability company Latvian State Roads] (hereinafter - the Latvian State Roads) shall supervise road construction and maintenance thereof in a safe condition in accordance with the laws and regulations and road traffic safety standards, agree upon the construction designs of objects related to road traffic, and monitor the traffic organisation and the compliance of the location of the technical means of the traffic organisation with the requirements of the mandatory applicable standards in Latvia and other norms.

(9) The Ministry of Agriculture shall develop draft laws and regulations regarding the road traffic safety issues with respect to the tractor-type machinery and the use of trailers thereof in the road traffic, and also implement the monitoring of the State Technical Supervision Agency in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations.

[15 February 2001; 8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 15 December 2007; 15 February 2007; 19 February 2009; 13 May 2010; 9 June 2011; 25 April 2019; 22 June 2023 / Paragraphs 5.² and 6.¹ shall come into force on 1 January 2024. See Paragraphs 54 and 59 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 4.¹ Trade in Vehicles and Units Bearing Identification Numbers Thereof

(1) Trade in vehicles and units bearing identification numbers thereof (vehicle bodywork, cabins, or frames on which the manufacturer of the vehicle indicates the vehicle identification number) shall constitute selling of vehicles not registered in Latvia and units bearing identification numbers thereof or selling of such goods registered in Latvia by carrying out commercial activity.

(2) A merchant which, in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations, has installed and registered a vehicle trade location has the right to engage in the trade in vehicles (except for trams, trolleybuses, and bicycles) and units bearing identification numbers thereof.

(3) The trade location in vehicles and units bearing identification numbers thereof (except for tractor-type machinery, trailers, and units bearing identification numbers thereof) shall be registered by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate. The trade location in tractor-type machinery, trailers, and units bearing identification numbers thereof shall be registered by the State Technical Supervision Agency. The procedures for the registration of vehicle trade locations shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(4) The requirements for the trade in vehicles and numbered units thereof, and also for the use of the State registration number plate for trade shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[15 February 2007; 13 May 2010; 23 November 2016]

Chapter II
Basic Rules of Traffic Safety on Roads

Section 5. Requirements in Respect of Road Equipping

Any road shall be equipped with the necessary road engineering structures and technical means of traffic organisation in accordance with the requirements of mandatory standards, technical norms, and regulations.

Section 6. Duties of the Road Manager

(1) The road manager has an obligation:

1) to ensure that the road is continuously maintained in a state safe for traffic in accordance with the laws and regulations and standards in the field of road traffic safety;

2) to organise the traffic and ensure the maintaining of the road, artificial structures and engineering structures thereof, and also the technical means of traffic organisation in working condition in accordance with the laws and regulations and standards in the field of road traffic safety;

3) to ensure that obstacles which disturb the traffic and endanger safety thereof are eliminated, but, in case it is not possible, to ensure the equipping of the dangerous places with the appropriate technical means of traffic organisation until the elimination of such obstacles;

4) to ensure that road accidents are analysed thus constantly improving the traffic organisation;

5) to control the procedures for the performance of road works;

6) to ensure the performance of the road safety audit;

7) to fulfil the prescripts of the officials of the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Interior which have been issued within the competence thereof, within the periods of time and in accordance with the procedures specified;

8) to pay damages to persons which have arisen to them in the case of non-fulfilment of these obligations;

9) to carry out a network-wide road safety assessment;

10) to carry out a road safety inspection;

11) to carry out a road safety impact assessment;

12) when carrying out the road safety audit, network-wide road safety assessment, road safety inspection, and road safety impact assessment, to take into account the needs of vulnerable road users.

(2) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the road safety auditing and the certification procedures for road safety auditors.

(3) The daily requirements for maintenance of the State and local government motorways and the procedures for the control of the fulfilment thereof shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(4) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for carrying out a network-wide road safety assessment.

(5) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for carrying out a road safety inspection.

(6) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for carrying out a road safety impact assessment.

[15 February 2001; 8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 15 December 2005; 16 June 2022]

Section 7. Road Design

(1) Construction designs of roads, including engineering structures and railway level crossings, shall conform to the laws and other legal acts in force and road traffic safety regulations. The conformity of the designs with the abovementioned requirements shall be approved by the designer. Designs shall be agreed upon with the Latvian State Roads.

(2) Agreement shall be received from the Latvian State Roads regarding the conformity of the road, including engineering structure, to be put into service with laws and regulations and road traffic safety standards.

[22 June 2023]

Section 7.¹ Restrictions on the Right to Use Immovable Property Due to Ensuring Operation of Road Engineering Structures and Technical Means of Traffic Organisation

(1) An owner or possessor of immovable property may not damage, arbitrarily remove, or modify road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation placed in the immovable property.

(2) An owner or possessor of immovable property may not carry out any activities which might preclude owners, possessors, or users of road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation from performing reconstruction, renovation, or operation of the road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation located in the immovable property, and also deny access to the immovable property in order to carry out the abovementioned activities.

(3) Upon reasonable request of an owner of immovable property, the existing road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation shall be moved at the expense of the owner of immovable property, except for the case when there is an objective necessity to move them and they are moved according to the technical provisions prepared by the owner, possessor, or user of the road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation, upon mutual agreement on carrying out the work necessary for the movement of the road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation and the payment procedures thereof. In such case, such circumstances as demolition, partial collapse, or becoming dangerous for use of the immovable property where engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation are located shall be recognised as an objective necessity.

(3¹) If the parties have not agreed otherwise or a court has not decided otherwise, the movement costs of road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation in the case of an objective necessity shall be covered according to the following procedures:

1) the owner, possessor, or user of road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation shall cover 50 per cent of the construction costs of new poles or brace attachments and all costs related to the movement of a catenary system;

2) the owner of immovable property shall cover 50 per cent of the construction costs of new poles or brace attachments and other costs which are related to the movement of road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation (for example, the development costs of a construction design, the movement costs of underground communications, etc.), except for the movement costs of the catenary system indicated in Clause 1 of this Paragraph.

(3²) If a building has completely collapsed or has been completely destroyed as a result of a natural disaster or previously unforeseen circumstances (for example, fire, flood, storm, etc.), movement of road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation by a temporary or permanent solution shall be ensured by the owner, possessor, or user of road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation.

(4) An owner or possessor of immovable property shall ensure a possibility for the staff of the owner, possessor, or user of road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation to access the existing road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation in the relevant property in order to perform reconstruction, renovation thereof or works associated with the operation thereof. The owner of immovable property shall be warned regarding the need for repair or other works by sending a written notification to his or her legal address or declared place of residence at least seven days prior to the commencement of such works but in case of an accident it shall be acceptable, for the purpose of eliminating the consequences thereof, to commence without prior warning of the owner of immovable property where it is not possible.

(5) For the purpose of installation or construction of road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation, the owner, possessor, or user of road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation has the right to use any immovable property without the fee for the use. The owner, possessor, or user of road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation shall cover the costs of the first-time installation or construction of road engineering structures or technical means of traffic organisation, except for the case referred to in Paragraph 3.¹ of this Section.

[30 October 2014; Constitutional Court judgement of 7 October 2021; 22 June 2023]

Section 8. Restriction or Prohibition of Traffic

(1) The road manager may temporarily restrict or prohibit traffic, if unfavourable road, climatic or other conditions have arisen (sports competitions, public events, etc. are intended), which endanger road traffic safety. The procedures for the restriction or prohibition of traffic shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(2) The police officials and other officials who are authorised for that by laws and other regulatory enactments may restrict or prohibit traffic within the competence thereof in special emergency cases while performing service duties.

(3) During an emergency situation and state of exception the road traffic restrictions may be determined in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding emergency situations and state of exception.

(4) During a period when it is necessary for the State Police or the State Border Guard to implement, on a road or the immediate vicinity thereof, the control (supervision) measures specified in the laws and regulations, officials of the relevant institutions may restrict the road traffic.

[8 July 2003; 9 June 2011; 25 April 2019]

Chapter III
Vehicles and Registration Thereof

Section 9. Use of Vehicles in Road Traffic

(1) It shall be permitted to use the following in road traffic in the territory of Latvia:

1) registered vehicles the design and technical condition of which conform to the requirements of the mandatory applicable standards and norms in Latvia in respect of which the vehicle owner's compulsory third party liability insurance of land means of transport has been performed and which have been allowed to participate in road traffic;

2) bicycles and electric scooters.

(2) Motor vehicles shall have two State registration number plates, but motorcycles, tricycles, quadricycles, tractor-type machinery, mopeds and trailers the manufacturer of which has intended to place only one registration plate shall have one State registration number plate. Plates shall be attached to the place intended for such purpose. Two registration numbers shall be painted on trolleybuses, trams, military combat vehicles, and specialised vehicles for tourists, and one registration number - on trailers of military combat vehicles.

(2¹) If a device intended for transport of bicycles or additional baggage is installed on a vehicle and such device or baggage to be transported with it covers the installed number plate, the vehicle may be granted one number plate marked with the identical combination of symbols, if the manufacturer of the device has intended the place for the installation of the number plate.

(3) The conditions for the use of specialised vehicles for tourists, the type of vehicles and itinerary shall be determined by the relevant local government upon evaluation of the criteria of public necessity and safety thereof.

(4) [23 November 2016]

(5) [23 November 2016]

(6) [23 November 2016]

(7) The provisions for the use of cycle rickshaws and the movement route thereof, assessing its public necessity and conformity with the safety criteria, shall be determined by the relevant local government.

(8) A local government is entitled to determine the provisions for the use of shared-use vehicles, the speed limit zones, the parking prohibition zones, assessing their public necessity and conformity with the safety criteria.

[8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 19 February 2009; 13 May 2010; 3 March 2011; 9 June 2011; 21 November 2013; 4 September 2014; 10 December 2015; 23 November 2016; 25 March 2021; 15 June 2021; 22 June 2023]

Section 10. Vehicle Registration

(1) Vehicles involved in the road traffic shall be registered:

1) by local governments in accordance with the procedures stipulated by them - trams, trolleybuses, and specialised vehicles for tourists;

2) by the State Technical Supervision Agency - tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof;

2¹) by the National Armed Forces - military combat vehicles and the trailers thereof;

3) by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate - other motor vehicles and the trailers thereof.

(1¹) Registration of the vehicles involved in the road traffic referred to in Paragraph one, Clauses 2 and 3 of this Section shall be performed within five days after the day of acquiring a vehicle or bringing in of a vehicle acquired abroad following the presentation of the vehicle for comparison of its unit numbers. If a vehicle brought in from abroad is not used for the road traffic, it need not be registered, however, the vehicle shall be presented for the comparison of its unit numbers within five days following the bringing thereof into Latvia, but in case of tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof - within 15 days.

(1²) The vehicles referred to in Paragraph one, Clauses 2 and 3 of this Section which are registered in a foreign country shall be registered in Latvia if they are located in Latvia for more than three months, take part in the road traffic and their owners are foreigners or legal persons (unions of persons with legal capacity) registered in a foreign state.

(1³) Registration of the vehicles involved in the road traffic and referred to in Paragraph one, Clauses 2 and 3 of this Section shall be performed in the following cases:

1) within five days if the owner (holder, possessor) indicated in the registration certificate of the vehicle or any of the technical specifications of the records is changed unless it has been laid down otherwise in this Paragraph;

2) until the next roadworthiness test or until departure with this vehicle from the state, if the given name, surname or name of the holder indicated in the registration certificate of the vehicle is changed;

3) until departure with the vehicle from the state, if the given name, surname or name of the vehicle owner indicated in the registration certificate of the vehicle is changed and the owner himself or herself or a person who is not indicated in the registration certificate of the vehicle leaves the state with this vehicle;

4) until the next roadworthiness test or until departure from the state with a vehicle for which a holder has been indicated in the registration certificate if the owner, who is a legal person, indicated in the registration certificate of this vehicle has been joined with another legal person as a result of reorganisation and if the holder indicated in the registration certificate of the vehicle does not change; however not later than within two years from the moment of registering reorganisation.

(1⁴) The procedures for the registration and removal from the register of the vehicles involved in the road traffic and referred to in Paragraph one, Clauses 2 and 3 of this Section shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(1⁵) A vehicle which is at least 30 years old and corresponds to the general requirements stipulated by the Cabinet may be registered as a historic motor vehicle. The Cabinet shall determine the general requirements to which a vehicle must correspond in order to qualify for the registration as a historic motor vehicle, and also the procedures for granting and cancelling the status of a historic motor vehicle.

(1⁶) It is prohibited to participate in road traffic in Latvia with vehicles registered in the Russian Federation unless it has not been laid down otherwise by law.

(2) A vehicle shall be registered in the name of its owner (natural person or legal person). If a vehicle has several owners, it shall be registered in the name of a co-owner - a natural or legal person - upon mutual agreement of all co-owners.

(2¹) A person who is not a citizen or non-citizen of Latvia and who has not received a registration certificate, a permanent residence certificate, or a residence permit issued in Latvia may register a vehicle in Latvia for a time period up to six months.

(3) Vehicles owned by the State or local government shall be registered in the name of its direct or indirect State administration institution which acts with these vehicles in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and other regulatory enactments.

(4) Before a judgement of a court regarding the inheritance or receipt of an inheritance certificate the possible heir, upon presentation of documents certifying this fact, may register a vehicle in his or her name as the possessor of the vehicle. If there are several possible heirs, they may agree which one of them will be the possessor of the vehicle. The drawing up of this agreement, and also other operations to be performed in respect of the vehicle which concern the rights of other possible heirs shall be done in the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or in the State Technical Supervision Agency respectively in the presence of all possible heirs or provided that a written consent which is attested by a notary or another person indicated in Section 1474 of the Civil Law, by all possible heirs has been submitted. Alienation of this vehicle is prohibited up to the judgement of a court or receipt of an inheritance certificate.

(5) A vehicle shall be registered in the name of such natural person who has attained the age of 18 years or who in accordance with Section 220 of the Civil Law has been proclaimed as a person of legal age, except for the cases when a vehicle is only inherited by minors. If a vehicle is only inherited by minors (one or several), it shall be registered in the name of the minor and the data regarding his or her guardian shall be indicated in the registration certificate.

(6) Vehicles which in accordance with Section 24 of this Law are allowed to be driven from the age of 14 or 16 years may be registered in the name of a natural person who has attained the age of 16 years upon consent of his or her parents (guardians).

(7) Technological units-trailers which are transferred temporarily along the roads in the territory of Latvia shall not be registered in Latvia. Inventory and the procedures for the transfer of technological units-trailers shall be governed by the Road Traffic Regulations.

(8) It is prohibited to register:

1) motor vehicles which, according to their design, are intended for driving on the left side of the road. This requirement shall not be applicable to the following:

a) M1 category vehicles which have been subject to the conformity assessment and adapted for the driving on the right side of the road in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet;

b) M1 category vehicles which have been previously registered in another European Union Member State and adapted for the driving on the right side of the road in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet;

c) specialised mail vehicles, specialised road service vehicles, specialised vehicles intended for waste removal;

d) vehicles to be registered as historic motor vehicles or sports automobiles in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations;

e) vehicles temporarily brought into from abroad;

2) motor vehicles and trailers thereof (except for tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof) to which the manufacturer or - in the case referred to in Section 15, Paragraph 2.1 of this Law - the Road Traffic Safety Directorate has not allocated a vehicle identification number or into which the allocated vehicle identification number has not been embedded (carved). In order to register a vehicle (except for tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof) in Latvia to which the vehicle identification number has been allocated but it has not been embedded (carved) into the vehicle, or the embedded (carved) vehicle identification number does not correspond to the allocated one but it is possible to identify the allocated number and refer it to the specific vehicle, the Road Traffic Safety Directorate shall embed (carve) the allocated vehicle identification number in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet;

3) [22 June 2023].

(9) The Road Traffic Safety Directorate or the State Technical Supervision Agency shall refuse vehicle registration, if the vehicle register has the information that a vehicle or units bearing identification numbers thereof have been declared missing or there are justifiable suspicions that the unit numbers or other data required for registration which the manufacturer has indicated on a vehicle or presented number plate, or the documents submitted for registration are false. The Road Traffic Safety Directorate or the State Technical Supervision Agency shall immediately inform the State Police of the decision taken and justification thereof, and also transfer to it the documents submitted for registration and number plates, if there are suspicions regarding forgery of number plates. The State Police shall examine and inform the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or the State Technical Supervision Agency whether there is the right to register the respective vehicle in the vehicle register.

(10) When registering a vehicle the model year of which is the current year or five previous years and the category of which is M1 (including M1G) or N1 (including N1G) and which has been acquired in another European Union Member State and is registered in Latvia for the first time, or which after its first registration in Latvia has been re-acquired in another European Union Member State and is re-registered in Latvia, the Road Traffic Safety Directorate shall transfer the information on the registered vehicle to the State Revenue Service electronically and, concurrently with the registration of the vehicle, register a prohibition on alienation:

1) for a vehicle registered in the ownership of a legal person for 15 days;

2) for a vehicle registered in the ownership of a natural person for 30 days.

(11) If the State Revenue Service commences tax administration measures with regard to a registered vehicle in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding taxes and duties, it shall register a prohibition on alienation of the relevant vehicle in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 14 of this Law.

(12) If the State Revenue Service does not commence tax administration measures, the prohibition on alienation referred to in Paragraph ten of this Section is removed automatically after expiry of the time period of the prohibition on alienation.

(13) The State Revenue Service shall remove the prohibition on alienation referred to in Paragraphs ten and eleven of this Section when the tax administration measures have been completed or the security deposit has been submitted. The Cabinet shall determine the amount of the security deposit and the procedures for submitting and repaying it.

[20 June 2000; 8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 15 February 2007; 19 February 2009; 13 May 2010; 3 March 2011; 29 November 2012; 10 December 2015; 23 November 2016; 9 November 2017; 12 April 2018; 20 September 2018; 15 June 2021; 27 October 2022; 8 March 2023; 22 June 2023; 2 November 2023]

Section 10.¹ State Fee for Registration of Vehicles to be Registered with the State Technical Supervision Agency

[4 September 2014 / See Paragraph 33 of the Transitional Provisions]

Section 10.² Registration of Bicycles, Cycle Rickshaws, and Electric Scooters

(1) Registration of bicycles is voluntary and it is allowed to participate in road traffic also with non-registered bicycles.

(1¹) Registration of electric scooters and cycle rickshaws is mandatory and it is allowed to participate in road traffic only with registered electric scooters and cycle rickshaws.

(2) Registration of bicycles, cycle rickshaws, and electric scooters shall be carried out by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate.

(3) The legal framework specified in Sections 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15.¹, and 16 of this Law shall not be applicable in respect of bicycles, cycle rickshaws, and electric scooters.

(4) The procedures by which registration and cancellation of registration of bicycles, cycle rickshaws, and electric scooters shall take place shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(5) One State registration sticker shall be attached to the structure of electric scooters and cycle rickshaws.

[25 March 2021; 22 June 2023 / Amendment to the title of the Section, to Paragraphs two, three, and four regarding their supplementation with the word "cycle rickshaws" after the word "bicycles", the new wording of Paragraph one, and Paragraphs 1.¹ and five shall come into force on 1 January 2024. See Paragraph 63 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 10.³ Registration of Interchangeable Towed Equipment and Interchangeable Technological Machinery of Tractor-type Machinery

(1) Registration of interchangeable towed equipment and interchangeable technological machinery of tractor-type machinery is voluntary and it is allowed to participate in the road traffic also with non-registered interchangeable towed equipment and interchangeable technological machinery of tractor-type machinery.

(2) Interchangeable towed equipment and interchangeable technological machinery of tractor-type machinery shall be registered by the State Technical Supervision Agency.

(3) The legal framework specified in Sections 9, 10, 13, 15, 15.¹, and 16 of this Law shall not be applicable in respect of interchangeable towed equipment and interchangeable technological machinery of tractor-type machinery.

(4) The procedures by which interchangeable towed equipment and interchangeable technological machinery of tractor-type machinery shall be registered and removed from the register shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[25 March 2021 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2021. See Paragraph 49 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 11. Documents Required for the Registration of Vehicles

(1) The following documents shall be submitted to the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or the State Technical Supervision Agency respectively for the registration of a vehicle:

1) a registration application. If a vehicle is owned by several owners, all operations in respect of the vehicle which concern the ownership rights of other co-owners shall be done either in the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or in the State Technical Supervision Agency in the presence of all co-owners or if a written consent of all co-owners which is attested by a notary or another person referred to in Section 1474 of the Civil Law has been submitted. If the co-owners cannot agree in the name of which co-owner the vehicle will be registered, the dispute shall be settled by a court. If a vehicle acquired in another European Union Member State is registered, the submitter shall indicate information on the country, date of acquisition of the vehicle, the type of payment, the amount of transaction, and the seller in the application, appending a document certifying the change of the ownership rights and a confirmation of payment, and shall confirm the veracity of the information provided therein with his or her signature;

2) the vehicle registration certificate. If the vehicle has not been registered before, a document of origin thereof shall be submitted. If the document of origin is a certificate of vehicle conformity, the manufacturer of the vehicle or an official representative thereof in Latvia which has entered into a cooperation agreement on exchange of information with the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or the State Technical Supervision Agency may submit this document electronically;

3) [13 May 2010];

4) a document certifying ownership rights (if the vehicle has not been previously registered in the name of the person indicated in the application) or documents attesting, that the person is the possessor of the vehicle (if the vehicle is registered in the name of the possessor before receipt of a court judgement regarding inheritance or receipt of an inheritance certificate).

(1¹) The registration application shall be drawn up in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof at the Road Traffic Safety Directorate. The applicant shall certify the application at the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or electronically by using the e-services maintained and ensured by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate. The registration application may be drawn up at the State Technical Supervision Agency and confirmed in person or electronically in the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof, using the e-services maintained and ensured by the State Technical Supervision Agency. A merchant who is engaged in trade in tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof may submit the registration application electronically instead of the acquirer.

(2) If a vehicle is the joint property of spouses, the spouse in whose name the vehicle has been registered, in the case of alienation (sale, gift, change) thereof, shall certify in writing that the other spouse has no claims in respect of the alienation of the vehicle.

(3) If re-registration of a vehicle from the owner's (alienor) name to the name of another person (acquirer) is performed in the presence of both persons or authorised persons thereof in the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or the State Technical Supervision Agency respectively, the acquirer need not submit a document certifying ownership rights. These cases apply only to vehicles which have been registered previously in the Republic of Latvia and to the acquirers of which a registration certificate will be issued.

[8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 13 May 2010; 10 December 2015; 8 March 2023; 22 June 2023]

Section 12. Documents Attesting Ownership Rights

(1) In order to register a vehicle, the owner thereof shall submit documentary evidence regarding the legal acquisition of the vehicle. The documents need not be submitted if an alienator has made a note in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof or in the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof regarding the transfer of the vehicle into the ownership of the acquirer.

(2) Documents by which ownership rights are to be proved:

1) an extract from the notarial deed book or agreement attested in accordance with the specified procedures (Section 1474 of the Civil Law) regarding the alienation of a vehicle (gift, purchase, exchange or something similar), an agreement of division of joint property, or an agreement regarding the termination of a joint property;

2) an inheritance certificate, a judgement of a court regarding inheritance, division of a heritage, joint property or joint estate of spouses, recognition of ownership rights and the acquisition thereof by prescript or on another basis for the acquisition of ownership rights provided for in the Civil Law;

3) [10 December 2015];

4) a document regarding foreign acquisition of a vehicle not registered before or registered abroad;

5) [10 December 2015];

6) [10 December 2015];

7) a document regarding a vehicle legally won in a lottery or in other way;

8) a documents regarding the legitimisation of a vehicle manufactured or modified in Latvia;

9) a statement from the archives and other documents certifying the ownership rights.

(3) All such documents shall contain data of the owner of a vehicle and the technical records of a vehicle (make, model, unit numbers, etc.) to the extent that provides a possibility to identify the specific owner of the vehicle and the specific vehicle.

(4) [23 November 2016]

[8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 15 December 2005; 15 February 2007; 19 February 2009; 10 December 2015; 23 November 2016; 19 December 2019; 25 March 2021 / The new wording of the second sentence of Paragraph one shall come into force on 1 July 2021. See Paragraph 50 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 13. Vehicle Registration Certificate

(1) The vehicle registration certificate is a document in which the technical records of a vehicle, and also data regarding the owner (possessor, holder) of the vehicle are indicated.

(2) Only one registration certificate shall be issued to each vehicle. It shall not exclude the ownership of a vehicle by several owners.

(3) If a vehicle is owned by several owners, a registration certificate shall be issued in the name of one co-owner with a mark "joint property".

[8 July 2003; 26 May 2005]

Section 14. Registration of Alienation, Registration of a Vehicle and other Prohibitions, and also Registration of a Commercial Pledge Mark

(1) Alienation, registration of a vehicle and other prohibitions, and also a commercial pledge mark shall be registered and deleted in the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or the State Technical Supervision Agency respectively. In the cases specified in the laws and regulations, a prohibition shall also be registered by other persons - in such cases, if the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or the State Technical Supervision Agency ensures it in the relevant register, registration shall be performed electronically.

(2) Alienation, registration of a vehicle and other prohibitions, and also a commercial pledge mark shall be registered on the basis of the laws and regulations, the application of the owner (identifying the applicant) indicated in the vehicle registration certificate, or the decision of the officials specified in the law, or the court ruling. A prohibition shall be cancelled on the basis of the laws and regulations, the application of the person upon whose initiative the prohibition has been registered, the decision of the officials specified in the law, or the court ruling. If the application is submitted by an authorised person on behalf of the owner indicated in the vehicle registration certificate, a special reference to register or cancel the prohibition note shall be included in the authorisation. The authorisation shall require a notarised certification or certification of any other person specified in Section 1474 of the Civil Law.

(2¹) Prohibitions of alienation, registration or other prohibitions of a vehicle owned by an insolvent debtor shall be registered and deleted electronically by the insolvency administrator of the debtor.

(3) If the prohibition of the alienation, registration of a vehicle or other prohibition has been registered, the vehicle may not be deleted from the register for alienation or bringing out of the state, a commercial pledge mark and change of owners may not be registered or other activities indicated in the registered prohibition may not be performed.

(4) A note of the commercial pledge shall be made in the respective register of vehicles on the basis of a notification from the holder of the Commercial Pledge Register. A mark shall be registered, if there are no legal obstacles for the pledging of the respective vehicle. The holder of the Commercial Pledge Register shall be informed of the registration of a mark or the refusal to register.

(5) If a prohibition to take out or drive out with it from Latvia has been specified for a commercial pledger, pledging a vehicle, this prohibition shall also be indicated in the respective vehicle register. A new registration certificate of a vehicle with a prohibition note shall be issued to him or her upon the request of the owner of a vehicle.

(6) It is prohibited to delete from the register a pledged vehicle upon request of the owner or to register a change of owners without the consent of the commercial pledgee regarding which information from the holder of the Commercial Pledge Register shall be requested.

(7) If an entry has been made in the Commercial Pledge Register regarding exercising of the right of commercial pledge, a submission for the removal of a vehicle from the register or for the re-registration thereof shall be submitted by the commercial pledgee instead of the owner.

(8) A note of the commercial pledge shall be deleted on the basis of the notification from the holder of the Commercial Pledge Register.

[20 December 1999; 8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 15 February 2007; 23 February 2012; 21 November 2013 / Amendments providing for the new wording of the first sentence of Paragraph four which prescribes that a note of the commercial pledge shall be made in the respective register of vehicles on the basis of a notification from the holder of commercial pledges, and Paragraph seven which prescribes that where an entry has been made in the Commercial Pledge Register regarding exercising of the right of commercial pledge, a submission for the removal of a vehicle from the register or for the re-registration thereof shall be submitted by the commercial pledgee instead of the owner shall come into force on 1 May 2014. See Paragraph 31 of the Transitional Provisions]

Section 14.¹ Availability of Information Contained in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof and the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof and Information on Military Combat Vehicles and the Trailers Thereof

(1) Information on a vehicle owned by a natural person identifying personal data, on penalty points registered for a natural person, a military transportation vehicle and the trailer thereof and also a military combat vehicle and the trailer thereof owned by a legal person shall be restricted access information, and it may be obtained by law enforcement institutions, public and local government institutions, other persons specified in the law, and also persons stipulated by the Cabinet to whom this information is necessary for the performance of work or service functions or for the representation of legal interests in a court.

(2) Information on a vehicle owned by a legal person, except for the information specified in Paragraph one of this Section, on the rights of a person to drive vehicles, on the fines imposed on a person for offences in road traffic which have not paid within the time period specified in the law, and also any other information contained in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof and the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof shall be treated as generally accessible information.

(3) The owner (possessor, holder) of a vehicle is entitled to receive all the information on his or her vehicle contained in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof and the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof, including information on the persons who have committed administrative offences with the respective vehicle, on the fines imposed on such persons and the amount thereof, on any prohibitions imposed on a vehicle, etc.

(4) The owner (holder, possessor) of a vehicle is entitled to obtain information on persons who have received the information specified in Paragraph one of this Section on him or her from the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or the State Technical Supervision Agency, except for information on public authorities which are persons directing criminal proceedings, bodies performing operational activities, or other authorities with regard to which the law prohibits to disclose such information.

(5) The Road Traffic Safety Directorate or the State Technical Supervision Agency shall only register such persons who have obtained the restricted access information referred to in Paragraph one of this Section.

(6) The recipient of information referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall be liable for that the relevant information is used only for the performance of his or her work or service functions or for the representation of legal interests and is not entitled to transfer it to third persons.

(7) Upon providing statistical information or any other information of general nature, the Road Traffic Safety Directorate and the State Technical Supervision Agency shall ensure that it is not possible to identify the particular owner of the vehicle.

(8) The Cabinet shall determine the information to be included in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof and the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof, the time periods for the storage and deletion thereof, and also the procedures for disclosing the information contained in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof and the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof, and also the amount of the available information and the fee for the acquisition of information.

(9) The Road Traffic Safety Directorate shall, on the basis of the information provided to the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof by the State Police, notify the owner of a vehicle that the user of the respective vehicle does not have the rights to drive a vehicle.

(10) Entries in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof and the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof shall have public credibility.

(11) It shall be acceptable to provide the information contained in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof and the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof to foreign competent authorities, taking into account the international agreements binding on Latvia and the legal acts of the European Union.

(12) The Road Transport Administration shall obtain from the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof the digital photograph of the holder of the driver's licence for the registration of drivers who perform taxi services and commercial passenger car services in the Register of Taxi Drivers and for the making of a registration certificate of a driver.

[26 May 2005; 15 December 2005; 15 February 2007; 23 February 2012; 4 September 2014; 9 November 2017; 12 April 2018; 25 April 2019; 15 June 2021; Constitutional Court judgment of 13 November 2021; 22 June 2023 / The new wording of Paragraph twelve shall come into force on 1 July 2024 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 July 2024. See Paragraph 66 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 14.² Additional Restrictions on Roadworthiness Tests, Registration Activities, and also Restrictions on the Issue of Driver's Licences in Case of Failure to Pay the Road User Charge

It is prohibited to issue a driver's licence to a person who is avoiding payment of the fine specified in the Law on the Road User Charge, to perform the roadworthiness test of a vehicle owned (possessed, held) by the person and the registration activities in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof or the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof, except for writing-off of the vehicle and temporary suspension of the vehicle registration by handing over the number plates.

[22 June 2023]

Section 15. Manufacture and Modification of Vehicles

(1) Vehicles (except for tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof and military combat vehicles and the trailers thereof) may be manufactured serially in Latvia by a merchant which has been registered in accordance with the specified procedures and which has the standard technical documentation for the construction of newly designed vehicles which has been properly developed, agreed upon, and registered with the Road Traffic Safety Directorate, and to which the international identification code of the manufacturer has been allocated. The Cabinet shall determine the content of the standard technical documentation for the construction of newly designed vehicles to be manufactured serially (except for tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof and military combat vehicles and the trailers thereof) and the procedures for the development, agreement, and registration thereof.

(2) A vehicle (except for tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof and military combat vehicles and the trailers thereof) may be manufactured individually in Latvia by any person who has the standard technical documentation for the construction of newly designed vehicles which has been properly developed, and agreed upon and registered with the Road Traffic Safety Directorate. The Cabinet shall determine the content of the standard technical documentation for the construction of newly designed vehicles to be manufactured individually (except for tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof and military combat vehicles and the trailers thereof) and the procedures for the development, agreement, and registration thereof.

(2¹) The Road Traffic Safety Directorate shall allocate the international identification code of the manufacturer, allocate and embed (carve) the identification number to a vehicle manufactured individually (except for tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof and military combat vehicles and the trailers thereof), and also agree upon the standard technical documentation for the construction of newly designed motor vehicles and trailers thereof (except for tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof and military combat vehicles and the trailers thereof). The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which the Road Traffic Safety Directorate shall allocate the international identification code of the manufacturer, allocate and embed (carve) the identification number to a vehicle manufactured individually (except for tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof and military combat vehicles and the trailers thereof).

(2²) Without agreement on the standard technical documentation for the construction of vehicles referred to in Paragraphs one and two of this Section, any person may manufacture individually trailers of a vehicle with technically permissible maximum laden mass up to 3500 kilograms under the conditions, technical requirements, and components to be used in manufacturing thereof stipulated by the Cabinet.

(2³) Upon agreement on the standard technical documentation for the construction of newly designed vehicles and allocation of the international identification code of the manufacturer, the Road Traffic Safety Directorate shall perform conformity control of the vehicles and control of the quality system of the manufacturer in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet.

(3) Any installation, rebuilding, replacement, or disassembly of units, sub-assemblies, systems, equipment of vehicles resulting in a change in the technical records or main construction parameters of the vehicle shall be considered modification of vehicles.

(4) A relevant opinion shall be obtained from the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or a person accredited by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate for this purpose with regard to the conformity of the technical design for modification of modified motor vehicles and the trailers thereof (except for tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof and military combat vehicles and the trailers thereof) or of motor vehicles and the trailers thereof modified individually (except for tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof and military combat vehicles and the trailers thereof) with the requirements for road traffic safety and technical norms. Upon evaluating the conformity of modified motor vehicles or the trailers thereof with the requirements of the laws and regulations, the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or a person of the Road Traffic Safety Directorate accredited for this purpose in addition shall control that the discharge of polluting substances which is caused by the auxiliary engines built in for use in vehicles intended for road traffic or installed on them does not exceed the emission limit values specified in the laws and regulations governing environmental protection.

(5) A relevant opinion shall be obtained from the State Technical Supervision Agency or another authority accredited for this purpose with regard to the conformity of the modified tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof with the requirements for road traffic safety and technical norms.

(5¹) The technical experts of the National Armed Forces shall, on the basis of the documentation of the manufacturer, determine the conformity of the newly designed or modified trailers of military combat vehicles with the road traffic safety requirements.

(6) The procedures for the performance of vehicle modification, the requirements in respect of vehicle design and equipment after the modification, and also the procedures by which the opinion on the conformity of the vehicle with the requirements of road traffic safety and technical norms is to be received shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 15 February 2007; 3 March 2011; 29 November 2012; 21 December 2013; 27 April 2017; 15 June 2021]

Section 15.¹ Conformity Assessment of Vehicles and the Components Thereof

(1) In order to ensure conformity of the motor vehicles, tractor-type machinery and the trailers and components thereof offered on the Latvian market with the safety, ecological, and harmlessness requirements, conformity assessment thereof is performed. Upon alienating a vehicle, a certificate of vehicle conformity shall be handed over to the acquirer of the vehicle, unless it is an electronic document.

(2) Certification of motor vehicles, the trailers and components thereof (except for tractor-type machinery, the components and trailers thereof, military combat vehicles and the components thereof, trailers of military combat vehicles and the components thereof) shall be performed by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate, but testing - by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or testing laboratories the competence of which has been evaluated by the Latvian National Accreditation Bureau, or by foreign testing laboratories the competence of which has been evaluated by the relevant foreign competent authorities. The Road Traffic Safety Directorate, upon performing the conformity assessment of motor vehicles or the trailers thereof, shall in addition control that the discharge of polluting substances which is caused by the auxiliary engines built in for use in vehicles intended for road traffic or installed on them does not exceed the emission limit values specified in the laws and regulations governing environmental protection.

(3) Certification of tractor-type machinery, the trailers and components thereof shall be performed by the Certification and Testing Centre, but testing - by the Certification and Testing Centre or testing laboratories the competence of which has been evaluated by the Latvian National Accreditation Bureau.

(4) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures and technical requirements for the conformity assessment of motor vehicles, the trailers and components thereof. The Cabinet shall also determine the vehicles to which the conformity assessment does not apply, the acceptable derogations from the conformity with some requirements, the market surveillance authorities, and also the procedures for the market surveillance and the mutual recognition and exchange of information (notification).

[26 May 2005; 15 February 2007; 14 November 2008; 12 June 2009; 3 March 2011; 10 December 2015; 27 April 2017; 15 June 2021; 22 June 2023]

Section 16. Roadworthiness Testing of Vehicles and the Technical Roadside Inspection of Vehicles

(1) Roadworthiness testing of vehicles is carried out to control the technical condition of vehicles, and also to update the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof and the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof, to discover missing vehicles, and to perform the control functions specified in laws and regulations which are related to the participation in road traffic. In order to constantly control the technical condition of vehicles which participate in road traffic and which are used for carriage for reward, technical roadside inspection of such vehicles shall be performed.

(2) If during roadworthiness testing of vehicles it is established that the vehicle is in running order and conforms to the road traffic safety and environmental protection requirements and other requirements laid down in the laws and regulations and related to the participation of vehicles in road traffic (for example, the vehicle operation tax has been paid, the company car tax has been paid, the fine imposed has been paid, and the compulsory insurance of vehicles against civil liability has been arranged) have been fulfilled, the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or the State Technical Supervision Agency respectively shall issue a permit to participate in road traffic. A permit to participate in road traffic is attested by the documents and stickers specified in Section 25, Paragraph one of this Law which are the printouts from the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof.

(3) Roadworthiness testing of motor vehicles and the trailers thereof (except for tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof) shall be carried out by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate, but the control of the technical condition of a vehicle within the scope of the technical control of vehicles - by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or by a person accredited in the Road Traffic Safety Directorate for such purpose. The accredited person may not concurrently perform commercial activity which is related to the trade, maintenance, repair, or renewal of vehicles, and also the technical control of the vehicles owned (possessed, held) by him or her.

(4) Roadworthiness testing of tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof shall be carried out by the State Technical Supervision Agency. The technical control of trams, trolleybuses, and specialised vehicles for tourists shall be ensured by the local governments. The National Armed Forces shall ensure control of the technical condition of military combat vehicles and the trailers thereof. Roadworthiness testing shall not be carried out for the special tractor-type machinery, military combat vehicles and the trailers thereof.

(5) A passenger car and a trailer with technically permissible maximum laden mass of up to 3500 kilograms which have not been registered in Latvia or abroad before shall be subject to the first-time roadworthiness test not later than 24 months after the relevant vehicle has been registered in Latvia for the first time in conformity with the time period indicated in the permit for participation in road traffic. If the first-time roadworthiness test has been carried out in accordance with the first sentence of this Paragraph, the second roadworthiness test shall be carried out not later than 24 months after the first roadworthiness test in conformity with the time period indicated in the permit for participation in road traffic. Subsequent roadworthiness tests shall be carried out on an annual basis in conformity with the time period indicated in the permit the participation in road traffic.

(5¹) A motorcycle, tricycle, and quadricycle which have not been registered in Latvia or abroad before shall be subject to the first-time roadworthiness test not later than 24 months after the relevant vehicle has been registered in Latvia for the first time in conformity with the time period indicated in the permit for participation in road traffic. Subsequent roadworthiness tests of the abovementioned vehicles shall be carried out on a bi-annual basis in conformity with the time period indicated in the permit for participation in road traffic.

(5²) A heavy goods vehicle, a trailer (semi-trailer) with technically permissible maximum laden mass above 3500 kilograms, and an ambulance which have not been registered in Latvia or abroad before shall be subject to the first-time roadworthiness test not later than 12 months after the relevant vehicle has been registered in Latvia for the first time in conformity with the time period indicated in the permit for participation in road traffic. Subsequent roadworthiness tests of the abovementioned vehicles shall be carried out on an annual basis in conformity with the time period indicated in the permit for participation in road traffic.

(5³) A bus and a vehicle intended for driving education and registered accordingly which have not been registered in Latvia or abroad before shall be subject to the first-time roadworthiness test not later than 12 months after the vehicle has been registered in Latvia for the first time in conformity with the time period indicated in the permit for participation in road traffic. The second roadworthiness test of the abovementioned vehicles shall be carried out not later than 12 months after the first roadworthiness test, but the subsequent roadworthiness tests - once every six months in conformity with the time period indicated in the permit for participation in road traffic.

(5⁴) An M1 category vehicle which is used for carriage of passengers for reward and has not been registered in Latvia or abroad before shall be subject to the first-time roadworthiness test not later than 12 months after the vehicle has been registered in Latvia for the first time in conformity with the time period indicated in the permit for participation in road traffic. The second and third roadworthiness tests of the abovementioned vehicles shall be carried out not later than 12 months after the first and second roadworthiness tests, but the subsequent roadworthiness tests - once every six months in conformity with the time period indicated in the permit for participation in road traffic.

(5⁵) Vehicles which have been registered abroad before shall be subject to the first-time roadworthiness test not later than five days after the relevant vehicle has been registered in Latvia. Subsequent roadworthiness tests of the abovementioned vehicles shall be carried out on an annual basis in conformity with the time period indicated in the permit for participation in road traffic.

(6) A permit for participation in road traffic shall be issued for the time period specified in the relevant Paragraph of this Section, but in order to ensure uniform distribution of the number of vehicles over the year by months, a longer time period may be set, but not exceeding 30 days.

(6¹) Tractor-type machinery the duration of the engine running of which does not exceed 250 engine hours and which has not been registered in Latvia or abroad before shall be subject to the first-time roadworthiness test not later than 24 months after the relevant vehicle has been registered in Latvia for the first time. Upon registering such vehicles, a permit for the participation in road traffic is granted concurrently for 24 months. Subsequent roadworthiness tests shall be carried out on an annual basis in conformity with the time period indicated in the permit for participation in road traffic.

(6²) The provisions of this Law regarding the issuance of a permit for participation in road traffic and roadworthiness testing of vehicles shall not apply to:

1) the control of the technical condition of trams, trolleybuses, and specialised vehicles for tourists that is ensured by local government. A city council of local government shall issue regulations that determine the relevant control authorities, the competence thereof, and the procedures for the implementation of the control of the technical condition;

2) mopeds and off-road vehicles that temporarily participate in the road traffic;

3) vehicles that have been registered abroad and that participate in the road traffic with transit number plates;

4) military combat vehicles and the trailers thereof;

5) vehicles which have been equipped with trade number plates by a trade company (merchant) and are used in road traffic in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations regarding trade in vehicles.

(6³) If, upon performing the technical roadside inspection of a vehicle, it is established that the technical condition of the vehicle does not conform to the requirements of the laws and regulations, the relevant permit for the participation in road traffic shall be cancelled in the cases provided for and in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Cabinet regulation referred to in Paragraph seven of this Section.

(7) The procedures by which the roadworthiness testing of vehicles and the technical roadside inspection of vehicles shall be carried out, and also the accreditation requirements for a person performing the control of the technical condition of vehicles within the scope of the roadworthiness test of vehicles shall be determined by the Cabinet. The requirements in respect of the technical condition of vehicles, and also the evaluation criteria for the fulfilment of these requirements shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(8) Contesting and appeal of a decision on the permit for the participation in road traffic shall not suspend the operation thereof.

[8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 19 February 2009; 9 June 2011; 15 December 2011; 29 November 2012; 10 December 2015; 9 November 2017; 25 May 2017; 12 April 2018; 25 April 2019; 25 March 2021; 15 June 2021; 22 June 2023 / The new wording of Paragraph five and amendment to Paragraph 5.¹ regarding its supplementation with the words "trailer with technically permissible maximum laden mass of up to 3500 kilograms" after the word "quadricycle" shall come into force on 1 January 2025 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 January 2025. The new wording of Paragraph three shall come into force on 1 January 2023 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 January 2026. See Paragraphs 55 and 60 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 17. Emergency Vehicles

Legal persons the list of which, and also the procedures for the use of emergency vehicles shall be approved by the Cabinet are entitled to use emergency vehicles. Emergency vehicles shall be marked and equipped in accordance with the requirements of the mandatory standards in the Republic of Latvia.

Section 18. Prohibition to Participate in Road Traffic

It is prohibited to participate in road traffic with a vehicle, and also to drive in Latvia in the following cases:

1) a vehicle has damages specified in the laws and regulations due to which it may not drive;

2) a permit to participate in road traffic has not been received, also the vehicle owner's compulsory third party liability insurance has not been performed;

3) unauthorised dangerous goods are carried or there is a leakage of dangerous goods;

4) dimensions with a freight or without it of a vehicle (vehicle composition), actual mass or axle weight exceeds the values provided for in the Road Traffic Regulations and has not got the relevant permit for driving on the road;

5) the requirements governed in the Road Traffic Regulations regarding placement and securing of freight have been violated.

[8 July 2003]

Chapter IV
Obligations and Rights of Participants in Road Traffic

Section 19. General Obligations and Rights of Participants in Road Traffic

(1) Participants in road traffic shall fulfil the requirements of this Law, the Road Traffic Regulations, and other laws and regulations determining the obligations of participants in road traffic; shall fulfil the instructions of police officers and the instructions of those persons who have been authorised to regulate the traffic, and also shall observe the requirements of traffic light signals, road signs, and road designations.

(2) If an emergency vehicle approaches, other road users shall give way to it in order that the emergency vehicle and vehicles which are escorting it may drive without hindrance.

(3) Participants in road traffic and other persons shall act in such a way as not to cause dangerous or troublesome situations in the traffic and not to cause damages.

(4) Each participant in road traffic has the right to consider that other persons also fulfil the requirements laid down in the Road Traffic Law.

(5) The driver of a vehicle has the right to know the reason for the stopping of his or her vehicle, and also the given name, surname, and position of the official who has stopped him or her.

[8 July 2003; 26 May 2005]

Section 20. Obligations and Rights of the Owners, Possessors, and Holders of Vehicles

(1) The owner (possessor, holder) of a vehicle has the obligation to perform everything necessary in order that the vehicles in his or her use to which a permit to participate in the road traffic has not been given or to which a prohibition to participate in road traffic apply are not used in road traffic.

(2) The owner, possessor, and holder of a vehicle may not allow a person to drive the vehicle who is under the influence of alcoholic, narcotic, psychotoxic or other intoxicating substances.

(3) The owner, possessor, and holder of a vehicle may not allow a person to drive a vehicle who does not have the rights to drive a motor vehicle of the relevant category, except for the cases when a driver training or check of driver skills are being carried out in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Road Traffic Regulations.

(4) Compulsory third party liability insurance of the owner, possessor, and holder of a vehicle shall be performed in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and other regulatory enactments.

(5) The owner (possessor, holder) of a vehicle has an obligation, upon request of the State Police, to provide information on the person who drove or was entitled to use the vehicle if, at the moment of detecting an offence, the actual driver of a vehicle was not ascertained, indicating the personal data of the relevant person (his or her given name, surname, personal identity number, but in case of a foreigner - the place of residence, the number, date of issue, and place of issue of the driver's licence, the issuing state of the driver's licence shall be indicated additionally).

[8 July 2003; 13 May 2010; 23 February 2012; 19 December 2019 / The new wording of Paragraph five shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 21. Authorisations for Vehicle Registration Activities

(1) Natural and legal persons may give an authorisation for the registration activities of the vehicle to be registered with the Road Traffic Safety Directorate and the State Technical Supervision Agency in any form specified in Section 1474 of the Civil Law, unless it is laid down otherwise in Paragraph two or three of this Section.

(2) The Cabinet shall determine such registration activities of the vehicle to be registered with the Road Traffic Safety Directorate which strictly require a written authorisation to be drawn up as follows:

1) as a note of authorisation in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof;

2) as a power of attorney issued according to the notarial deed procedures or a written power of attorney in which a sworn notary has certified the authenticity of the signature of the person and verified his or her capacity to act.

(3) The Cabinet shall determine such registration activities of the vehicle to be registered with the State Technical Supervision Agency which strictly require a written authorisation to be drawn up as follows:

1) natural persons - as a power of attorney issued according to the notarial deed procedures or a written power of attorney in which a sworn notary has certified the authenticity of the signature of the person and verified his or her capacity to act;

2) legal persons - as a written power of attorney issued by the relevant legal person without the attestation of a notary or another person referred to in Section 1474 of the Civil Law;

3) as a note of authorisation in the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof.

[12 April 2018; 22 June 2023]

Section 22. Training of Drivers and Issuance of a Driver's Licence

(1) The rights to drive a vehicle and a driver's licence may be obtained and re-obtained by a person who has attained the age specified in the Law:

1) whose permanent place of residence is in Latvia according to the submitted documents or in accordance with the information available in the registers, or who may prove that he or she has studied in Latvia for the last six months. Within the meaning of this Section, the permanent place of residence of a person is in Latvia, provided that any of the following conditions is present:

a) the place of stay of the person is in Latvia for at least 185 days per calendar year due to personal commitments (commitments indicating that the relevant person has a close link with Latvia) and due to work commitments;

b) the person does not have work commitments, but his or her place of stay in Latvia is due to personal commitments (commitments indicating that the relevant person has a close link with Latvia);

c) the person resides abroad due to work commitments, but returns and resides in Latvia on a regular basis due to personal commitments (commitments indicating that the relevant person has a close link with Latvia);

d) the place of stay of the person is in Latvia, but his or her stay abroad is related to studies;

2) who has passed an examination of theoretical knowledge and driving skills in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations;

3) who has undergone medical examination in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations and with regard to whom no medical contraindications to driving have been established. Medical practitioners who have a relevant certificate of a medical practitioner shall provide information on the presence or absence of medical contraindications to the Road Traffic Safety Directorate and the State Technical Supervision Agency;

3¹) who has undergone medical treatment from excessive, harmful use of or addiction to alcohol, narcotic or psychotropic substances, proving objectively a stable remission of at least one year which is certified by the opinion of the attending narcologist if the narcologist detects excessive, harmful use of or addiction to alcohol, narcotic or psychotropic substances in the early medical check-up of the driver who has been punished for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or narcotic or other intoxicating substances and the driver wishes to re-obtain the rights to drive vehicles. A driver who has been punished for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or narcotic or other intoxicating substances and for whom excessive, harmful use of or addiction to alcohol, narcotic or psychotropic substances is not detected in the early medical check-up, may re-obtain the rights to drive vehicles only after participation in a behavioural correction programme. Group classes in a behavioural correction programme shall be ensured by natural or legal persons who have certified to a selection commission of organisers established by the Minister for Transport their ability of and experience in conducting such classes and have determined a fee for organising classes according to their economic activity;

4) with regard to whom it has not been prohibited to obtain such right for a specific period of time and with regard to whom there is no valid prohibition on the exercise of the rights to drive vehicles or the rights to drive vehicles have not been revoked in Latvia, another European Union Member State, the United Kingdom, or a member state of the European Free Trade Association.

(1¹) A person who has been punished for committing a criminal offence against road traffic safety in accordance with Sections 262 and 262.¹ of the Criminal Law may not obtain and re-obtain the rights to drive vehicles and a driver's licence until the conviction has been set aside or extinguished.

(1²) [27 April 2017]

(1³) The conditions of Paragraph one, Clause 1 of this Section shall not be applied to obtaining or re-obtaining the right to drive tractor-type machinery.

(2) The period of validity of a driver's licence for AM, A1, A2, A, B, B1, or BE category vehicles shall be 10 years, but of a driver's licence regarding the rights to drive also C1, C, D1, D, C1E, CE, D1E, DE, TRAM, or TROL category vehicles - five years. The period of validity of a driver's licence for tractor-type machinery shall be 10 years. The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for obtaining and renewing the rights to drive motor vehicles, the procedures for obtaining the rights to drive motor vehicles if they have been revoked in accordance with Section 17 of the Law on Administrative Liability, and also the procedures for and the time periods of the issue, change, and renewal of a driver's licence.

(2¹) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for training drivers of vehicles intended for the carriage of dangerous goods, the procedures for obtaining the rights, and the procedures for issuing, changing, and renewing a driver's licence.

(3) A merchant or an educational institution the document regulating the operation of which provides for the relevant training programme has the right to engage in the theoretical training and driving training of drivers of vehicles, including drivers of tractor-type machinery. It shall be allowed to provide individual driving training to a person without performing commercial activity for such drivers of vehicles who have attained the age of 18 years and who have had the right to drive vehicles of the relevant category for at least three years and only with the vehicles corresponding to the categories of the driver's licences of AM, A1, A2, A, B1, B, BE, and tractor-type machinery.

(3¹) A merchant and an educational institution which wish to engage in training of the drivers of vehicles shall obtain a training licence. The training licence is a document which gives the right to engage in training of drivers of the vehicles belonging to the categories indicated therein which takes place on particular training premises and which certifies that the training premises correspond to the requirements laid down in laws and regulations. The training licence shall be issued by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate, but for the training of tractor-type machinery drivers - the State Technical Supervision Agency. Contesting of the decision not to issue, suspend, or revoke the training licence shall not suspend the operation thereof.

(4) The Cabinet shall determine the requirements for the merchants, educational institutions, and specialists providing training of drivers, the training programmes for drivers, and also the procedures for controlling the training process of drivers.

(5) The training driving shall be allowed for persons who have the basic knowledge of the road traffic regulations. Initial training driving shall occur in demarcated areas.

(6) Upon participating in road traffic, a person who is learning to drive a motor vehicle (except for a trolleybus) shall hold a learner-driver permit or a document regarding the right to drive motor vehicles. The relevant person has an obligation to present such document upon request of police offers.

(7) The Cabinet shall determine the requirements for the examination inspectors of drivers of vehicles (except for tractor-type machinery).

[19 February 2009; 13 May 2010; 3 March 2011; 30 October 2014; 10 December 2015; 27 April 2017; 12 April 2018; 19 December 2019; 25 March 2021; 22 June 2023 / See Paragraph 65 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 22.¹ Behavioural Correction Programme of a Person Punished for Driving a Vehicle under the Influence of Intoxicating Substances

(1) The implementation of a behavioural correction programme shall be ensured by a merchant which has the qualification, experience, staff, and premises necessary for the implementation of the correction programme.

(2) The costs of participation in the behavioural correction programme shall be covered by the driver of the vehicle.

(3) The merchant shall implement the behavioural correction programme in the form of economic activity for consideration. The fee for the participation in the behavioural correction programme shall be determined by the merchant.

(4) The Cabinet shall determine the tasks, content, and duration of the behavioural correction programme, the requirements for the qualification, experience, staff, and availability of premises necessary for the implementation of the behavioural correction programme, and also the procedures for the organisation and course of the behavioural correction programme.

[22 June 2023]

Section 23. Categories of Driver's Licences and Vehicles Corresponding to these Categories

(1) The following vehicles (except for tractor-type machinery) shall correspond to the categories of driver's licences:

1) AM - mopeds;

2) A1 - motorcycles the engine's cylinder capacity of which does not exceed 125 cubic centimetres, the power does not exceed 11 kilowatts, and the ratio of power to weight does not exceed 0.1 kilowatt per kilogram, and also tricycles the power of which does not exceed 15 kilowatts;

3) A2 - motorcycles the power of which does not exceed 35 kilowatts, the ratio of power to weight does not exceed 0.2 kilowatts per kilogram and which are not derived from vehicles of more than double power thereof;

4) A - motorcycles, and also tricycles the power of which exceeds 15 kilowatts;

5) B1 - quadricycles the power of which does not exceed 15 kilowatts;

6) B - motor vehicles, except for A category motorcycles, the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 3500 kilograms and which are constructed and designed for carriage of not more than eight passengers in addition to the driver, and also a connection of a towing vehicle of such category with a trailer the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 750 kilograms. The connection of the towing vehicle of this category with a trailer the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 750 kilograms shall also be permitted, provided that the technically permissible maximum laden mass of such connection does not exceed 4250 kilograms;

7) C1 - motor vehicles which are not included in D1 or D category, the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 3500 kilograms but does not exceed 7500 kilograms, and which are constructed and designed for carriage of not more than eight passengers in addition to the driver, and also a connection of a towing vehicle of such category with a trailer the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 750 kilograms;

8) C - motor vehicles which are not included in D1 or D category, the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 3500 kilograms, and which are constructed and designed for carriage of not more than eight passengers in addition to the driver, and also a connection of a towing vehicle of such category with a trailer the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 750 kilograms;

9) D1 - motor vehicles which are constructed and designed for carriage of not more than 16 passengers in addition to the driver and the length of which does not exceed 8 metres, and also a connection of a towing vehicle of such category with a trailer the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 750 kilograms;

10) D - motor vehicles which are constructed and designed for carriage of more than eight passengers in addition to the driver, and also a connection of a towing vehicle of such category with a trailer the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 750 kilograms;

11) BE - a connection of a B category towing vehicle with a trailer or semi-trailer the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 3500 kilograms;

12) C1E - a connection of a C1 category towing vehicle with a trailer or semi-trailer the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 750 kilograms, provided that the technically permissible maximum laden mass of such connection does not exceed 12 000 kilograms, or a connection of a B category towing vehicle with a trailer or semi-trailer the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 3500 kilograms, provided that the technically permissible maximum laden mass of such connection does not exceed 12 000 kilograms;

13) CE - a connection of a C category towing vehicle with a trailer the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 750 kilograms;

14) D1E - a connection of a D1 category towing vehicle with a trailer the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 750 kilograms;

15) DE - a connection of a D category towing vehicle with a trailer the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 750 kilograms;

16) TRAM - trams;

17) TROL - trolleybuses.

(2) The driver of a vehicle who has the right to drive a vehicle of one category shall also be allowed to drive the following vehicles of another category:

1) with the rights to drive an A category vehicle - A1, A2 category vehicles;

2) with the rights to drive a B category vehicle:

a) a B1 category vehicle;

b) in case of the driver of a vehicle who has attained the age of 21 years - an A category tricycle;

c) in Latvia - an A1 category vehicle;

3) with the rights to drive a C category vehicle - a C1 category vehicle;

4) with the rights to drive a D category vehicle - a D1 category vehicle;

5) with the rights to drive an A2 category vehicle - an A1 category vehicle;

6) with the rights to drive a CE category vehicle - a C1E category vehicle;

7) with the rights to drive a DE category vehicle - a D1E category vehicle;

8) with the rights to drive any motor vehicle or tram - an AM category vehicle and a snowmobile;

9) with the rights to drive a B, BE, C1, C1E, D1, D1E, C, CE, D, and DE category vehicle - a TR1 category vehicle;

10) with the rights to drive a C1, C1E, D1, D1E, C, CE, D, and DE category vehicle - a TR2 category vehicle.

(3) A driver who has the rights to drive a trolleybus and whose driver's licence contains a relevant note shall also be allowed to drive a passenger public transport vehicle corresponding to D1 and D categories in populated areas.

(4) The driver of a vehicle who has the rights to drive a B category vehicle, who has passed the driving test in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations, and whose driver's licence contains a relevant note shall be allowed to drive a connection of a B category towing vehicle with a trailer the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 750 kilograms, provided that the technically permissible maximum laden mass of such connection exceeds 3500 kilograms.

(4¹) The driver of a vehicle whose experience as a driver of a B category vehicle is at least two years shall be permitted to drive an electric vehicle with technically permissible maximum laden mass up to 3500 kilograms but not exceeding 4250 kilograms if the vehicle is intended for the carriage of cargoes without a trailer and the additional mass above 3500 kilograms is not related to the increase of the cargo space of the vehicle and has resulted solely due to the electronic propulsion system in comparison with the mass of a propulsion system in a vehicle of the same size which has been equipped with a regular internal combustion engine with spark ignition or compression ignition.

(5) The driver of a vehicle who has the rights to drive B, C1, D1, C, or D category vehicles shall be allowed to drive specialised vehicles for tourists.

(6) The provisions of Paragraphs one, two, three, four, and five of this Section, except for the condition referred to in Clause 8 of Paragraph two, shall not be applicable to the categories of tractor-type machinery driver's licences.

(7) The following groups of tractor-type machinery shall correspond to the categories of tractor-type machinery driver's licences:

1) TR1 - tractors, farm self-propelled machinery, communal machinery, universal self-propelled machinery, excavators, loaders, and special self-propelled machinery with technically permissible maximum laden mass up to 7500 kilograms;

2) TR2 - all tractors, farm self-propelled machinery, communal machinery, universal self-propelled machinery, bulldozers, excavators, loaders, and special self-propelled machinery;

3) TR3 - forest machinery, excavators, loaders, and special self-propelled machinery;

4) TR4 - road building machinery, bulldozers, excavators, loaders, and special self-propelled machinery.

(8) If the driver of a vehicle drives a vehicle of another category, including tractor-type machinery, only with the rights to drive AM, A1, or TRAM category vehicles, it shall be considered that, upon driving the relevant vehicle, the driver of a vehicle does not have any rights to drive. This condition with regard to the rights to drive A1 and TRAM category vehicles shall not apply to the condition referred to in Paragraph two, Clause 8 of this Section.

(9) A professional service soldier or national guard who has obtained a driver's licence of TR1 or TR2 category tractor-type machinery or driver's licence of B category vehicles is entitled to drive military combat vehicles, and also such vehicles in combination with a trailer of military combat vehicles.

[3 March 2011; 29 November 2012; 21 November 2013; 10 December 2015; 12 April 2018; 25 April 2019; 25 March 2021; 15 June 2021; 22 June 2023]

Section 24. Age Limits for Drivers and Participants in Road Traffic of Certain Categories

(1) In order to acquire the rights to drive vehicles, a person shall have attained the following age:

1) 14 years - for obtaining a driver's licence of AM category;

2) 16 years - for obtaining a driver's licence of A1 and B1 categories;

3) 18 years - for obtaining a driver's licence of A2, B, BE, C1, and C1E categories, and in the case referred in Section 6.¹, Paragraph 2.¹ of the Law on Carriage by Road - also for obtaining a driver's licence of C and CE categories;

3¹) 20 years - in the case referred in Section 30.¹, Paragraph 2.¹ of the Law on Carriage by Road - for obtaining a driver's licence of D and DE categories;

4) 21 years - for obtaining a driver's licence of C, CE, D1, D1E, TRAM, and TROL categories;

5) 24 years - for obtaining a driver's licence of A, D, and DE categories. A person who has attained the age of 20 years may obtain a driver's licence of A category, provided that his or her experience as a driver of an A2 category vehicle is at least two years. A person who has attained at least the age of 21 years shall be allowed to drive a tricycle the power of which exceeds 15 kilowatts;

6) 15 years - for obtaining a driver's licence of TR1 category tractor-type machinery;

7) 16 years - for obtaining a driver's licence of all types of tractor-type machinery.

(2) Persons in military service may obtain a driver's licence of C, CE, D1, and D category from the age of 19 years. Until attaining the age specified in Paragraph one of this Section, this driver's licence shall only give the right to drive vehicles of the National Armed Forces.

(3) The training of persons to drive a vehicle is allowed not earlier than two years before attaining of the specified age for the acquisition of the driver's licence of the relevant category.

(4) A person from the age from 10 to 17 years shall be allowed to participate in road traffic with a bicycle independently, if he or she has the rights to ride a bicycle or drive a vehicle of any category. The rights to drive vehicles shall not be required for persons who have attained 18 years of age for riding a bicycle. Children shall be allowed to participate in road traffic with a bicycle accompanied by a person of legal age on footpaths, bicycle paths, and other places in road traffic where the movement of only bicycles and pedestrians is allowed, irrespective of the age, but on a carriageway - from the age of seven years. Irrespective of the age, children shall be allowed to participate in road traffic with a bicycle independently in living zones, courtyards of multi-residential houses, and places where driving of motor vehicles does not occur.

(4¹) A person who has attained the age of 18 years and who has obtained the rights to ride a bicycle or drive a vehicle of any category shall be allowed to participate in road traffic with a cycle rickshaw.

(5) It is prohibited for a person who has not attained the age of 14 years to participate in road traffic with an electric scooter. A person from 14 years of age shall be allowed to participate in road traffic with an electric scooter if he or she has the right to ride a bicycle or drive a vehicle of any category. The provider of electronic services which ensures the use of electric scooters as shared-use vehicles shall verify the identity and age of the service recipient on the mobile application or website.

[3 March 2011; 21 November 2013; 10 December 2015; 12 April 2018; 25 March 2021; 27 October 2022; 22 June 2023 / The new wording of Paragraph five shall come into force on 1 September 2023. See Paragraph 56 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 25. Obligations of Drivers

(1) A driver of a motor vehicle must carry the following documents which must be presented for inspection upon request of police officers, border guards, transport control service of a local government, the State Technical Supervision Agency, or customs officials:

1) a driver's licence or a personal identification document (for the driver of a vehicle with regard to whose rights to drive a vehicle of the relevant category when travelling within the territory of Latvia an entry has been made in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof or the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof);

2) registration documents of the vehicle, except for drivers of a vehicle who travel within the territory of Latvia using vehicles registered in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof or the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof;

3) [27 September 2007];

4) documents which in accordance with this Law and other laws and regulations are required for a driver in order to drive a relevant vehicle (emergency vehicle or similar vehicle) or to transport the relevant freight (dangerous, over-size, over-weight, and similar freight);

5) [15 December 2005];

6) any of the following documents (stickers):

a) a visual information (sticker) with the term of validity of the permit for participation in the road traffic which is adhered to the windshield of an automobile or tractor-type machinery or on a special base in the case of a motorcycle, trailer (half-trailer), sports automobiles, tractor-type machinery, or military transportation vehicle and a trailer of military transportation vehicle;

b) a visual information (sticker) with the term of validity of the temporary permit for participation in the road traffic which is adhered to the windshield of an automobile or tractor-type machinery or on a special base in the case of a motorcycle, trailer (half-trailer), sports automobiles, tractor-type machinery, or military transportation vehicle and a trailer of military transportation vehicle;

c) a document regarding the performed technical roadside inspection of a vehicle;

d) one day permit for participation in road traffic drawn up electronically by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate in order to undergo the roadworthiness test.

(1¹) A moped driver shall have the documents referred to in Paragraph one, Clauses 1 and 2 of this Section and shall conform to the conditions of Paragraph one, Clauses 1 and 2 of this Section. A driver of a tram, trolleybus, or military combat vehicles, and also a minor driver of a bicycle or electric scooter shall have the document referred to in Paragraph one, Clause 1 of this Section.

(2) Before driving a driver shall check whether the compulsory civil liability insurance of an owner of a motor vehicle has been arranged, the vehicle is in running order and completed, including with the first aid kit the content of which conforms to the laws and regulations regarding the minimum medicinal material necessary for the provision of the first aid, and also keep track of the technical condition of the vehicle on the road.

(2¹) The driver of a vehicle is prohibited from the following:

1) using a telephone if the vehicle is in motion, except for cases where a telephone is used in a hands-free mode;

2) using notebook computers, tablet PCs, and smart devices if the vehicle is in motion;

3) opening the doors of a parked vehicle if it endangers road traffic safety or hinders other road traffic participants;

4) using alcoholic beverages, narcotic or psychotropic substances after the vehicle has been stopped upon request of police officers or border guards until performance of the testing necessary for detecting intoxication or release from it, and also from refusing to undergo such testing;

5) using a driver's licence or registration documents of the vehicle which are damaged, illegible, or do not conform to the specified sample or other documents which are necessary for a driver, in accordance with this Law and other laws and regulations, in order to drive a relevant vehicle or carry a relevant freight.

(3) The driver of a vehicle shall comply with the requirements of this Law, the Road Traffic Regulations, and other laws and regulations governing road traffic, travelling on the roads, and also in other places where transport movement is possible.

(3¹) The driver of a vehicle has an obligation to ascertain whether the taxes or duties payable prior to participation in road traffic in accordance with the laws and regulations have been paid.

(4) If the rights to drive a vehicle have been revoked for the driver of a vehicle for a specified or unspecified time period, a driver's licence shall be considered as invalid from the day when the relevant decision is notified to him or her. The driver of a vehicle has an obligation to hand over the invalid driver's licence within 10 days to the Road Traffic Safety Directorate, the State Technical Supervision Agency, or the State Police. If the person has not handed over the driver's licence and the use of it is determined, the driver's licence shall be suspended. The driver's licence shall be suspended and destroyed by officials of the State Police, the Road Traffic Safety Directorate, and the State Technical Supervision Agency. The cases when a driver's licence is to be destroyed and the procedures by which a driver's licence shall be destroyed shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[20 December 1999; 17 July 2000; 8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 15 December 2005; 15 February 2007; 27 September 2007; 19 February 2009; 13 May 2010; 9 June 2011; 15 December 2011; 29 November 2012; 21 November 2013; 4 September 2014; 10 December 2015; 27 April 2017; 9 November 2017; 25 April 2019; 19 December 2019; 25 March 2021; 22 June 2023 / Amendment to the introductory part of Paragraph one regarding its supplementation with the words "State Technical Supervision Agency" after the words "transport control service of a local government" shall come into force on 1 January 2024. See Paragraph 54 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 26. Rights to Drive a Vehicle

(1) The rights to drive a vehicle allows a person to drive a vehicle of the appropriate category, to transport passengers and freight, to train persons individually to drive vehicles and perform other operations allowed for the driver of a vehicle in the laws and regulations, participating in road traffic.

(2) The right of a person to drive a vehicle shall be attested to by a relevant entry in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof or in the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof and a valid driver's licence. During the period of examination of driving skills, the right of the driver of a vehicle to drive the vehicle shall be attested by a valid driver's licence or learner permit.

(3) The experience of the driver of a vehicle shall be counted from the date when the person obtains the driver's licence of the relevant category vehicle.

[8 July 2003; 15 February 2007; 25 April 2019]

Section 27. Action of Participants to Road Traffic in Case of a Road Traffic Accident

(1) Any participant to road traffic shall do as much as possible in order to provide first aid to victims in a road traffic accident.

(2) If people have suffered in a road traffic accident or damage has been caused to the property of a third person, and also if damage has been caused to vehicles due to which they cannot travel, the driver of a vehicle shall:

1) stop immediately and stay at the scene of the accident, switch on emergency lights, and set up an emergency hazard sign, but, if this is not possible, shall notify other road traffic participants regarding the road traffic accident by some other means;

2) do all that is possible in order to provide first aid to a victim, immediately call for health care or another rescue service, but, if that is not possible, shall deliver a victim by his or her own or other passing vehicle to the nearest medical institution and return to the scene of the accident;

3) do everything in his or her powers to retain the traces of the event at the place of accident, take down given names, surnames, and addresses of the witnesses;

4) notify the police regarding the road traffic accident (or other rescue service) and act further according to its instructions.

(3) If the vehicles involved in the road traffic accident referred to in Paragraph two of this Section prevent other vehicles to pass the scene of the road traffic accident, drivers shall clear the carriageway after recording of the position of the vehicles involved in the road traffic accident and other objects.

(4) If people have not suffered in the road traffic accident and damages to the property of a third person have not been committed, and also damage to vehicles has not been caused due to which they could not travel, the drivers shall act in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Road Traffic Regulations.

(5) If only one vehicle is involved in the road traffic accident and people have not been injured and damage to the property of a third person has not occurred, the driver of a vehicle shall act in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Road Traffic Regulations.

(6) The driver of a vehicle is prohibited from using alcoholic beverages, narcotic or psychotropic substances after a road traffic accident until performance of the testing necessary for detecting intoxication or until release from such testing in accordance with the specified procedures, and from refusing to undergo such testing.

(7) After a road traffic accident it is prohibited to continue driving a vehicle with regard to which the State Police has cancelled the permit for the participation in road traffic after having considered the consequences of the road traffic accident. This provision shall not apply to tractor-type machinery and trailers thereof. The Cabinet shall determine the damage upon establishing of which the State Police shall cancel the permit for the participation of a vehicle (except for tractor-type machinery and trailers thereof) in road traffic and the procedures by which the State Police shall cancel the permit for the participation of the relevant vehicles in road traffic.

[8 July 2003; 4 September 2014; 27 April 2017]

Section 28. Prohibition to Drive

(1) The following persons are prohibited to drive:

1) if any of the following conditions exist:

a) the blood alcohol concentration exceeds 0.5 per mil for the driver of a vehicle whose experience in driving motor vehicles exceeds two years;

b) the blood alcohol concentration exceeds 0.2 per mil for the driver of a vehicle whose experience in driving motor vehicles is less than two years;

c) the blood alcohol concentration exceeds 0.2 per mil for the driver of a vehicle who is driving vehicles corresponding to D1, D, D1E, DE, TRAM, and TROL category,

d) the blood alcohol concentration exceeds 0.5 per mil for a driver of a bicycle, electric scooter, or moped;

2) the ones under the influence of narcotic, psychotropic, toxic, other substances of intoxication or medicinal products which reduce reaction time and attention;

3) the ones who are ill or tired to such a degree that it could affect the capacity to drive and road traffic safety;

4) if the driver does not have the rights to drive a vehicle of the appropriate category;

5) if the revoking of the rights to drive a vehicle has entered into effect for a person.

(2) It is prohibited to learn to drive a vehicle:

1) if the alcohol concentration in the blood exceeds 0.2 per mil;

2) the ones under the influence of narcotic, psychotropic, toxic, other substances of intoxication or medicinal products which reduce reaction time and attention;

3) being ill or tired to such a degree that it could affect the capacity to drive and road traffic safety.

[8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 15 February 2007; 13 May 2010; 9 June 2011; 25 March 2021]

Section 29. Revocation of the Rights to Drive a Vehicle

(1) The rights to drive a vehicle may be revoked for a specified or unspecified time period.

(2) Revocation of the rights to drive a vehicle for the time period specified in the law as a means of influencing the behaviour of the driver of a vehicle shall be applied by imposing a penalty for the administrative offences provided for in the law or in accordance with the penalty point system, and also in the cases specified in the Criminal Law.

(3) The rights to drive a vehicle shall be revoked for an indefinite period if there is a relevant opinion of a medical expert-examination that medical contraindications for driving have arisen for the driver of a vehicle.

(4) The time period for which the driver of a vehicle has had the rights to drive a vehicle revoked shall not be counted in the experience of the driver.

(4¹) If the rights to drive vehicles have been revoked for a person for a period up to one year, the person shall, in order to renew the rights to drive vehicles, pass the theoretical examination in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations regarding obtaining and renewal of the rights to drive vehicles.

(5) If the rights to drive a vehicle are revoked for a person for a year or more or the rights to drive a vehicle have been revoked for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcoholic beverages, narcotic, psychotropic, or other intoxicating substances, and also if a prohibition to use the rights to drive a vehicle has been determined for a person within the scope of the penalty point system, the person shall pass an examination of theoretical knowledge and driving skills in accordance with the procedures laid down in the laws and regulations regarding obtaining and renewal of the rights to drive vehicles.

[8 July 2003; 15 February 2007; 9 June 2011; 10 December 2015 / Paragraph 4.¹ shall come into force on 1 April 2016. See Paragraph 36 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 30. Prohibition to Exercise the Rights to Drive Vehicles

(1) An officer of the State Police shall impose a prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles on the driver of a vehicle who has committed a criminal offence against road traffic safety under the influence of alcohol, narcotic, or other intoxicating substances with regard to which he or she may be held criminally liable. In such case the driver of a vehicle is prohibited to exercise the rights to drive a vehicle and his or her driver's licence shall be suspended up to the time when the official of the State Police or the person directing the proceedings in the criminal case takes the relevant decision.

(2) The rights to drive a vehicle may not be exercised, if:

1) the term of validity of a driver's licence has expired - up to the receipt of a new licence;

2) the given name, surname, or personal identification number indicated in the personal identification document fails to comply with the information specified in a driver's licence and the driver's licence has not been replaced within 30 days - up to the receipt of a new licence;

3) the fine imposed for the violation of the Road Traffic Regulations has not been paid within a year from the day of imposing of the fine - up to the payment of the fine;

4) the driver of a vehicle has not performed the current health examination or the prescheduled medical check-up in accordance with the time period specified in the laws and regulations - up to the health examination;

5) within the scope of the penalty point system a coercion measure has been applied - the prohibition of the exercise of the rights to drive vehicles;

6) the driver's licence issued abroad does not conform to the requirements referred to in Section 47, Paragraph one of this Law or the driver's licence issued abroad which conforms to the requirements referred to in Section 47, Paragraph one of this Law has not been exchanged in conformity with the conditions in Section 47, Paragraph two of this Law;

7) the driver's licence has been stolen or lost and within 30 days from the day of registration of the relevant information in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof a new driver's licence has not been received;

8) a prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles is in effect for a person or the rights to drive vehicles have been revoked in a foreign country.

(3) A relevant entry shall be made in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof, and also the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof with regard to the prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles. Data regarding invalid driver's licences shall be included in the register of invalid documents in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet. Contesting or appeal of the registration of the prohibition the exercise the rights to drive vehicles shall not suspend the operation thereof.

(4) If the driver of a vehicle violates the prohibition specified to exercise the rights to drive, his or her driver's licence shall be suspended.

[8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 15 February 2007; 19 February 2009; 13 May 2010; 3 March 2011; 9 June 2011; 25 April 2019; 19 December 2019 / The new wording of the title of this Section and Paragraph one shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 30.¹ Medical Check-ups for Vehicle Drivers and Persons who wish to Acquire the Qualification of the Driver of a Vehicle

(1) The conformity of the health condition of the driver of a vehicle or a person who wishes to acquire the qualification of the driver of a vehicle for the driving of the relevant category of vehicle determined at a medical check-up shall be attested to by the information that a medical treatment institution has entered in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof.

(2) The medical check-ups shall be allocated as follows:

1) first time check-ups;

2) regular check-ups;

3) prescheduled check-ups.

(3) A first time medical check-up shall be performed for persons who wish to acquire the qualification of the driver of a vehicle.

(4) The regular medical check-up of the driver of a vehicle shall be performed for:

1) drivers of M, A1, A, B1, B, and BE category vehicles, and also drivers of tractor-type machinery and other self-propelled machinery - every 10 years, for persons who have attained the age of 60 years - every three years, except for drivers of tractor-type machinery and other self-propelled machinery who, after attaining the age of 60 years, undergo the regular check-up every five years, but after attaining the age of 65 years - every three years;

2) drivers of C1, C, D1, D, C1E, CE, D1E, and DE category vehicles, and also drivers of trams and trolleybuses every five years, for persons who have attained 60 years of age - every three years.

(5) The driver of a vehicle who has been punished for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcoholic beverages, narcotic, psychotropic, or other intoxicating substances or for refusing the testing to determine alcohol concentration, and also the testing necessary for detecting influence of narcotic or other intoxicating substances shall undergo an early medical check-up.

(6) There is the right to send the driver of a vehicle for a prescheduled medical check-up if there are justifiable suspicions that the driver of a vehicle has the medical contraindications for the driving of vehicles stipulated by the Cabinet.

(7) The procedures by which medical check-ups for drivers of vehicles and persons who wish to acquire the qualification of the driver of a vehicle shall be conducted, the procedures by which the driver of a vehicle shall be sent for a prescheduled medical check-up if there are justifiable suspicions that the driver of a vehicle has the medical contraindications for the driving of vehicles, and also the procedures by which the rights to drive a vehicle shall be taken away from drivers of vehicles who have the medical contraindications for the driving of vehicles shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(8) The procedures by which the expenditures for the prescheduled medical check-up of drivers of vehicles shall be covered shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[15 February 2007; 15 May 2008; 13 May 2010; 9 June 2011; 21 November 2013; 10 December 2015; 9 November 2017; 12 April 2018]

Chapter V
Working Time of Crew Members of Vehicles

[26 May 2005]

Section 31. Requirements in Respect of Organisation, Conformity, and Recording of Working Time of Crew Members of Vehicles

(1) The requirements in respect of the organisation, conformity, and recording of working time of crew members of vehicles who perform carriage with vehicles to which Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport and amending Council Regulations (EEC) No 3821/85 and (EC) No 2135/98 and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 [hereinafter - Regulation (EC) No 561/2006] applies shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(2) The exceptions when the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 are not applied shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[15 February 2007 / See Transitional Provision]

Section 31.¹ Installation, Inspection, Repair, and Sealing of a Tachograph

(1) [15 February 2007]

(2) A tachograph shall be installed, inspected, repaired, and sealed in a vehicle by an inspection authority (workshop) which has been accredited by the national accreditation authority in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding assessment, accreditation, and supervision of the conformity assessment authorities and which corresponds to Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 February 2014 on tachographs in road transport, repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport and amending Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport.

(3) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for implementing the operation and supervision of an inspection authority (workshop).

[26 May 2005; 15 December 2005; 15 February 2007; 14 November 2008; 12 June 2009; 4 September 2014; 25 April 2019]

Section 31.² Duration of the Working Time of Crew Members of Vehicles

(1) The weekly working time of crew members of vehicles may not exceed 48 hours, taking into account that a week is a time period between 00.00 on Monday and 24.00 on Sunday.

(2) A crew member of a vehicle may be employed above the working time specified in Paragraph one of this Section, but not by more than 60 hours per week. In such case the average weekly working time over four months may not exceed 48 hours.

(3) An employer upon agreement with representatives of the employee may change the working time specified in Paragraph two of this Section, if the average weekly working time over six months does not exceed 48 hours.

(4) If a crew member of a vehicle performs work of any duration at night from 01.00 to 05.00, then the total daily working time may not exceed 10 hours per any 24-hour period. An employer may, upon an agreement with representatives of employees, change the abovementioned working time at night by specifying that it is at least a four-hour period from 00.00 to 07.00.

(5) In order to ensure the conformity with the conditions referred to in this Section, working time accounting shall be performed.

(6) The conditions referred to in this Section regarding the length of the working time of crew members of vehicles shall applied only in such cases when carriage is performed with vehicles to which Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 or the European Agreement concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport (AETR) applies.

[15 December 2005; 15 February 2007; 10 December 2015]

Section 31.³ Control of the Operation of a Tachograph

(1) The State Police shall control the operation of a tachograph on roads. If there are justifiable suspicions of any manipulation of the tachograph, the State Police shall refer the relevant vehicle to an inspection authority (workshop) for an additional examination.

(2) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for carrying out an additional examination of the operation of a tachograph at an inspection authority (workshop) and for covering expenditures of the additional examination.

[25 April 2019]

Section 32. Permissible Driving Time

[8 July 2003]

Section 33. Maximum Permissible Continuous Driving Time

[8 July 2003]

Section 34. Exceptional Cases

[26 May 2005]

Section 35. International Road Transport Operations

[26 May 2005]

Chapter VI
Road Traffic Organisation

Section 36. Purpose of Road Traffic Organisation

The purpose of road traffic organisation is to ensure a continuous, rhythmical, and fast road traffic, and also to guarantee the maximum safety thereof.

Section 37. Basic Rule for Road Traffic Organisation

In Latvia vehicles travel on the right hand side of the road.

Section 38. Technical Means of Road Traffic Organisation

(1) Traffic on roads shall be organised using road signs, road markings, traffic lights, fencing for transport and pedestrian traffic and other technical means which conform to the requirements of mandatory standards and other norms in Latvia.

(2) The technical means of road traffic organisation shall be installed and removed according to the construction design. If the construction design is not required, the road manager shall agree upon the authorisation to install and remove the technical means of road traffic organisation, except for the abovementioned actions on State motor roads, with the relevant local government if a relevant structural unit has been established therein, in all other cases the authorisation shall be agreed upon with the Latvian State Roads.

(3) The road or territory manager shall be responsible for the timely installation and removal of the technical means of road traffic organisation according to the specified requirements and for continuously maintaining them in working order, and also shall ensure their readability and detectability for human drivers and vehicles equipped with automated driver assistance systems.

(3¹) In the case referred to in Section 8, Paragraph four of this Law, in order to ensure road traffic safety the State Police or the State Border Guard respectively shall ensure installation of appropriate technical means of road traffic organisation and timely removal thereof. The State Police and the State Border Guard shall inform the road manager of the imposed road traffic restrictions.

(4) [15 February 2001]

[15 February 2001; 26 May 2005; 9 June 2011; 25 April 2019; 16 June 2022 / The new wording of Paragraph two shall come into force on 1 January 2023. See Paragraph 53 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 39. Planning and Design

Upon planning the building of a city, populated areas and residential sectors of a city, and also upon designing dwelling houses, public buildings, and other objects, it is necessary to provide for measures in order to ensure convenient and safe traffic, sufficient number of parking spaces, the possibility to drive near the buildings and other objects.

Section 40. Coordination of Operations to be Performed on a Road or in the Immediate Vicinity Thereof

(1) If it is intended to perform an operation on a road or immediate vicinity thereof which may affect road traffic safety (to organise mass or sport measures, to provide trade or other services, to place advertising objects or information objects, objects for trade, public catering, or other services, to perform work on a road, etc.), an authorisation of the road manager (owner) and land owner shall be obtained in relation to these operations.

(2) The provisions for the placement of advertising and information objects along the roads, and also the procedures by which the placement of advertising or information objects is to be coordinated shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(3) [9 June 2011]

(4) Organisation of mass or sport measures shall also be coordinated with the territorial police institutions.

[15 February 2001; 8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 9 June 2011; 22 June 2023]

Section 41. Control and Supervision of Road Traffic

(1) The road traffic shall be regulated and supervised by the employees of the police and other persons authorised for that in the laws and other regulatory enactments.

(2) Persons who are authorised to actively control the traffic on roads, and also persons who supervise the traffic shall wear the relevant uniform which is clearly visible at all times of the day with elements of light reflective material and with a distinguishing sign, and also they shall carry a service identification document.

Section 42. Obligations of Persons Working on Roads

(1) Persons performing work on the carriageway shall wear working clothes clearly visible at all times of the day with elements of light reflective material.

(2) The performer of road construction and repair work shall ensure that the working places on the roads are equipped with road signs, and also restrictive and diverting devices in accordance with the requirements stipulated by the Cabinet.

(3) During the dark hours of the day and under poor visibility conditions the visibility of these places shall be ensured by means of light reflective materials. In instances, when warning light signals are to be used in addition to the light reflective materials, and also the procedures for the use thereof shall be determined by technical norms.

[15 February 2001; 26 May 2005]

Chapter VI.¹
Intelligent transport systems

[23 February 2012; 22 June 2023]

Section 42.¹ Purpose and Operation of Intelligent Transport Systems

(1) The purpose of Intelligent Transport Systems is to ensure innovative services in respect of road transport and traffic management and also to provide the possibility for road users to have better access to information and to use transport networks in a more safe, harmonised, and efficient way.

(1¹) The data referred to in Section 1, Clause 22.¹ of this Law shall be submitted at the national access point for transport-related data by the manager of the infrastructure and the information service provider.

(2) The processing of personal data in the context of the operation of Intelligent Transport Systems applications and services shall be carried out in accordance with the national laws and regulations regarding personal data protection, processing and free circulation of such data.

(3) Personal data shall only be processed in so far as such processing is necessary for the operation of Intelligent Transport Systems applications and services.

(4) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures and the time limit for the submission of data at the national access point for transport-related data.

[23 February 2012; 22 June 2023 / Paragraphs 1.¹ and four shall come into force on 1 January 2024. See Paragraph 57 of Transitional Provisions]

Chapter VII
Violations of the Laws and Regulations Governing Road Traffic Safety

[19 December 2019 / The new wording of the title of the Chapter shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 43. Restrictions on a Person Punished for an Administrative Offence in Road Traffic who is Avoiding Payment of the Fine

It is prohibited to issue a driver's licence to a person who is avoiding payment of the fine specified in this Law, to undergo the roadworthiness test of a vehicle owned (possessed, held) by the person, and to perform registration activities in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof or the State Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof, except for writing-off of the vehicle and temporary suspension of the vehicle registration by handing over the number plates.

[22 June 2023]

Section 43.¹ Penalty Point System

(1) In order to influence the behaviour of drivers of vehicles, promoting safe driving and the conformity with the laws and regulations in road traffic, and also to lessen endangering human life, health, and property as much as possible, the administrative offences committed by drivers of vehicles are registered in the Punishment Register, but the recorded driving offences - in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof.

(2) The maximum number of points to be registered is 10 points for drivers the driving experience of which is less than two years and 16 points - for other drivers.

(3) The maximum number of points to be registered for one offence shall be eight points.

(4) According to the offence committed, the points registered shall be in effect from two to five years depending on the seriousness of the offence.

(5) The following coercion measures shall be applied to drivers according to the penalty point system:

1) a warning, sending the information by post or electronically to the driver of a vehicle on the number of points registered for him or her;

2) training sessions (seminars) on matters of road traffic safety;

3) training sessions (seminars) on matters of safe driving;

4) examination on matters of road traffic safety;

5) examination of driving skills;

6) a prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles for one year if the maximum number of points has been reached;

7) correction of driving behaviour in group classes.

(6) The driver of a vehicle shall lose the rights to drive vehicles and may obtain it again not earlier than after five years, if the prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles is applied repeatedly during 10 years for reaching the maximum number of points.

(7) The rules for the application of the penalty point system, upon regulating the offences to be registered, the points corresponding to offences, the limitation period thereof, the procedures for the registration and deletion of driving offences, the procedures for the exchange of information, and the procedures by which the information in the register is to be notified to the driver of a vehicle, and also the procedures for the application of coercion measures to the behaviour of drivers of vehicles shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 15 December 2005; 19 February 2009; 23 February 2012; 21 November 2013]

Section 43.² Special Features of the Administrative Offence Cases in Respect of the Violation of Stopping or Parking Provisions

[19 December 2019 / See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 43.³ Forcible Removal of a Vehicle

(1) A vehicle may be removed forcibly and placed in a special vehicle pound, if:

1) [15 December 2005];

2) it is not possible to ascertain the ownership of the vehicle;

3) the vehicle has damage specified in the laws and regulations due to which it may not be driven, except for the case when the damage is eliminated at the location of the vehicle or the vehicle is removed to a vehicle pound or to a place of repair of the deficiencies in accordance with the procedures specified;

4) parking provisions are violated, but the driver of a vehicle is not present and the vehicle is parked for standing:

a) at a place where an additional sign "Strādā autoevakuators" [car evacuator is working] has been erected;

b) on the tramway rail line or in the immediate vicinity thereof and precludes the tram from driving;

c) at stopping points of passenger public transport or in the immediate vicinity thereof and passenger public transport from driving in and out;

d) it is parked in a manner that it does not allow other vehicles to drive or it causes substantial interference (other drivers of vehicles are forced to drive off the carriageway or to drive on that side of the road which is intended for driving in the opposite direction);

e) it is on a pedestrian crossing;

f) it is fully or partially on the pavement, pedestrian path, pedestrian and bicycle path, or combined pedestrian and bicycle path and therefore pedestrians cannot move freely or are forced to go onto the carriageway;

g) it is on a railway road crossing;

h) on the bridges, trestles and under them;

5) the vehicle is parked for standing in populated areas fully or partly on the carriageway during the dark hours of the day or under poor visibility conditions in the non-illuminated section of the road, where it is prohibited to stop, it does not have the specified outside lighting devices switched on, and it is not visible to other drivers from a sufficient distance;

6) the vehicle has been parked for standing fully or partly on the carriageway outside populated areas during the dark hours of the day or under poor visibility conditions and it does not have the outside lighting devices switched on;

7) the vehicle is considered as left on the road for a prolonged time period in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet;

8) the vehicle has been parked repeatedly (two or more times a year) in a parking place which is intended for persons with disabilities and marked appropriately, unless a parking card for persons with disabilities is placed in the vehicle in accordance with the requirements laid down in the Road Traffic Regulations.

(2) A vehicle may be removed forcibly from the place where it is parked for standing to another place allowed for standing according to the decision of the official authorised by the local government or with the order of the head of the State Police from the streets:

1) which are necessary to be empty for the provision of official State visits or other measures;

2) where it is intended to perform road construction or repair.

(3) A vehicle may be removed forcibly from the place where it has been parked for standing to another place allowed for standing according to the decision of the road manager or the official or the relevant emergency or rescue service in case of performance of temporary road maintenance (for example, for snow removal), repair, or rectification of the consequences of accidents or rescue works.

(3¹) Expenditures related to the forcible removal of a vehicle to a special vehicle pound and keeping at the special vehicle pound shall be covered by the holder indicated in the vehicle registration certificate or if the holder is not indicated - by the owner (possessor) of the vehicle or his or her authorised person. Expenditures shall be covered before taking out a vehicle from a special vehicle pound.

(4) The procedures for the forcible removal of vehicles shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(5) Paragraph one, Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 of this Section shall not be applicable to a bicycle and an electric scooter, and also a non-registered vehicle.

[8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 15 December 2005; 15 May 2008; 12 April 2018; 22 June 2023 / Paragraph five shall come into force on 1 September 2023. See Paragraph 64 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 43.⁴ Control of Driving Speed

The police shall control compliance with the specified driving speed by using technical means intended for this purpose.

[26 May 2005; 15 February 2007; 19 December 2019; 22 June 2023]

Section 43.⁵ Determination of Influence of Alcohol, Narcotic or Other Intoxicating Substances

(1) In order to detect intoxication by alcohol, officers of the State Police and border guards (on the State border) are entitled to test the air exhaled by the driver of a vehicle with a meter intended for this purpose which corresponds to the requirements stipulated by the Cabinet or to deliver the driver of a vehicle to a medical institution for the performance of such testing, if there are justifiable suspicions that he or she is under the influence of alcohol but it is not possible to perform the test of the exhaled air or the driver of a vehicle does not agree with the results thereof. The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for detecting the blood alcohol concentration and alcohol concentration in the exhaled air, the amount of expenditures related to the performance of the testing to detect alcohol concentration in the exhaled air, the procedures for covering expenditures related to the performance of the testing to detect alcohol concentration, and also the range of persons who shall cover the abovementioned expenditures.

(2) In order to determine the influence of narcotic or other intoxicating substances, the officers of the State Police shall deliver the driver of a vehicle to a medical institution for performance of testing, if there are justifiable suspicions regarding the use of narcotic or other intoxicating substances (the results of express diagnostics test, behaviour of a driver, speaking manner, coordination of movements). The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for detecting the influence of narcotic or other intoxicating substances, the procedures for covering expenditures related to the performance of the testing to detect the influence of narcotic or other intoxicating substances, and also the range of persons who shall cover the abovementioned expenditures.

[8 July 2003; 15 May 2008; 13 May 2010; 20 September 2018; 25 April 2019]

Section 43.⁶ Special Features of Administrative Offence Cases in Respect of the Offences which have been Registered with Technical Means without Stopping a Vehicle

[19 December 2019 / See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 43.⁷ Registration of Offences with Technical Means without Stopping a Vehicle

(1) In order to perform registration of offences with technical means without stopping a vehicle, the police shall ensure installation of the technical means intended for such purpose and the operation thereof. The police may enter into a delegation contract with the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or the manager of a State or local government motor road, or a railway infrastructure manager in which the financing necessary for it is provided for and also that the Road Traffic Safety Directorate or the manager of a State or local government motor road, or the railway infrastructure manager ensures installation of the abovementioned technical means and the operation thereof for the registration of offences without stopping a vehicle.

(2) In order to impose administrative penalties for offences registered with technical means without stopping a vehicle, the police shall process information in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof which has been received from technical means with regard to the relevant offence. The police may enter into a delegation contract with the Road Traffic Safety Directorate in which it is provided for that the Road Traffic Safety Directorate shall accept and process information in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof which has been received from the technical means installed by the police, Road Traffic Safety Directorate, or the manager of a State or local government motor road, or a railway infrastructure manager with regard to the relevant offence and shall send it to the police for assessment and taking of a decision to impose a penalty but, after the police has taken the abovementioned decision, shall send this decision to the person referred to in Section 162, Paragraph one of the Law on Administrative Liability and also carry out individual activities specified in the Law on Administrative Liability which are related to the enforcement of the imposed fine.

(3) The Cabinet shall determine the expenditures which are covered for the Road Traffic Safety Directorate in respect of the fulfilment of the State administration tasks referred to in Paragraphs one and two of this Section, and also the procedures for covering them.

(4) The expenditures arising to the manager of a State or local government motor road in respect of the fulfilment of the State administration tasks referred in Paragraph one of this Section shall be covered from the financial resources at the disposal of the relevant manager of a State or local government motor road.

(5) The requirements and procedures for the installation of the technical means referred to in Paragraph one of this Section and the requirements for the sending and receipt of information from technical means for processing in the State Register of Vehicles and Drivers Thereof shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[21 November 2013; 9 November 2017; 19 December 2019; 25 March 2021; 15 June 2021; 22 June 2023]

Section 43.⁸ Special Features of the Administrative Offence Cases in Respect of the Offences Committed by Non-resident Carriers

(1) If an offence in road traffic has been registered for the committing of which a non-resident carrier is responsible, the decision to impose a fine shall be taken at the place of establishing the offence without the presence of the non-resident carrier. The following information shall be indicated in the decision:

1) the date of taking the decision;

2) the authority the official of which has imposed the penalty, the telephone number of the authority, and the position, given name and surname of the official;

3) the place (the name, address of the city or another populated area), date, and time of establishing the offence;

4) the non-resident carrier to which the administrative penalty has been imposed - the name, legal form, address, telephone number, and electronic mail address thereof;

5) the given name, surname, date of birth, and number of the driver's licence of the driver of a vehicle;

6) the make and State registration number of the vehicle;

7) the established matters of fact and law of the offence, and also the evidence justifying the offence;

8) the legal provisions which provide for liability for the relevant administrative offence (Section, Paragraph, Clause, or Sub-clause of a legal act);

9) the decision to impose the fine and the amount of the fine;

10) the details of the authority the official of which has imposed the penalty, the name and account number of the credit institution to which a transfer is to be made;

11) the means of security provided for in Section 43.⁹ of this Law, if applicable;

12) the indication as to where and in what time period the decision may be appealed.

(2) The non-resident carrier shall be notified of the decision taken by sending the decision via electronic mail, and also the driver of a vehicle shall be informed thereof at the place of establishing the offence.

(3) The decision to impose a fine shall enter into effect at the moment of sending such decision.

(4) The fine imposed on the non-resident carrier shall be paid immediately.

(5) The decision to impose a fine on a non-resident carrier may be appealed to a higher institution within the time period and in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Law on Administrative Liability. Appeal of the decision shall not suspend execution thereof.

(6) The higher institution shall examine a complaint against the decision taken in an administrative offence case within the time period and in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Law on Administrative Liability. The decision of the higher institution may be appealed to a court within the time period and in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Law on Administrative Liability.

[20 September 2018; 19 December 2019 / Amendments to the Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 43.⁹ Special Features of the Prevention of Administrative Offences and Execution of the Decision to Impose a Fine in Respect of the Offences Committed by Carriers

(1) In order to rectify an offence in road traffic for the committing of which a carrier is responsible, and also to ensure execution of the decision to impose a fine taken in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 43.⁸ of this Law, the control authority (official) may apply the following means of security:

1) to detain the registration documents of the vehicle;

2) to detain the State registration number plates of the vehicle;

3) to fit an immobiliser (a wheel clamp) to the vehicle.

(2) Several means of security referred to in Paragraph one of this Section may be applied concurrently.

(3) The carrier shall be notified of the application of means of security via electronic mail, and also the driver of a vehicle shall be informed thereof at the place of establishing the offence.

(4) The carrier shall be responsible for the security of the vehicle, freight, or luggage (if any) after application of the means of security provided for in Paragraph one of this Section.

(5) The means of security applied in Clauses 1 and 2 of this Section shall be valid until rectification of the offence, and also payment of the fine imposed in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 43.⁸ of this Law.

(6) The means of security applied in Clause 3 of this Section shall be valid until rectification of the offence, and also payment of the fine imposed in accordance with the procedures laid down in Section 43.⁸ of this Law but not longer than 30 days.

(7) An entry shall be made in the administrative offence report or in the report-decision referred to in Section 43.⁸, Paragraph one of this Law in respect of the application and revocation of the means of security.

[20 September 2018]

Section 43.¹⁰ Special Characteristics in Administrative Offence Cases Regarding Unauthorised Use of Vehicles Registered in the Russian Federation in Road Traffic

(1) When detecting unauthorised use of such vehicle registered in the Russian Federation in road traffic which has not been registered in Latvia, the official shall seize the vehicle.

(2) In order to ensure seizure and confiscation of a vehicle registered in the Russian Federation, the official may put a wheel clamp (wheel blocking device) on the vehicle.

(3) The decision to impose a punishment for the unauthorised use of a vehicle registered in the Russian Federation in road traffic shall be taken at the site where the offence was detected regardless of the presence of the owner of the vehicle. Confiscation of the vehicle shall be determined in the decision to impose a punishment. The decision shall be notified to the driver of the vehicle.

[2 November 2023]

Section 44. Recovery of Damage

(1) Damage suffered as a result of violation of this Law or other enactments governing road traffic safety shall be recovered.

(2) The owner or possessor of a vehicle shall be liable for the damage caused as a result of the exploitation of the vehicle, if he or she fails to prove that the damage has been caused due to force majeure, by the intention of the victim himself or herself, or due to the gross negligence of the victim or due to other reasons which, in accordance with the law, release from liability to recover the damage. Joint holders and co-heirs shall be jointly liable for the damage caused.

(3) A holder shall be liable for the damages caused in cases when a vehicle is transferred to the holder, if he or she has not agreed with the owner regarding other procedures for the recovery of the damages. However, if the holder is absent (outside the State borders) and his or her place of residence is not known or a complete collection of damages is not possible from him or her, the owner of the vehicle shall be liable for the damage.

(4) If a vehicle is not in the possession of the owner, possessor, or holder due not to his or her fault, but as a result of a wrongful act of another person, this person shall be liable for the damage caused. If the behaviour of the owner, possessor, or holder also does not have any justification, the person who used the vehicle, and also the owner, possessor, or holder according to their degree of fault shall be requested to recover the damages caused.

(5) The procedures for the recovery of the damages caused to a third person in the case of civil liability insurance shall be governed by a separate law on the compulsory civil liability insurance.

(6) An exception to the compulsory civil liability insurance in relation to military combat vehicles and the trailers thereof registered in the register of the National Armed Forces of the Republic of Latvia, and also the procedures for the reimbursement of losses caused to a third party by a military combat vehicle or a trailer of a military combat vehicle in case of civil liability shall be determined by the Compulsory Civil Liability Insurance of Owners of Motor Vehicles Law.

[15 June 2021 / See Paragraph 52 of Transitional Provisions]

Chapter VIII
Complementary Regulations

Section 45. Exceptional Cases

(1) It is prohibited to issue a special permit which gives the right to derogate from the requirements of this Law and the Road Traffic Regulations.

(2) In individual cases, with the passes issued in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet:

1) vehicles of postal operators and vehicles of the Saeima, the Chancery of the President, the State Chancellery, ministries, the Supreme Court, and the Office of the Prosecutor General which are used to deliver postal items, upon fulfilment of the relevant task, have the right not to comply with the stopping and parking regulations for a period of up to 30 minutes, placing information in the interior of the vehicle next to the windscreen on the time when the vehicle was stopped at the relevant place, and also the requirements of the traffic signs "Braukt aizliegts" [Road closed to all vehicles in both directions], "Mehāniskajiem transportlīdzekļiem braukt aizliegts" [No motor vehicles], and "Kravas automobiļiem braukt aizliegts" [No heavy goods vehicles];

2) vehicles which are used to perform collection, upon fulfilment of the relevant task, have the right not to comply with the stopping and parking regulations, and also the requirements of the traffic signs "Braukt aizliegts" [Road closed to all vehicles in both directions], "Mehāniskajiem transportlīdzekļiem braukt aizliegts" [No motor vehicles], and "Kravas automobiļiem braukt aizliegts" [No heavy goods vehicles].

(2¹) In order to ensure the course of the elections of the Saeima, the European Parliament, local government city councils, and also that of a referendum, the Chairperson of the Central Electoral Commission is entitled to issue passes in respect of vehicles the drivers of which perform the orders of the election committees, for a period from two weeks before and until one week after the elections or referendum with the right not to comply with the stopping and standing provisions, and also the requirements of the signs "Braukt aizliegts" [Road closed to all vehicles in both directions], "Mehāniskajiem transportlīdzekļiem braukt aizliegts" (No motor vehicles], and "Kravas automobiļiem braukt aizliegts" [No heavy goods vehicles].

(2²) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for issuing, using, and controlling the passes referred to in Paragraph two of this Section, and also the cases and the procedures for cancelling them.

(3) Deviations from the Road Traffic Regulations are permissible during sports events which have been coordinated in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Law, to the extent that it is determined by the laws and regulations governing sports events.

[8 July 2003; 26 May 2005; 15 December 2005; 19 February 2009; 9 June 2011; 10 December 2015; 12 April 2018; 22 June 2023 / Amendments to the Section shall come into force on 1 January 2024. See Paragraph 67 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 46. Application of Regulations in Respect of Foreign Nationals and Stateless Persons

This Law, the Road Traffic Regulations, and other laws and regulations governing the relations in the field of road traffic safety shall also apply to vehicles registered abroad, and also to the owners and drivers thereof and other participants to road traffic, while they are in the territory of Latvia, if it is not laid down otherwise in international agreements to which Latvia is a member state.

Section 47. Regulations for Drivers of Vehicles who Arrive in Latvia from Abroad or are Bringing Vehicles into Latvia

(1) A person is allowed to drive a vehicle in Latvia, if he or she has:

1) a driver's licence issued by a European Union Member State, a member state of the European Free Trade Association, or the United Kingdom;

2) a driver's licence where the driver's licence categories specified in the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic are indicated;

3) a driver's licence where the vehicle categories specified in the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic are not indicated. With such a driver's licence the person is only permitted to drive vehicles conforming to B category if such a driver's licence gives the right to drive the automobile in the issuing state. If entries with Latin alphabet letters have not be made in the driver's licence, the person shall present a notarised translation in Latvian;

4) a driver's licence of tractor-type machinery which has not been issued by a European Union Member State or a driver's licence issued by a member state of the European Free Trade Association or the United Kingdom. With such a driver's licence the person is only permitted to drive vehicles conforming to TR1 and TR2 categories if such a driver's licence gives the right to drive the vehicles corresponding to the relevant category in the issuing state. If entries with Latin alphabet letters have not be made in the driver's licence, the person shall present a notarised translation of the driver's licence in Latvian.

(2) The driver of a vehicle who arrives in Latvia from abroad and stays in Latvia for more than one year shall replace a driver's licence in accordance with the procedures specified, except for a driver's licence issued by a European Union Member State, a member state of the European Free Trade Association, or the United Kingdom, and also persons enjoying diplomatic or consular immunities and privileges.

(3) It is a duty to register in Latvia such vehicles temporary brought in from abroad which conform to the conditions specified in Section 10, Paragraph 1.² of this Law.

(4) The provisions of Paragraphs one and two of this Section shall not be applicable to the persons of foreign armed forces who are performing service duties in the Republic of Latvia within the framework of international cooperation.

(5) A person is allowed to drive a vehicle in Latvia in the cases referred to in Paragraph one of this Section, if he or she has attained the specified age for the obtaining of the driver's licence of the relevant category referred to in Section 24 of this Law.

[20 June 2000; 26 May 2005; 15 February 2007; 19 February 2009; 3 March 2011; 25 March 2021; 22 June 2023]

Section 48. Application of International Agreements

If an international agreement approved by the Saeima includes provisions contrary to this Law, the provisions of the international treaty shall apply.

Section 49. Cross-border Exchange of Information on Violations of Road Traffic Regulations

(1) In order to promote road traffic safety and to identify owners (holders, possessors) and drivers of foreign vehicles, information is exchanged in a cross-border context on the following violations of road traffic regulations:

1) exceeding of the permitted driving speed;

2) failing to use a seat belt and a fastened safety helmet;

3) failing to comply with a prohibiting traffic light signal;

4) driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or narcotic and other intoxicating substances;

5) unauthorised use of a driving lane;

6) using a telephone when the vehicle is in motion (except for cases where it is not necessary for the driver of a vehicle to take the telephone in hand in order to use it).

(2) The institutions the competence of which includes the investigation and examination of the violations of road traffic regulations referred to in Paragraph one of this Section have the right, via the Information Centre of the Ministry of the Interior, to access the vehicle registration data of another European Union Member State in respect of a vehicle and the owner (holder, possessor) thereof. The Information Centre of the Ministry of the Interior shall provide a technical possibility for the abovementioned institutions to access the vehicle registration data of another European Union Member State in respect of a vehicle and the owner (holder, possessor) thereof.

(3) The owner (holder, possessor) or driver of a vehicle registered in another European Union Member State with the vehicle of which a violation of road traffic regulations has been committed shall be informed of the violation of road traffic regulations committed in the language of the country which has been used in the registration document for the relevant vehicle or in one of the official languages of the country where the relevant vehicle has been registered.

(4) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for exchanging the information specified in this Section on violations of road traffic regulations with other European Union Member States, and also the amount of the information intended for exchange on a vehicle and the owner (holder, possessor) and driver thereof.

[21 November 2013]

Chapter IX
Administrative Offences in Road Traffic and Competence in the Administrative Offence Proceedings

[19 December 2019 / Chapter shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 50. Administrative Liability of Cyclists or Drivers of Electric Scooters in Road Traffic

The administrative penalties specified in this Chapter shall not be applicable to a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter, except for cases where the liability of a cyclist or a driver of an electronic scooter has been especially provided for in the relevant sanction.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021]

Section 51. Violation of the General Road Traffic Regulations

(1) For driving a vehicle without holding any of the following documents necessary for the driver of a vehicle:

1) a driver's licence or a personal identification document in accordance with Section 25, Paragraph one, Clause 1 of this Law;

2) registration documents for the vehicle, except for the case referred to in Section 25, Paragraph one, Clause 2 of this Law;

3) a document attesting to the undergone roadworthiness test or the technical roadside inspection if corresponding visual information (sticker) has not been attached to the vehicle or there is no one day permit for participation in road traffic drawn up electronically by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate in order to undergo the roadworthiness test;

4) other documents attesting to the qualification of the driver of a vehicle;

5) documents necessary for the carriage of a large dimension or heavyweight freight;

6) a driving instructor certificate or learner-driver permit (in case of training driving),

a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For the failure to fasten a seat belt or to use a fastened safety helmet and also for carrying a passenger who has failed to fasten a seat belt or does not have a fastened safety helmet on his or her head, a fine from six to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of the vehicle.

(3) For using a driver's licence which has been reported stolen or lost and replaced with a new driver's licence, a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For driving a vehicle if a prohibition is in force to exercise the rights to drive vehicles, except for the case where the abovementioned prohibition has been imposed in accordance with Section 18 of the Law on Administrative Liability within the framework of the penalty point system, or for the revocation of the rights to drive vehicles abroad, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For driving a vehicle without the rights to drive vehicles of the appropriate category, if the right of professional drivers has not been obtained or the driver of a vehicle drives a vehicle which does not correspond to the restriction code indicated in the driver's licence, a fine from eight to fifty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(6) For driving a vehicle if:

1) the driver of a vehicle does not have the rights to drive vehicles (the rights to drive vehicles have not been obtained in accordance with the specified procedures or have been revoked);

2) a prohibition is in force to exercise the rights to drive vehicles which has been imposed in accordance with Section 18 of the Law on Administrative Liability, within the framework of the penalty point system or for the revocation of the rights to drive vehicles abroad,

a fine from fifty-six to one hundred and fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(6¹) For driving a cycle rickshaw without the rights to drive a bicycle or a vehicle of any category, a fine of five units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of the cycle rickshaw.

(7) For leaving the seat of the driver of a vehicle or passenger without an invitation where the vehicle has been stopped upon request of a police officer or a border guard, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle or the passenger.

(8) For the failure to provide information on the driver or lawful user of a vehicle, a fine from fourteen to one hundred and forty units of fine shall be imposed on the owner (possessor, holder) of the vehicle.

(9) For using a telephone, a notebook, a tablet PC, or smart device if the vehicle is in motion, except for cases where the telephone, notebook, tablet PC, or smart device is used in a hands-free mode, a fine from two to six units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter, but a fine from five to twenty units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

10) For aggressive driving which has manifested itself as follows:

1) committing of several successive violations of the Road Traffic Regulations which are related to creating situations that endanger or disturb road traffic;

2) driving the vehicle in a manner that results in committing a violation of the Road Traffic Regulations and causing disturbances to a smooth traffic flow or ignoring interests of other vehicle drivers (for example, repeated change of driving lanes by outpacing, overtaking of several vehicles which are in a traffic jam or drive in a column by driving in the opposite driving lane or bypassing thereof by driving on a public transport lane, a shoulder, a footpath, a pedestrian path, a bicycle path, or other places not intended for driving of vehicles);

3) knowingly skidding sideways on roads or other places where traffic is possible (parking places, open areas, courtyards, etc.), except for cases where derogations from the Road Traffic Regulations are acceptable during the sports events coordinated in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Law, and also during entertainment activities and initial demonstrations in the cases specified in the laws and regulations;

4) riding a moped or motorcycle on one wheel and a tricycle or quadricycle on rear wheels on roads or other places where traffic is possible (parking places, open areas, courtyards, etc.), except for cases where derogations from the Road Traffic Regulations are acceptable during the sports events coordinated in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Law, and also during entertainment activities and initial demonstrations in the cases specified in the laws and regulations;

5) knowingly braking suddenly thus causing a dangerous situation in road traffic if, in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulations, such braking is not necessary for the road traffic safety,

a fine from fourteen to fifty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021; 15 June 2021; 22 June 2023]

Section 52. Violation of the Road Traffic Control Regulations

(1) For driving if a prohibitive signal is alight in the traffic lights or for the failure to comply with the signal of a traffic regulator, or for driving in the direction which is prohibited by the signal of a traffic regulator, a fine from three to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter, but a fine from six to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(2) For driving in the relevant direction if a green arrow signal is not switched on in the additional section of the traffic lights, a fine from six to eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For violating such regulations which provide for the place where the vehicle should be stopped if driving is prohibited by the signal of a traffic regulator or signals of the traffic lights, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For the failure to comply with the request to stop a vehicle made by a person who is authorised to inspect the documents of the driver of a vehicle, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For the failure to comply with a repeated request or multiple requests to stop a vehicle made by a person who is authorised to inspect the documents of the driver of a vehicle (fleeing), a fine from two hundred and forty to four hundred units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle and the rights to drive vehicles shall be revoked for him or her for five years.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021; 22 June 2023]

Section 53. Violation of the Regulations in Respect of Start of Driving and Change of the Driving Direction

(1) For the violation of regulations which govern the procedures for giving a warning signal, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a warning or a fine from three to six units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(2) For the failure to give way to pedestrians or drivers of vehicles who have priority, a fine from two to six units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine from three to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(3) For the failure to give way to trolleybuses and buses who start driving from a marked stop in populated areas, a fine from three to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For starting to drive a trolleybus and a bus from a marked stop without making sure that way is given to the vehicle, a fine from three to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For the failure to take a specified position on the carriageway or on the tram track roadbed prior to turning or turning into the opposite driving direction, a fine from three to eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(6) For turning so that upon driving out from the crossing point of carriageways a vehicle is on the side of the opposite driving direction, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(7) For crossing the tram track roadbed at the places not intended for this purpose if the tram track roadbed is separated from the rest of the carriageway or is not located on the same level as the carriageway, a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(8) For turning into the opposite driving direction on bridges, scaffold bridges, overpasses and under them, and also on pedestrian crossings, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(9) For turning into the opposite driving direction in tunnels or places where the road visibility in at least one direction is less than 100 metres, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(10) For turning into the opposite driving direction on level crossings, a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(11) For unjustified driving into the side of the opposite direction or unjustified driving off the carriageway thus posing a threat to the road traffic safety, a warning or a fine from two to six units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a warning or a fine from five to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(12) For causing disturbances or for the failure to ensure road traffic safety when starting to drive or by reversing, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021]

Section 54. Violation of the Regulations in Respect of Arrangement of Vehicles on the Carriageway

(1) For driving into the side of the opposite direction on a road where road traffic is organised in two directions with at least four lanes, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For driving into the middle lane which may be used for driving in both directions if this driving is not related to overtaking, bypassing, turning left, or turning into the opposite direction, on a road where road traffic is organised in two directions with three lanes marked with road markings, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For driving in a lane which is marked with the road marking 927 from both sides if it is prohibited, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For driving in the leftmost lane or on the tram track roadbed of the same direction in case when it is not allowed, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For driving on the tram track roadbed of the opposite direction, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(6) For driving in a lane which is intended for passenger public transport vehicles, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(7) For the failure to drive in a marked lane (for driving between lanes), a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(8) For driving on footpaths, pedestrian paths, cycle tracks, or other places (central reserves, roadside verges, planting, etc.) which are not intended for driving vehicles, a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 55. Failure to Observe Driving Speed, Distance, and Interval

(1) For exceeding the permitted driving speed by up to 10 kilometres per hour when riding mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles, quadricycles or driving passenger cars and heavy goods vehicles the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 7.5 tonnes, a warning shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For exceeding the permitted driving speed by up to 10 kilometres per hour when driving automobiles which tow a trailer, heavy goods vehicles the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 7.5 tonnes, buses and tractors, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For exceeding the permitted driving speed by 11 kilometres per hour to 20 kilometres per hour when riding mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles, quadricycles or driving passenger cars and heavy goods vehicles the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 7.5 tonnes, a warning or a fine of four units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For the violation provided for in Paragraph three of this Section if it has been committed in a place marked with the traffic sign 519 or 555 "Apdzīvotas vietas sākums" [Start of populated area] or traffic sign 533 "Dzīvojamā zona" [Living zone], a warning or a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For exceeding the permitted driving speed by 11 kilometres per hour to 20 kilometres per hour when driving automobiles which tow a trailer, heavy goods vehicles the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 7.5 tonnes, buses and tractors, a warning or a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(6) For the violation provided for in Paragraph five of this Section if it has been committed in a place marked with the traffic sign 519 or 555 "Apdzīvotas vietas sākums" [Start of populated area] or traffic sign 533 "Dzīvojamā zona" [Living zone], a fine of sixteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(7) For exceeding the permitted driving speed by 21 kilometres per hour to 30 kilometres per hour when riding mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles, quadricycles or driving passenger cars and heavy goods vehicles the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 7.5 tonnes, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(8) For the violation provided for in Paragraph seven of this Section if it has been committed in a place marked with the traffic sign 519 or 555 "Apdzīvotas vietas sākums" [Start of populated area] or traffic sign 533 "Dzīvojamā zona" [Living zone], a fine of sixteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(9) For exceeding the permitted driving speed by 21 kilometres per hour to 30 kilometres per hour when driving automobiles which tow a trailer, heavy goods vehicles the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 7.5 tonnes, buses and tractors, a fine of sixteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(10) For the violation provided for in Paragraph nine of this Section if it has been committed in a place marked with the traffic sign 519 or 555 "Apdzīvotas vietas sākums" [Start of populated area] or traffic sign 533 "Dzīvojamā zona" [Living zone], a fine of thirty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(11) For exceeding the permitted driving speed by 31 kilometres per hour to 40 kilometres per hour when riding mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles, quadricycles or driving passenger cars and heavy goods vehicles the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 7.5 tonnes, a fine of sixteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(12) For the violation provided for in Paragraph eleven of this Section if it has been committed in a place marked with the traffic sign 519 or 555 "Apdzīvotas vietas sākums" [Start of populated area] or traffic sign 533 "Dzīvojamā zona" [Living zone], a fine of thirty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(13) For exceeding the permitted driving speed by 31 kilometres per hour to 40 kilometres per hour when driving automobiles which tow a trailer, heavy goods vehicles the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 7.5 tonnes, buses and tractors, a fine of thirty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(14) For the violation provided for in Paragraph thirteen of this Section if it has been committed in a place marked with the traffic sign 519 or 555 "Apdzīvotas vietas sākums" [Start of populated area] or traffic sign 533 "Dzīvojamā zona" [Living zone], a fine of sixty-four units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(15) For exceeding the permitted driving speed by 41 kilometres per hour to 50 kilometres per hour when riding mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles, quadricycles or driving passenger cars and heavy goods vehicles the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 7.5 tonnes, a fine from thirty-two to forty-four units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(16) For the violation provided for in Paragraph fifteen of this Section if it has been committed in a place marked with the traffic sign 519 or 555 "Apdzīvotas vietas sākums" [Start of populated area] or traffic sign 533 "Dzīvojamā zona" [Living zone], a fine from forty-eight to sixty-four units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(17) For exceeding the permitted driving speed by 41 kilometres per hour to 50 kilometres per hour when driving automobiles which tow a trailer, heavy goods vehicles the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 7.5 tonnes, buses and tractors, a fine from sixty-four to eighty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(18) For the violation provided for in Paragraph seventeen of this Section if it has been committed in a place marked with the traffic sign 519 or 555 "Apdzīvotas vietas sākums" [Start of populated area] or traffic sign 533 "Dzīvojamā zona" [Living zone], a fine from ninety-six to one hundred and twenty-four units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(19) For exceeding the permitted driving speed by 51 kilometres per hour to 60 kilometres per hour when riding mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles, quadricycles or driving passenger cars and heavy goods vehicles the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 7.5 tonnes, a fine from forty-eight to sixty-four units of fine and a prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles for three months shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(20) For the violation provided for in Paragraph nineteen of this Section if it has been committed in a place marked with the traffic sign 519 or 555 "Apdzīvotas vietas sākums" [Start of populated area] or traffic sign 533 "Dzīvojamā zona" [Living zone], a fine from seventy-two to ninety-two units of fine and a prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles for six months shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(21) For exceeding the permitted driving speed by 51 kilometres per hour to 60 kilometres per hour when driving automobiles which tow a trailer, heavy goods vehicles the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 7.5 tonnes, buses and tractors, a fine from ninety-six to one hundred and twenty-eight units of fine and a prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles for six months shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(22) For the violation provided for in Paragraph twenty of this Section if it has been committed in a place marked with the traffic sign 519 or 555 "Apdzīvotas vietas sākums" [Start of populated area] or traffic sign 533 "Dzīvojamā zona" [Living zone], a fine from one hundred and forty to one hundred and seventy-six units of fine and a prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles for 12 months shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(23) For exceeding the permitted driving speed by more than 60 kilometres per hour when riding mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles, quadricycles or driving passenger cars and heavy goods vehicles the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 7.5 tonnes, a fine from seventy-two to ninety-six units of fine and a prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles for six months shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(24) For the violation provided for in Paragraph twenty-three of this Section if it has been committed in a place marked with the traffic sign 519 or 555 "Apdzīvotas vietas sākums" [Start of populated area] or traffic sign 533 "Dzīvojamā zona" [Living zone], a fine from one hundred and eight to one hundred and thirty-six units of fine and a prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles for 12 months shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(25) For exceeding the permitted driving speed by more than 60 kilometres per hour when driving automobiles which tow a trailer, heavy goods vehicles the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 7.5 tonnes, buses and tractors, a fine from one hundred and forty-four to one hundred and ninety-two units of fine and a prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles for 12 months shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(26) For the violation provided for in Paragraph twenty-five of this Section if it has been committed in a place marked with the traffic sign 519 or 555 "Apdzīvotas vietas sākums" [Start of populated area] or traffic sign 533 "Dzīvojamā zona" [Living zone], a fine from two hundred and eight to two hundred and eighty units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle and the rights to drive vehicles shall be revoked for him or her for 24 months.

(27) For the failure to observe safe distance or interval, a warning or a fine from two to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a warning or a fine from five to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021; 22 June 2023]

Section 56. Violation of the Regulations in Respect of Overtaking and Changing with an Oncoming Vehicle

(1) For causing disturbances to drivers of oncoming or overtaken vehicles during overtaking, a fine from eleven to seventeen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For starting overtaking if the driver of a vehicle driving in the same lane in front shows the left turn signal, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For causing disturbances to the driver of a vehicle who is overtaking by increasing the driving speed or changing the driving trajectory, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For overtaking at regulated crossroads or for overtaking at non-regulated crossroads, except for the cases where overtaking occurs on the priority road in respect of the road to be crossed, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For overtaking on level crossings, a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(6) For overtaking less than 100 metres before level crossings, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(7) For overtaking on pedestrian crossings, in tunnels, in the end of upward roads, dangerous turns and other road sections where visibility is limited by parked vehicles, buildings, plantings, etc., a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(8) For overtaking a tram on the tram track roadbed of the opposite direction, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(9) For the failure to give way to an oncoming vehicle driver in places where changing is hindered, a fine from three to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 57. Violation of the Stopping and Parking Regulations

(1) For stopping:

1) on the left side of the road in cases where it is not allowed;

2) on the carriageway if the road has a roadside verge;

3) insufficiently close to the edge of the carriageway (so that the distance from the edge of the carriageway to any side element of a vehicle closest to the edge of the carriageway exceeds 0.5 metres) if the road does not have a roadside verge;

4) in places where the vehicle covers traffic light signals or traffic signs for other drivers;

5) [22 June 2023];

6) in places where the edge of the carriageway is marked with the road marking 920, and also in the places where the edge or shoulder of the carriageway is marked with the road marking 943 or 947,

a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For stopping:

1) in the second row where it is not allowed;

2) on the bridges, scaffold bridges, overpasses and under them;

3) in places where the distance between the solid road marking line, the central reserve, or the opposite edge of the carriageway and the stopped vehicle is less than three metres;

4) on the pedestrian crossings, in places where the carriageway is crossed by a bicycle path, pedestrian and bicycle path or combined pedestrian and bicycle path, or closer than five metres from such places;

5) at the crossroad and closer than five metres from it;

6) closer than 25 metres before and 10 metres behind the road sign 541, 542, or 543;

7) on the acceleration and deceleration lanes;

8) in the operation range of the traffic sign 326;

9) on the tram track roadbed or in the direct vicinity thereof, if it disturbs the movement of trams;

10) in the tunnels;

11) on the footpaths, pedestrian paths, pedestrian and bicycle paths, combined pedestrian and bicycle paths or bicycle paths and bicycle lanes in places where it is prohibited,

a warning or a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For stopping on level crossings, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For parking:

1) on the left side of the road in cases where it is not allowed;

2) on the carriageway if the road has a roadside verge;

3) insufficiently close to the edge of the carriageway (so that the distance from the edge of the carriageway to any side element of a vehicle closest to the edge of the carriageway exceeds 0.5 metres) if the road does not have a roadside verge;

4) in places where the vehicle covers traffic light signals or traffic signs for other drivers;

5) on the footpaths, pedestrian paths, pedestrian and bicycle paths, combined pedestrian and bicycle paths or bicycle paths and bicycle lanes in places where it is prohibited;

6) at the places where the edge of the carriageway is marked with the road marking 920, and also at the places where the edge or shoulder of the carriageway is marked with the road marking 943 or 947;

7) outside populated areas closer than 100 metres from the level crossing but in populated areas closer than 50 meters from it,

a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For parking:

1) in the second row;

2) on the tram track roadbed or in the direct vicinity thereof, if it disturbs the movement of trams;

3) fully or partially on the carriageway outside populated areas in the vicinity of dangerous turns and place of longitudinal slope of the road where visibility in at least one direction is less than 100 metres;

4) in places where the vehicle may prevent driving (driving in or driving out) for other vehicles or disturb movement of pedestrians;

5) on the bridges, scaffold bridges, overpasses and under them;

6) in places where the distance between the solid road marking line, the central reserve, or the opposite edge of the carriageway and the stopped vehicle is less than three metres;

7) on the pedestrian crossings, in places where the carriageway is crossed by a bicycle path, pedestrian and bicycle path or combined pedestrian and bicycle path, or closer than five metres from such places;

8) at the crossroad or closer than five metres from it;

9) closer than 25 metres before and 10 metres behind the road sign 541, 542, or 543;

10) on the acceleration and deceleration lanes;

11) in the operation range of the traffic sign 326;

12) in the operation range of the traffic sign 327 - on odd or even dates accordingly - in the operation area of the traffic sign 328 or 329, and also on all roads in the territory where driving in is marked with the traffic sign 523;

13) in places where the edge of the carriageway is marked with the road marking 944 and places marked with the road marking 945;

14) in the tunnels,

a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(6) For parking on level crossings, a fine from twenty-eight to fifty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(7) For parking a vehicle in a parking place not in conformity with the requirements which have been specified by the relevant additional signs (except for the additional signs 844 and 851) or road markings (except for the road marking 942), a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(8) For leaving the seat of the driver of a vehicle without taking all the necessary measures to prevent the vehicle from moving off, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021; 15 June 2021; 22 June 2023]

Section 58. Violation of the Driving Procedures at Crossroads

(1) For the failure to give way to pedestrians or drivers of vehicles who have priority, a fine from two to six units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine from three to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(2) For driving in crossroads or crossing point of carriageways if a traffic jam has formed which forces the driver to stop the vehicle at the crossroads or crossing point of carriageways and disturbs driving for other vehicles, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021]

Section 59. Violation of the Road Traffic Regulations in the Populated Area

(1) For performing activities prohibited in the populated area, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For the failure to give way to other road traffic participants when leaving the populated area, a fine from three to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 60. Violation of the Road Traffic Regulations at a Pedestrian Crossing and Marked Stops of Passenger Public Transport Vehicles

(1) For the failure to give way to pedestrians who are crossing the carriageway along the pedestrian crossing or to blind pedestrians who are showing a signal with a white cane, or pedestrians who are going to a tram that has stopped in a marked stop (in the middle of the road) of the same driving direction or are coming from it, a fine from two to six units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine from six to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(2) For driving on a pedestrian crossing if a traffic jam has formed behind it forcing the driver to stop the vehicle on the pedestrian crossing and disturbing the movement of pedestrians, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021; 22 June 2023]

Section 61. Violation of the Regulations in Respect of Crossing of Level Crossings

(1) For the failure to give way to an approaching train (locomotive, railcar), a fine from twenty-eight to fifty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For driving on a level crossing if:

1) the driving is prohibited by a gesture of the attendant of the level crossing;

2) the prohibition signal is alight on the traffic lights,

a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For the violation of the regulations which provide for the place where the vehicle must be stopped if it is prohibited to drive on the level crossing, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For driving on a level crossing if a traffic jam has formed behind it forcing the driver to stop the vehicle on the level crossing or if a vehicle stands on it, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For the violation of the regulations which provide for the behaviour of a driver in case of a forced stop on a level crossing, a fine from eleven to seventeen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(6) For bypassing vehicles which have been stopped before a level crossing if the movement across the level crossing is prohibited, a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(7) For opening or bypassing a barrier arbitrarily, or crossing the railway track in the places not intended for this purpose, a fine from twenty-eight to fifty-six units of fine and a prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles for a time period from six to 12 months shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(8) For moving across the level crossing farm machinery, road building machinery, construction machinery, and other similar machinery not prepared for transportation, a fine from eight to fifty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(9) For crossing the level crossing without authorisation of the head of the track repair and maintenance with a vehicle the dimensions or actual mass of which exceeds the specified sizes, a fine from eight to fifty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021]

Section 62. Driving of Vehicles under the Influence of Alcohol or Narcotic or Other Intoxicating Substances

(1) For driving a vehicle if the blood alcohol concentration detected in the testing of the exhaled air or blood exceeds 0.2 per mil but does not exceed 0.5 per mil, a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle who drives vehicles corresponding to D1, D, D1E, DE, TRAM, and TROL categories and to the driver of a vehicle whose driving experience is less than two years, and the rights to drive vehicles shall be revoked for him or her for six months.

(2) For driving a vehicle or instructing to drive a vehicle if the blood alcohol concentration detected in the testing of the exhaled air or blood exceeds 0.5 per mil but does not exceed 1.0 per mil, a fine of fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine from eighty-six to one hundred and twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle, and the rights to drive vehicles shall be revoked for him or her for one year.

(3) For driving a vehicle or instructing to drive a vehicle if the blood alcohol concentration detected in the testing of the exhaled air or blood exceeds 1.0 per mil but does not exceed 1.5 per mil, a fine of twenty-four units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter, but a fine from one hundred and seventy to two hundred and eighty units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of a moped or another vehicle, and the rights to drive vehicles shall be revoked for him or her for three years.

(4) For cycling, driving an electric scooter or a moped or instructing to drive a moped if the blood alcohol concentration detected in the testing of the exhaled air or blood exceeds 1.5 per mil, a fine of thirty-four units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine from two hundred and forty to four hundred units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of a moped, and the rights to drive vehicles shall be revoked for him or her for five years.

(5) For cycling, driving an electric scooter or a moped or instructing to drive a moped while under the influence of narcotic, psychotropic, toxic, or other intoxicating substances, a fine of thirty-four units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine from two hundred and forty to four hundred units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of a moped, and the rights to drive vehicles shall be revoked for him or her for five years.

(6) For driving a vehicle or instructing to drive a vehicle while under the influence of medicinal products which reduce reaction time and attention, being sick or tired to such a degree that it affects the capacity to drive of the driver of a vehicle and road traffic safety, a fine from eight to fifty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(7) For using alcoholic beverages, narcotic or other intoxicating substances after a traffic accident, and also after a vehicle has been stopped upon request of a police officer, border guard until testing which determines the blood alcohol concentration or detects the influence of narcotic or other intoxicating substances, or until release from this testing in accordance with the specified procedures, a fine of thirty-four units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine from two hundred and forty to four hundred units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of a moped or another vehicle, and the rights to drive vehicles shall be revoked for him or her for five years.

(8) For refusing the medical examination for the determination of the concentration of alcohol or the testing necessary for detecting influence of narcotic or other intoxicating substances, a fine of thirty-four units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine from two hundred and forty to four hundred units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of a moped, and the rights to drive vehicles shall be revoked for him or her for five years.

[19 February 2019; 25 March 2021; 27 October 2022; 22 June 2023]

Section 63. Offences of the Driver of a Vehicle in Special Cases

(1) For driving an emergency vehicle not corresponding to the requirements, a fine from six to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For the violation of the regulations which provide for cases where the vehicle must be stopped when an emergency vehicle is approaching, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For the failure to give way to an emergency vehicle in accordance with the specified procedures, a fine from six to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For the violation of the regulations regarding the use of orange (yellow) flashing lights or for the failure to switch on the orange (yellow) flashing lights in cases where switching on thereof is mandatory, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For leaving the place of a road traffic accident after the road traffic accident by violating the specified procedures, a fine from two to eleven units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine from fourteen to one hundred and forty units of fine and a prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles for a time period from three months to two years, or without the prohibition to exercise the rights to drive vehicles, shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(6) For the failure to free the carriageway after a road traffic accident in the cases referred to in the Road Traffic Regulations, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021]

Section 64. Violation of the Regulations in Respect of the Use of Exterior Lighting Devices

(1) For driving without daytime running lights or dipped-beam headlights switched on during the light hours of the day, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For driving without specific exterior lighting devices switched on during the dark hours of the day or under conditions of poor visibility, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For the failure to switch from main-beam headlights to dipped-beam headlights in populated areas if the road is sufficiently and evenly illuminated or if it may dazzle other drivers (including those who are driving in the same direction), a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For the failure to switch from main-beam headlights to dipped-beam headlights at a specific distance or at a larger distance if the driver of the oncoming vehicle is signalling regarding the need to switch the headlights by periodically switching between the headlights, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For stopping fully or partly on the carriageway outside populated areas during the dark hours of the day or under conditions of poor visibility without switching on specific exterior lighting devices, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(6) For parking fully or partly on the carriageway outside populated areas during the dark hours of the day or under conditions of poor visibility without switching on specific exterior lighting devices, a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(7) For stopping in populated areas fully or partly on the carriageway during the dark hours of the day or under conditions of poor visibility in non-illuminated sections of the road where it is prohibited to stop and not switching on specific exterior lighting devices, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(8) For parking in populated areas fully or partly on the carriageway during the dark hours of the day or under conditions of poor visibility in non-illuminated sections of the road where it is prohibited to stop or park and not switching on specific exterior lighting devices, a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(9) For the violation of the regulations which provide for cases where it is allowed to switch on rear fog lamps or front fog lamps together with main-beam headlights when driving during the dark hours of the day, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(10) For switching on a searchlight or variable-position lamp of a vehicle which has not been granted the status of an emergency vehicle, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(11) For the failure to switch on the emergency light signalling or, if there is no emergency light signalling or it does not work, for the failure to attach an emergency sign to a vehicle to be towed during the light hours of the day, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(12) For the failure to switch on the emergency light signalling or, if there is no emergency light signalling or it does not work, for the failure to attach an emergency sign to a vehicle to be towed during the dark hours of the day or under conditions of poor visibility, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 65. Violation of the Regulations in Respect of the Use of Sound Signal, Emergency Light Signalling, and Emergency Sign

(1) For the violation of the regulations which provide for cases where it is allowed to use the sound signal, and also for the failure to comply with the requirement specified by the traffic sign 325, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For the failure to switch on the emergency light signalling and the failure to place the emergency sign on the road for a stopped or parked vehicle in the specific cases during the light hours of the day, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For the failure to switch on the emergency light signalling and the failure to place the emergency sign on the road for a stopped or parked vehicle in the specific cases during the dark hours of the day or under conditions of poor visibility, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For the violation of the regulations which provide for a distance at which the emergency sign is to be placed from a vehicle during the light hours of the day, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For the violation of the regulations which provide for a distance at which the emergency sign is to be placed from a vehicle during the dark hours of the day or under conditions of poor visibility, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(6) For switching the emergency light signalling on when stopping in places where it is prohibited, unless the stopping has occurred under forced conditions, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 66. Violation of the Regulations in Respect of Towing of Vehicles

(1) For towing a vehicle without the driver of a vehicle behind the wheel, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For the failure to observe a specific distance between the towing vehicle and the vehicle to be towed, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For the failure to comply with the prohibition to tow a vehicle, a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 67. Violation of the Regulations in Respect of Training Driving

(1) For instructing to drive if in specific cases the instructor does not have the certificate of an instructor or the person who is training does not have a learner-driver permit, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For instructing to drive individually if the driving experience of the driver of a vehicle of appropriate category is less than three years, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For instructing to drive individually with a vehicle of such category in respect of which it is not allowed to use it for individual training driving or for instructing to drive with a vehicle which has not been equipped according to the specific requirements, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For instructing a person to drive who has not attained the specific age, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For instructing to drive on roads if the person who is training has not acquired sufficient driving skills, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 68. Violation of the Additional Requirements Laid down for Cyclists or Drivers of Electric Scooters

For the violation of the regulations which provide for additional requirements for cyclists or drivers of electric scooters, a warning or a fine from two to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021; 22 June 2023]

Section 68.¹ Violation of the Provisions for Technical Condition and Arrangement of Cycle Rickshaws and Electric Scooters

For the violation of the provisions providing for the requirements in relation to the technical condition of cycle rickshaws and electric scooters or technical parameters specified by the manufacturer, a fine from ten to fifty units of fine shall be imposed on drivers of cycle rickshaws and electric scooters.

[22 June 2023]

Section 69. Violation of the Additional Requirements Laid down for Cart Operators, Riders, and Drovers

For the violation of the regulations which provide for additional requirements for cart operators, riders, and drovers, a warning or a fine from two to six units of fine shall be imposed on a cart operator, rider, or drover.

[19 December 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 70. Offences Committed by Pedestrians and Passengers

(1) For the violation of the obligations imposed on passengers, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on a passenger.

(2) For the violation of the obligations imposed on pedestrians, a warning or a fine from two to six units of fine shall be imposed on a pedestrian.

[19 December 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 71. Violation of the Provisions for Technical Condition and Arrangement of Vehicles

(1) For using a vehicle in road traffic which has not undergone the roadworthiness test by the specific time limit, a fine from eleven to twenty-four units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For using a vehicle in road traffic with regard to which compulsory civil liability insurance of an owner of a motor vehicle has not been arranged, a fine from six to eleven units of fine shall be imposed on a moped rider, a fine from seventeen to twenty-four units of fine - on a driver of another vehicle, a fine from eighty to one hundred and forty units of fine - on an owner (possessor, holder) of a heavy goods vehicle the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 12 tonnes and of a bus the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which exceeds 12 tonnes that is a natural or legal person, but a fine from seventy to one hundred and thirty units of fine - on an owner (possessor, holder) of another vehicle and a trade company (merchant) that is a natural or legal person if a vehicle has been transferred for trade.

(3) For driving during the dark hours of the day without the emergency light signalling switched on with a vehicle when one of its dipped-beam headlights cannot be switched on, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For driving during the dark hours of the day with a vehicle when none of its dipped-beam headlights can be switched on, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For driving under conditions of poor visibility without the emergency light signalling switched on with a vehicle when one of its dipped-beam headlights and concurrently any of its front fog-lamps cannot be switched on, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(6) For driving under conditions of poor visibility with a vehicle when none of its dipped-beam headlights and concurrently none of its front fog-lamps can be switched on, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(7) For driving during the dark hours of the day or under conditions of poor visibility without the emergency light signalling switched on with a vehicle when none of its rear marker lamps or none of its braking signal lamps can be switched on, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(8) For driving during the dark hours of the day or under conditions of poor visibility without the emergency light signalling switched on with a vehicle when none of its registration plate lights can be switched on, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(9) For driving during the light hours of the day without the emergency light signalling switched on with a vehicle when none of its braking signal lamps can be switched on, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(10) For driving while it is raining or snowing with a vehicle the front windscreen wiper of which is not working on the driver side, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(11) For driving a vehicle the damage to steering equipment or to service braking system of which does not allow the driver to make a manoeuvre, or for driving a vehicle composition where the coupling device of a towing vehicle and a trailer (semi-trailer) has damage which may cause the coupling to break during driving, a fine from eleven to seventeen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(12) For driving a vehicle which is not equipped with the emergency sign, first aid kit (kits), or fire-extinguisher (extinguishers), a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(13) For driving a vehicle without seat belts if such are designed, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(14) For driving during the period from 1 December to 1 March an automobile or a bus the technically permissible maximum laden mass of which does not exceed 3.5 tonnes and which is not equipped with tires intended for driving under winter conditions, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of the vehicle.

(15) For driving an automobile or a bus which has tires with studs during the period from 1 May to 1 October, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(16) For driving a vehicle which is equipped with a device (speed camera detector, etc.) that may detect signals emitted by measuring devices for driving speed control or cause interference to the operation of such measuring devices, a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(17) For driving a vehicle which is equipped with special devices (special blue or red flashing light, sound signal) or which has special painting if the vehicle is not an emergency vehicle in accordance with the requirements of the laws and regulations, a fine from twenty-eight to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(18) For giving an assignment to use a vehicle which has damage due to which it is prohibited to drive or which has not undergone the roadworthiness test by the specific time limit, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on a person who is responsible for the operation of the vehicle.

(19) For driving an automobile the windows of which are tinted not in accordance with the requirements of the laws and regulations, a fine of seventeen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(20) For using a vehicle in road traffic which does not have sufficient depth of tire protector specified in laws or regulations or which has damaged tires that pose a threat to the road traffic safety, a warning or a fine from three to eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle, a fine from eleven to twenty-eight units of fine - on a natural person who is responsible for the operation of the vehicle, but a fine from fourteen to one hundred and forty units of fine - on a natural person.

(21) For using such vehicle in road traffic:

1) the level of noise caused by which exceeds the level specified in laws and regulations or by the manufacturer;

2) which has damages to the elements of the noise reduction system endangering traffic safety, a warning or a fine from three to ten units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of the vehicle.

(22) For using such vehicle in road traffic:

1) which is not equipped with any of the elements of the noise reduction system;

2) in the noise reduction system of which components or materials which temporarily ensure a lower level of noise have been inserted or installed;

3) for which unauthorised modification of the noise reduction system has been carried out, a fine from eight to seventeen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of the vehicle.

[19 December 2019; 22 June 2023]

Section 72. Violation of the Regulations in Respect of the Registration of Vehicles and the Use of Registration Plates

(1) For using a vehicle in road traffic which has not been registered in accordance with the specified procedures, a fine from eleven to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(1¹) For the unauthorised use of such vehicle registered in the Russian Federation in road traffic which has not been registered in Latvia, a fine from one hundred and fifty to four hundred units of fine shall be imposed.

(2) For driving a vehicle which does not have some of the specified registration plates, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For driving a vehicle which does not have any of the specified registration plates, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For driving a vehicle the registration plates of which do not correspond to the registration documents for the relevant vehicle, a fine from eleven to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For driving a vehicle at least one registration plate of which is not attached to the intended place, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(6) For driving a vehicle the registration plate of which does not correspond to the national standard, has been fully or partly changed, screened, covered with protective materials, mechanically damaged, bent, or hidden otherwise, a fine from eleven to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(7) For driving a tram or trolleybus without registration numbers painted, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(8) For giving an assignment to a vehicle which has not been registered in accordance with the specified procedures, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the person who is responsible for the operation of vehicles.

(9) For using in road traffic in Latvia an automobile of M1 and N1 categories registered abroad if the driver thereof - a person whose declared place of residence is in Latvia - has not paid the vehicle operation tax in accordance with the specified procedures and in the specified amount, a fine from thirty to eighty units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019; 2 November 2023]

Section 73. Violation of the Regulations in Respect of the Use of Recognition Signs, Warning Devices, and Markings of Vehicles

(1) For driving a vehicle the recognition signs of which are dirty, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For driving a vehicle to which any other information or signs are attached in which the shapes, colour combinations, and symbols of traffic signs specified in the national standard are used which may mislead other road traffic participants, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For driving a vehicle which does not have a specific recognition sign (signs) installed or which has an unauthorised recognition sign installed, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For driving a vehicle which has a parking card for persons with disabilities installed without authorisation, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 74. Violation of the Requirements of Priority Traffic Signs

(1) For the failure to comply with the requirements specified by the traffic sign 206, 207, or 208 (for the failure to give way to drivers of vehicles who have priority), a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine from three to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(2) For the failure to comply with the requirement specified by the traffic sign 207 (for the failure to stop a vehicle), a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(3) For the failure to comply with the requirement specified by the traffic sign 207 (for the failure to stop a vehicle exactly in the specific place), a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021]

Section 75. Violation of the Requirements of Prohibition Traffic Signs

(1) For the failure to comply with the requirement specified by the traffic sign 302, 303, 304, 306, 307, 308, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 331, 332, 333, or 334, a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(2) For the failure to comply with the requirement specified by the traffic sign 301, 319, or 321, a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(3) For the failure to comply with the requirement specified by the traffic sign 305 or 309, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter, or a pedestrian.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021]

Section 76. Violation of the Requirements of Mandatory Traffic Signs

(1) For the failure to comply with the requirement specified by the traffic sign 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 410, 411, 420, 421, or 422, a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(2) For the failure to comply with the requirement specified by the traffic sign 413, 414, 415, 416, or 417, a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(3) For the failure to comply with the requirement specified by the traffic sign 409 (for driving roundabout in the opposite direction), a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(4) For the failure to comply with the requirement specified by the traffic sign 423, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021]

Section 77. Violation of the Requirements of Indication Traffic Signs

(1) For the failure to comply with the requirement specified by the traffic sign 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, or 518, a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

(2) For the failure to comply with the requirement specified by the traffic sign 501, 503, or 504 (for driving in the opposite direction on the one-way road), a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter but a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on a driver of another vehicle.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021]

Section 78. Violation of the Requirements of Road Markings

(1) For crossing the road marking lines 920 and 947 or for crossing the road marking line 928 by overtaking from the side of solid line, a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For crossing the road marking lines 920 and 947 or for crossing the road marking line 928 from the side of solid line by turning left or in the opposite driving direction, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For crossing the road marking lines 920 and 947 or for crossing the road marking line 928 from the side of solid line in other cases, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(4) For crossing the road marking line 921 by overtaking, a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For crossing the road marking line 921 by turning left or in the opposite driving direction, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(6) For driving on the road marking 934, 935, or 936, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(7) For failing to stop a vehicle exactly before the road marking 929 or 930 in the specific cases, a warning or a fine of two units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(8) For parking in places marked with the additional sign 844 or the road marking 942 with a vehicle which does not have a parking card for persons with disabilities, a fine of eleven units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 79. Violation of the Regulations in Respect of Carriage of Passengers

(1) For carrying a larger number of passengers than that indicated by the manufacturer of the vehicle, a fine of eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(2) For carrying unaccompanied groups of children in a bus, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(3) For the violation of the regulations providing for the use of safety equipment intended for the carriage of children, a fine from six to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of the vehicle.

(4) For the violation of the regulations governing the carriage of passengers in a heavy goods vehicle outside the cabin thereof, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(5) For carrying passengers outside the cabin of tractor-type machinery, in a trailer (semi-trailer), and luggage compartment of a motorcycle, a fine of six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

(6) For carrying children whose height does not exceed 150 cm if:

1) the child is carried in the front seat of a passenger car and this seat is not equipped with a seat belt;

2) in a vehicle equipped with seat belts the child is not carried in a child seat which is appropriate for his or her age and weight, or on a pad installed according to the instructions of the manufacturer thereof, and is not fastened with a seat belt;

3) the child is carried with a two-wheel moped, motorcycle, tricycle, quadricycle, or snowmobile, except for the case where the child may hold the balance and reach feet supports or is sitting in a seat corresponding to his or her age and weight,

a fine from six to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of the vehicle.

(7) For performing international carriage of passengers by violating the regulations contained in the international agreements on the carriage of passengers, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eights units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021; 22 June 2023]

Section 79.¹ Violation of the Regulations in Respect of Carriage by Specialised Vehicles for Tourists

For the violation of the regulations for performing carriage by a specialised vehicle for tourists, a warning or a fine from two to forty-four units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a specialised vehicle for tourists.

[22 June 2023]

Section 80. Violation of the Regulations in Respect of Work and Rest Time of Drivers of Vehicles

(1) For the failure to comply with the minimum age specified for drivers of vehicles, a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(2) For exceeding the driving period in a 24-hour period which has manifested itself as follows:

1) exceeding the daily driving period of nine hours by a time of up to one hour (excluding) if an extension of up to 10 hours is not allowed, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle;

2) exceeding the daily driving period of nine hours by a time of one hour up to two hours (excluding) if an extension of up to 10 hours is not allowed, a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

3) exceeding the daily driving period of nine hours by a time of two hours and more if an extension of up to 10 hours is not allowed, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

4) exceeding the daily driving period of nine hours by 50 per cent or more without a break or rest which lasts at least 4.5 hours, a fine from twenty-eight to fifty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from eighty-six to one hundred and forty units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

5) exceeding the extended daily driving period of 10 hours by a time of up to one hour (excluding) if an extension is allowed, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle;

6) exceeding the extended daily driving period of 10 hours by a time of one hour up to two hours (excluding) if an extension is allowed, a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

7) exceeding the extended daily driving period of 10 hours by a time of two hours and more if an extension is allowed, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

8) exceeding the extended daily driving period of 10 hours by 50 per cent or more without a break or rest which lasts at least 4.5 hours, a fine from twenty-eight to fifty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from eighty-six to one hundred and forty units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(3) For exceeding the weekly driving period which has manifested itself as follows:

1) exceeding the weekly driving period by a time of up to four hours (excluding), a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle;

2) exceeding the weekly driving period by a time of four to nine hours (excluding), a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

3) exceeding the weekly driving period by a time of nine to 14 hours (excluding), a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

4) exceeding the weekly driving period by 25 per cent or more, a fine from twenty-eight to fifty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from eighty-six to one hundred and forty units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(4) For exceeding the total driving period in a period of two consecutive weeks which has manifested itself as follows:

1) exceeding the driving period accumulated in two consecutive weeks by a time of up to 10 hours (excluding), a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle;

2) exceeding the total maximum driving period accumulated in two consecutive weeks by a time of 10 to 15 hours (excluding), a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

3) exceeding the driving period accumulated in two consecutive weeks by a time of 15 hours to 22 hours and 30 minutes (excluding), a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

4) exceeding the driving period accumulated in two consecutive weeks by 25 per cent or more, a fine from twenty-eight to fifty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from eighty-six to one hundred and forty units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(5) For exceeding the driving period without observing the break specified in laws and regulations which has manifested itself as follows:

1) exceeding the continuous driving period by a time of up to 30 minutes (excluding) without observing the break specified in laws and regulations, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle;

2) exceeding the continuous driving period by a time of 30 minutes to one hour and a half (excluding) without observing the break specified in laws and regulations, a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

3) exceeding the continuous driving period by a time of one hour and a half or more without observing the break specified in laws and regulations, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(6) For shortening the daily rest period which has manifested itself as follows:

1) shortening the daily rest period of at least 11 hours by a time of up to one hour (excluding) if a shortened daily rest period is not allowed, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle;

2) shortening the daily rest period of at least 11 hours by a time of one hour to two and a half hours (excluding) if a shortened daily rest period is not allowed, a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

3) shortening the daily rest period of at least 11 hours by a time of two and a half hours or more if a shortened daily rest period is not allowed, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

4) shortening the shortened daily rest period of at least nine hours by a time of up to one hour (excluding), a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle;

5) shortening the shortened daily rest period of at least nine hours by a time of one hour to two hours (excluding), a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

6) shortening the shortened daily rest period of at least nine hours by a time of two hours or more, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

7) shortening the divided daily rest period of at least three hours plus nine hours by a time of up to one hour (excluding), a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle;

8) shortening the divided daily rest period of at least three hours plus nine hours by a time of one hour to two hours (excluding), a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

9) shortening the divided daily rest period of at least three hours plus nine hours by a time of two hours or more, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

10) shortening the daily rest period of at least nine hours by a time of up to one hour (excluding) if several vehicle drivers drive a vehicle, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle;

11) shortening the daily rest period of at least nine hours by a time of one hour to two hours (excluding) if several vehicle drivers drive a vehicle, a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

12) shortening the daily rest period of at least nine hours by a time of two hours or more if several vehicle drivers drive a vehicle, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(7) For shortening the weekly rest period which has manifested itself as follows:

1) shortening the shortened weekly rest period of 24 hours by a time of up to two hours (excluding), a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle;

2) shortening the shortened weekly rest period of 24 hours by a time of two to four hours (excluding), a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

3) shortening the shortened weekly rest period of 24 hours by a time of four hours or more, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

4) shortening the weekly rest period of 45 hours by a time of up to three hours (excluding) if shortened weekly rest period is not allowed, a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle;

5) shortening the weekly rest period of 45 hours by a time of three to nine hours (excluding) if shortened weekly rest period is not allowed, a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

6) shortening the weekly rest period of 45 hours by a time of nine hours or more if shortened weekly rest period is not allowed, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(7¹) For the failure to use an appropriate compensation for rest period, if two consecutive shortened weekly rest periods have been used, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(7²) For using the regular weekly rest period and any weekly rest period exceeding 45 hours in a vehicle, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(8) For exceeding six successive periods of 24 hours after the previous weekly rest period which has manifested itself as follows:

1) exceeding six successive periods of 24 hours after the previous weekly rest period by a time of up to three hours (excluding), a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle;

2) exceeding six successive periods of 24 hours after the previous weekly rest period by a time of three to 12 hours (excluding), a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

3) exceeding six successive periods of 24 hours after the previous weekly rest period by a time of 12 hours or more, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(9) For exceeding 12 successive periods of 24 hours after the previous regular weekly rest period which has manifested itself as follows:

1) exceeding 12 successive periods of 24 hours after the previous regular weekly rest period by a time of up to three hours (excluding), a warning or a fine of three units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle;

2) exceeding 12 successive periods of 24 hours after the previous regular weekly rest period by a time of three to 12 hours (excluding), a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

3) exceeding 12 successive periods of 24 hours after the previous regular weekly rest period by a time of 12 hours or more, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(10) For shortening the weekly rest period after 12 successive periods of 24 hours which has manifested itself as follows:

1) shortening the weekly rest period after 12 successive periods of 24 hours by a time of two to four hours (excluding), a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

2) shortening the weekly rest period after 12 successive periods of 24 hours by a time of four hours or more, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(11) For exceeding the driving period of three hours before a break from 22.00 to 06.00 if there are no several vehicle drivers and if:

1) from 22.00 to 06.00 the driving period exceeds three hours before a break by a time of up to one hour and a half (excluding), a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

2) from 22.00 to 06.00 the driving period exceeds three hours before a break by a time of one hour and a half or more, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(12) For linking the wage to the distance covered or the quantity of freight carried, a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(13) For non-existence or non-compliance of the work organisation of the driver of a vehicle if appropriate instructions are not given to the driver of a vehicle allowing him or her to comply with the laws and regulations, a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(13¹) For the failure to organise the work of the driver of a vehicle in a way that the driver of a vehicle could return to the operation centre of the employer or at his or her place of residence, a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(13²) For the failure to compensate the costs for accommodation outside a vehicle, a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(14) For exceeding the maximum weekly working time of 48 hours if possibilities to extend it by 60 hours have already been exhausted which has manifested itself as follows:

1) exceeding the maximum weekly working time of 48 hours by a time of eight up to 12 hours (excluding), a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

2) exceeding the maximum weekly working time of 48 hours by a time of 12 hours or more, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(15) For exceeding the maximum weekly working time of 60 hours, unless a derogation is granted in accordance with Section 31.², Paragraph three of this Law, which has manifested itself as follows:

1) exceeding the maximum weekly working time of 60 hours by a time of five up to 10 hours (excluding), a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

2) exceeding the maximum weekly working time of 60 hours by a time of 10 hours or more, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(16) For shortening the mandatory break if the working time is from six to nine hours which has manifested itself as follows:

1) reducing the mandatory break by a time of 10 to 20 minutes (excluding), a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

2) reducing the mandatory break by a time of 20 minutes or more, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(17) For reducing the mandatory break if the working time is more than nine hours which has manifested itself as follows:

1) reducing the mandatory break by a time of 15 to 25 minutes (excluding), a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

2) reducing the mandatory break by a time of 25 minutes or more, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(18) For exceeding the daily working time in every 24 hours when the driver of a vehicle performs night work, unless a derogation is granted in accordance with Section 31.², Paragraph three of this Law, which has manifested itself as follows:

1) exceeding the daily working time in every 24 hours when the driver of a vehicle performs night work by a time of one to three hours (excluding), a fine from eight to fourteen units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from fourteen to forty-two units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier;

2) exceeding the daily working time in every 24 hours when the driver of a vehicle performs night work by a time of three hours or more, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

(19) For falsifying data of the accounts of working time or refusing to present the accounts to the control authorities specified in the laws and regulations, a fine from fourteen to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on the driver of a vehicle but a fine from forty-two to eighty-six units of fine shall be imposed on the carrier.

[19 December 2019; 22 June 2023]

Section 81. Changing of Odometer Readings of a Vehicle

(1) For changing odometer readings of a vehicle by increasing or reducing the mileage of a vehicle recorded by the odometer, a fine of up to twenty units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person but a fine of up to two hundred units of fine shall be imposed on a legal person.

(2) For offering or providing a service which is designed to change odometer readings of a vehicle, a fine of up to forty units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person but a fine of up to four hundred units of fine shall be imposed on a legal person.

[19 December 2019 / Section shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 46 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 82. Violation of the Road Protection Regulations

(1) For arbitrary removing, installing, covering, or moving traffic signs, traffic lights, or other technical means of road traffic organisation, a fine from seven to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person but a fine from fourteen to fifty-six units of fine shall be imposed on a legal person.

(2) For damaging, destroying, littering, polluting, or blocking roads or structures comprised in the system thereof, for littering, polluting, or grubbing up a total land requirement, for placing materials or objects on a total land requirement without authorisation of the road owner (manager), and also for performing other works which deteriorate traffic safety, a fine from fourteen to seventy units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person but a fine from one hundred and forty to five hundred and eighty units of fine shall be imposed on a legal person.

(3) For placing objects for trade, public catering, and other objects, for installing information objects and advertising objects on a total land requirement or protection zone without authorisation of the road owner (manager), and also for the failure to conform to the requirements laid down in the laws and regulations regarding the placement of advertising or information objects along the roads, a fine from fourteen to fifty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person but a fine from eighty-six to eight hundred and sixty units of fine shall be imposed on a legal person.

(4) For the failure to comply with the obligations of a road owner (manager) specified in the laws and regulations, a fine from fourteen to seventy units of fine shall be imposed on a road owner (manager) who is a natural person but a fine from one hundred and forty to one thousand four hundred units of fine shall be imposed on a legal person.

(5) For the failure to take any measures to prohibit or restrict the road traffic, a fine from fourteen to seventy units of fine shall be imposed on a road owner (manager) who is a natural or legal person.

(6) For the violation of the regulations governing equipping of working places on the roads, a fine from seven to twenty-eight units of fine shall be imposed on a performer of works who is a natural person but a fine from fourteen to fifty-six units of fine shall be imposed on a legal person.

[19 December 2019; 22 June 2023]

Section 83. Competence in the Administrative Offence Proceedings

(1) The State Police shall conduct administrative offence proceedings regarding the administrative offences referred to in Sections 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, and 81 of this Law.

(2) The State Border Guard shall conduct administrative offence proceedings regarding the administrative offences referred to Section 51, Paragraphs one, three, four, five, and seven, Section 52, Paragraphs one, two, and three, Section 57, Section 63, Paragraphs two and three, Sections 64 and 65, Section 71, Paragraphs one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen, Section 72, Paragraphs one, two, three, four, and five, Section 73, Paragraph two, and Sections 74, 75, 76, 77, and 78 of this Law if these administrative offences have been established by border guards upon implementing control (supervision) measures specified in the laws and regulations.

(3) The municipal police shall conduct administrative offence proceedings regarding the administrative offences referred to in Section 51, Paragraph nine (for the violations committed by a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter), Section 52, Paragraphs one, two, and four, Section 53, Paragraphs one, two, and eleven (or the violations committed by a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter), Section 54, Paragraph six, Section 55 (except for the violations indicated in Paragraph twenty-seven which have been committed by the driver of another vehicle), Section 57, Section 58, Paragraph one (for the violations committed by a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter), Section 58, Paragraph two, Section 60, Paragraph one (for the violations committed by a cyclist or a driver of an electric scooter), Section 68, Section 68.¹, Section 70, Paragraph two, Section 71, Paragraph twenty-one, Sections 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, Section 79, Paragraph one, and Section 82, Paragraph two of this Law.

(4) The transport control service of a local government shall conduct administrative offence proceedings regarding the administrative offences referred to in Section 51, Paragraph one, Section 57, Section 68.¹, Section 79, Paragraph seven, Section 79.¹, and Section 80 of this Law.

(5) The State Police or the municipal police shall conduct administrative offence proceedings regarding the administrative offences referred to in Section 82 of this Law until examination of an administrative offence case. An administrative commission or panel of a local government shall examine an administrative offence case.

[19 December 2019; 25 March 2021; 15 June 2021; 22 June 2023]

Transitional Provisions

1. [8 July 2003]

2. With the coming into force of this Law, Cabinet Regulation No. 135 of 7 April 1997, Regulation Regarding Road Traffic, issued in accordance with Article 81 of the Constitution (Latvijas Republikas Saeimas un Ministru Kabineta Ziņotājs, 1997, No. 10, 18), is repealed.

3. [26 May 2005]

4. Amendments (in the wording of 26 May 2005) to Section 4, Paragraph three, Section 4.¹, Section 10.¹, and Section 22, Paragraph five shall come into force on 1 September 2005.

[26 May 2005; 15 February 2007]

5. Section 15.¹ of this Law (in the wording of 26 May 2005) and amendment to Section 28, Clause 1 (in the wording of 26 May 2005) shall come into force on 1 July 2006.

[26 May 2005; 15 February 2007]

6. [15 February 2007]

7. [15 February 2007]

8. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2007, issue the regulations referred to in the third sentence of Section 4, Paragraph five of this Law which approve such price lists for services which the Road Traffic Safety Directorate provides in fulfilling its delegated State administration tasks, and determine the range of persons who shall be released from the payment of the services provided. Until the day of the coming into force of the relevant Cabinet regulations, but not longer than 31 December 2007 Cabinet Regulation No. 1040 of 19 December 2006, Regulations regarding the Price List for the Paid Services provided by the State stock company "Ceļu satiksmes drošības direkcija" [Road Traffic Safety Directorate] within the Scope of State Administrative Functions, shall be applied insofar as it is not in contradiction to this Law.

[15 February 2007]

9. The Cabinet shall, by 1 October 2007, issue the regulations referred to in Section 4.¹, Paragraphs three and four of this Law which determine the procedures for the registration of vehicle trade locations, the requirements for the trade in vehicles and the numbered units thereof, and also for the use of the State registration plates for trade. Until the day of the coming into force of the relevant Cabinet regulations, but not longer than 1 October 2007 Cabinet Regulation No. 849 of 17 October 2006, Regulations regarding Trade Requirements for Vehicles and Numbered Units thereof and the Procedures for the Use of the State Registration Number Plates for Trade, shall be applied insofar as it is not in contradiction to this Law.

[15 February 2007]

10. Amendments to Section 22, Paragraph 3.¹ of this Law regarding the replacement of the words "theoretical training or" with the words "including" and regarding the deletion of the word "theoretical" from Section 22, Paragraphs 3.² and five of this Law shall come into force on 1 January 2008. Until the day of the coming into force of these amendments, the Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in Section 22, Paragraph five of this Law that correspond to them.

[15 February 2007]

11. Amendments to this Law regarding the deletion of Section 22, Paragraph three and the new wording of Section 30.¹ shall come into force on 1 October 2007. Until the day of the coming into force of these amendments the Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in Section 30.¹, Paragraphs five, six, seven, and eight (new wording) of this Law.

[15 February 2007]

12. Amendments to this Law regarding the new wording of Section 31, the deletion of Section 31.¹, Paragraph one, and the supplementation of Section 31.² with Paragraph six shall come into force on 11 April 2007. Until the day of the coming into force of these amendments, the Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in Section 31, Paragraphs one and two (new wording) of this Law.

[15 February 2007]

13. The driver's licences for tractor-type machinery and driver's licences for special tractor-type machinery issued until 1 January 2009 shall be valid until the expiry thereof.

[15 May 2008]

14. The Cabinet shall by, 31 December 2009, issue the regulations (in new wording) referred to in Section 22, Paragraph two of this Law which determine the procedures for the acquisition and renewal of the rights to drive a vehicle and the procedures and time periods for the issuance, change, and renewal of a driver's licence. Until the day of coming into force of the relevant regulations, but not longer than until 31 December 2009, Cabinet Regulation No. 634 of 27 July 2004, Procedures for the Acquisition of Qualification of Driver of Tractor-type Machinery and Procedures for the Issuance of Driver's Licence for Tractor-type Machinery, Cabinet Regulation No. 127 of 15 February 2005, Procedures for the Acquisition of Driver's Qualification for Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Procedures for the Issuance, Change and Renewal of Driver's Licence, and Cabinet Regulation No. 173 of 6 March 2007, Procedures for the Acquisition of Driver Qualification, Procedures for the Acquisition and Renewal of the Rights to Drive a Vehicle and Procedures for the Issuance, Change and Renewal of Driver's Licence, shall be applied insofar as they are not in contradiction with this Law.

[19 February 2009]

15. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2009, issue the regulations referred to in Section 22, Paragraph four of this Law (in new wording) which determine the requirements for merchants, educational institutions, and specialists which provide training of drivers, training programmes for drivers, and also the procedures for the control of training process of drivers. Until the day of coming into force of the relevant regulations, but not longer than until 31 December 2009 Cabinet Regulation No. 131 of 15 February 2005, Regulations Regarding Requirements for Educational Institutions and Specialists which Provide Training of Drivers and Training Programs for Drivers, and Cabinet Regulation No. 406 of 7 July 2005, Qualification Requirements for Specialists and Requirements for Educational Institutions which Provide Training of Drivers of Tractor-type Machinery and Training Programs for Drivers of Tractor-type Machinery, shall be applied insofar as they are not in contradiction with this Law.

[19 February 2009]

16. Section 9, Paragraphs four, five, and six of this Law shall come into force on 1 July 2009.

[19 February 2009]

17. The Cabinet shall, by 30 June 2009, issue the regulations referred to in Section 9, Paragraph six of this Law.

[19 February 2009]

18. The Cabinet shall, by 31 July 2009, issue the regulations referred to in Section 10, Paragraph 1.⁴ of this Law. Until the day of coming into force of the relevant regulations, but not longer than until 31 July 2009 Cabinet Regulation No. 446 of 27 April 2004, Regulations for Vehicle Registration, and Cabinet Regulation No. 618 of 20 July 2004, Regulations for Registration of Tractor-type Machinery and Trailers Thereof, shall be applied insofar as they are not in contradiction with this Law.

[19 February 2009]

19. Amendment to Section 45, Paragraph 2.¹ of this Law regarding the deletion of the word "(parish or district councils)" shall come into force on 1 July 2009.

[19 February 2009]

20. Amendments to this Law regarding the new wording of Section 1, Clauses 11, 12, 13, 21, and 30, Section 22, Paragraph one and the first sentence of Paragraph two, Sections 23 and 24 of this Law, the supplementation of Section 9, Paragraph two after the words "motor-cycles, tricycles, quadricycles" with the word "moped" and the supplementation of Section 22, Paragraph two with a new second sentence, and also amendments to Section 10, Paragraph one, Clause 3 regarding the replacement of the words "trailers thereof and mopeds" with the words "and the trailers thereof", to Section 10, Paragraph eight, Clause 2 regarding the replacement of the words "trailers and mopeds" with the words "and trailers", to Section 15, Paragraph two regarding the replacement of the words "trailers thereof and mopeds" with the words "and the trailers thereof", to Section 15, Paragraph four regarding the replacement of the words "trailers thereof (except for tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof) and mopeds" with the words "and the trailers thereof (except for tractor-type machinery and the trailers thereof) and the deletion of the word "moped" in Section 15.¹, Paragraphs one, two, and four shall come into force on 1 January 2013.

[3 March 2011]

21. Amendments to Section 25, Paragraph one of this Law regarding the deletion of the words "officials of the Road Transport Inspection (during the control of passengers and cargo transport by road)" shall come into force on 1 April 2011.

[9 June 2011]

22. The Cabinet shall, by 1 September 2011, issue the regulations referred to in Section 10.¹ of this Law regarding the rates, the procedures for the payment and exemptions from the State fee for the registration of vehicles to be registered with the State Technical Supervision Agency. Until the day of coming into force of the relevant Regulation, but not longer than until 1 September 2011, the Cabinet Regulation No. 845 of 8 November 2005, Regulation Regarding State Fee for Vehicle Registration (Vehicle Register Fee), shall be applied insofar as it is not in contradiction with this Law.

[9 June 2011]

23. The Cabinet shall, by 30 December 2011, issue the regulations referred to in Section 4, Paragraph five of this Law regarding the approval of a price list of the Road Traffic Safety Directorate, and also determine the range of persons who shall be released from the payment for the abovementioned services. Until the day of coming into force of the relevant regulations, but not longer than until 30 December 2011, the Cabinet Regulation No. 879 of 18 December 2007, Regulation Regarding Price List of Paid Services Provided by State Stock Company Road Traffic Safety Directorate within the Framework of State Administrative Functions, shall be applied insofar as it is not in contradiction with this Law.

[9 June 2011]

24. Amendment to this Law regarding the supplementation of Section 9, Paragraph five with Clause 8 shall come into force on 1 August 2011.

[9 June 2011]

25. Amendment to this Law regarding the supplementation of Section 16 with Paragraph 6.¹ shall come into force on 1 January 2012.

[9 June 2011]

26. Amendment to Section 28, Paragraph one, Clause 1 of this Law regarding the new wording thereof shall come into force on 1 January 2012.

[9 June 2011]

27. The Cabinet shall, by 1 June 2012, develop and submit to the Saeima draft laws which provide that the first roadworthiness test of new vehicles previously non-registered in Latvia shall be carried out not later than 24 months after registration thereof for the first time in Latvia.

[23 February 2012]

28. The subsequent roadworthiness tests of motorcycles, tricycles, and quadricycles which have undergone the roadworthiness test until 31 December 2012 shall be carried out in compliance with the term specified in the permit for participation in road traffic.

[29 November 2012]

29. A driver's licence issued by a European Union Member State or a member state of the European Free Trade Association which does not correspond to the requirements laid down in Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on driving licences may be used at the latest until 19 January 2033.

[29 November 2012]

30. In order to ensure that the payments are made for services which a merchant has provided until 31 December 2012, the procedures by which a merchant shall receive payment for the provision of the service laid down in Cabinet Regulation No. 329 of 26 April 2011, Procedures for the Payment to a Merchant for the Provision of the Service - Registration of Road Traffic Violations with Technical Means without Stopping a Vehicle, shall be applied.

[21 November 2013]

31. Amendments to Section 14 of this Law providing for the new wording of the first sentence of Paragraph four specifying that a note of the commercial pledge shall be made in the respective register of vehicles on the basis of a notification from the holder of commercial pledges, and Paragraph seven specifying that where an entry has been made in the Commercial Pledge Register regarding exercise of the right of commercial pledge, a submission for the removal of a vehicle from the register or for the re-registration thereof shall be submitted by a commercial pledgee instead of the owner, shall come into force on 1 May 2014.

[21 November 2013]

32. Amendments to Section 14.¹ of this Law regarding the new wording of Paragraphs one and eight, the supplementation of the title and text of the Section after the word "Register" with the words "and the Information System of Tractor-type Machinery and Drivers Thereof", the supplementation of Paragraph four after the words "Road Traffic Safety Directorate" with the words "or the State Technical Supervision Agency", and the supplementation of Paragraphs five and seven after the words "Road Traffic Safety Directorate" with the words "and the State Technical Supervision Agency" shall come into force on 1 December 2014. Until the day of the coming into force of the relevant amendments, the Cabinet shall issue corresponding regulations referred to in Paragraphs one and eight of Section 14.¹.

[4 September 2014]

33. Amendment to this Law regarding the deletion of Section 10.¹ shall come into force on 1 January 2015.

[4 September 2014]

34. Amendments to this Law regarding the supplementation of Section 22 with Paragraphs 1.¹ and 1.² shall come into force on 1 May 2015. The provisions of this Law which were in force prior to the day of coming into force of these amendments shall be applicable in relation to the persons who have committed the offences referred to in Section 22, Paragraph 1.¹ of this Law until 30 April 2015.

[30 October 2014]

35. Amendments to Section 12 of this Law regarding the deletion of Paragraph two, Clauses 5 and 6 of this Law shall come into force on 1 April 2016.

[10 December 2015]

36. Section 29, Paragraph 4.¹ of this Law shall come into force on 1 April 2016. Section 29, Paragraph 4.¹ of this Law shall not be applicable to the cases where the right to drive vehicles have been revoked for a person for a period of up to one year prior to the day of coming into force of this Paragraph.

[10 December 2015]

37. Amendment regarding the new wording of Section 43.² of this Law shall come into force on 1 June 2016.

[10 December 2015]

38. Amendment to Section 45, Paragraph two of this Law regarding the replacement of the words "and vehicles of ministries" with the words "ministries, the Supreme Court, and the Office of the Prosecutor General", and also amendment regarding the supplementation of Section 45 with Paragraph 2.² shall come into force on 1 January 2017. Until the day of coming into force of the relevant amendments, the Cabinet shall issue corresponding regulations referred to in Section 45, Paragraph 2.² of this Law.

[10 December 2015]

39. Amendment to Section 14.¹ of this Law regarding the new wording of Paragraph eight shall come into force on 1 June 2018.

[9 November 2017]

40. Amendment to this Law regarding the new wording of Section 10, Paragraph eight, Clause 1 shall come into force on 1 November 2018. In order to ensure road traffic safety, the Cabinet shall, by 31 October 2018, issue regulations corresponding to this amendment.

[12 April 2018]

41. Amendment to this Law regarding the new wording of Section 21 shall come into force on 1 January 2019.

[12 April 2018]

42. Amendments to this Law regarding the new wording of Section 23, Paragraphs seven and nine and Section 24, Paragraph one, Clause 6 shall come into force on 1 September 2018.

[12 April 2018]

43. The driver's licences for tractor-type machinery issued until 31 August 2018 shall be valid until expiry of the validity period thereof.

[12 April 2018]

44. The Cabinet shall, by 30 November 2018, issue the regulations referred to in Section 43.⁵, Paragraphs one and two of this Law. Until the day of coming into force of the relevant regulations but not longer than until 30 November 2018, Cabinet Regulation No. 15 of 11 January 2005, Procedures for the Determination of Alcohol Concentration in the Blood and Exhaled Air and the Detection of the Influence of Narcotic and Other Intoxicating Substances, shall be applied insofar as it is not in contradiction with this Law.

[20 September 2018]

45. The Cabinet shall, by 31 July 2019, issue the necessary regulations which allow mopeds and motorcycles to travel along the lane of the road which is intended for passenger public transport.

[25 April 2019]

46. Amendments to this Law providing for the new wording of Section 12, Paragraph three, Section 20, Paragraph five, the third sentence of Section 22, Paragraph two, the title of Section 30 and Paragraph one, the title of Chapter VII, Section 43.⁷, Paragraphs one and two, the introductory part of Section 43.⁸, Paragraph one and Clauses 1 and 2, amendment regarding the supplementation of Section 25, Paragraph two after the words "shall check" with the words "whether the compulsory civil liability insurance of an owner of a motor vehicle has been arranged", amendment regarding the supplementation of Section 43 with a sentence, amendment to Section 43.⁴ regarding the replacement of the words "metering devices intended" with the words "technical means intended", amendment to Section 43.⁸ regarding the replacement of the words "report-decision" (in the respective grammatical form) with the word "decision" (in the respective grammatical form), amendment to Section 43.⁸, Paragraphs five and six regarding the replacement of the words "Latvian Administrative Violations Code" with the words "Law on Administrative Liability", amendment regarding the deletion of Sections 43.² and 43.⁶, and also Section 14.² and Chapter IX shall come into force concurrently with the Law on Administrative Liability.

[19 December 2019]

47. Section 22, Paragraph one, Clause 3.¹ of this Law shall come into force on 1 January 2021.

[19 December 2019]

48. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2020, issue the regulations referred to in Section 22, Paragraph one, Clause 3.¹ of this Law.

[19 December 2019]

49. Section 10.³ of this Law shall come into force on 1 July 2021. The Cabinet shall, by 30 June 2021, issue the regulations referred to in Section 10.³, Paragraph four.

[25 March 2021]

50. Amendment to this Law regarding the new wording of the second sentence of Section 12, Paragraph one shall come into force on 1 July 2021.

[25 March 2021]

51. Section 43.⁷, Paragraph five of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2021.

[25 March 2021]

52. Section 44, Paragraph six of this Law in relation to the trailers of military combat vehicles shall be applied from the day when amendments to Section 3.¹ of the Compulsory Civil Liability Insurance of Owners of Motor Vehicles Law come into force, providing for an exception to the compulsory civil liability insurance in relation to the trailers of military combat vehicles registered in the register of the National Armed Forces of the Republic of Latvia.

[15 June 2021]

53. Amendment to this Law regarding the new wording of Section 38, Paragraph two shall come into force on 1 January 2023.

[16 June 2022]

54. Amendments to this Law regarding the supplementation of Section 4 with Paragraph 6.¹ and the supplementation of Section 25, Paragraph one with the words "the State Technical Supervision Agency" shall come into force on 1 January 2024.

[22 June 2023]

55. Amendments to this Law regarding the new wording of Section 16, Paragraph five and the supplementation of Paragraph 5.¹ with the words "trailer with technically permissible maximum laden mass of up to 3500 kilograms" after the word "quadricycle" shall come into force on 1 January 2025.

[22 June 2023 / The abovementioned amendments shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 January 2025]

56. Amendment to this Law regarding the new wording of Section 24, Paragraph five shall come into force on 1 September 2023.

[22 June 2023]

57. Amendments to this Law regarding the supplementation of Section 1 with Clause 22.¹, the supplementation of Section 42.¹ with Paragraphs 1.¹ and four shall come into force on 1 January 2024.

[22 June 2023]

58. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2023, issue regulations providing for the right of local governments to determine a period when a cargo may be loaded in and unloaded from vehicles in the cases provided for in Cabinet regulations in the operation range of the traffic sign "Lane for passenger public vehicles".

[22 June 2023]

59. Section 4, Paragraph 5.² of this Law shall come into force on 1 January 2024.

[22 June 2023]

60. Amendment to this Law regarding the new wording of Section 16, Paragraph three shall come into force on 1 January 2026. Until the day of coming into force of this amendment, the Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in Section 16, Paragraph seven of this Law laying down the accreditation requirements for a person performing the control of the technical condition of vehicles within the scope of the roadworthiness test of vehicles.

[22 June 2023 / The abovementioned amendment shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 January 2026]

61. Section 1, Clause 31.¹ of this Law shall come into force on 1 January 2024.

[22 June 2023]

62. The Cabinet shall, by 31 December 2023, issue the regulations allowing to carry an employee of the waste manager in heavy goods vehicles and tractor-type machinery used for transport of waste on the standing platform intended for this purpose by the manufacturer of the vehicle outside the cabin of the vehicle, determining that in such case the driving speed of the vehicle may not exceed 20 kilometres per hour and it may not drive in reverse motion.

[22 June 2023]

63. Amendments to this Law in Section 10.² regarding the supplementation of its title, Paragraphs two, three, and four with the words "cycle rickshaws" after the word "bicycles", the new wording of Paragraph one, the supplementation of Section with Paragraphs 1.¹ and five (regarding the registration of electric scooters and cycle rickshaws) shall come into force on 1 January 2024. Electric scooters and cycle rickshaws must be registered until 31 March 2024 and participation in road traffic with non-registered electric scooters and cycle rickshaws is prohibited after this date.

[22 June 2023]

64. Section 43.³, Paragraph five of this Law shall come into force on 1 September 2023. Until the day of coming into force of these amendments, the Cabinet shall issue the regulations referred to in Section 43.³, Paragraph four of this Law.

[22 June 2023]

65. The requirement referred to in Section 22, Paragraph one, Clause 3.¹ of this Law for the participation in a behavioural correction programme shall be applicable to the driver of a vehicle who wishes to re-obtain the right to drive vehicles, starting from 1 September 2023.

[22 June 2023]

66. Amendment to this Law regarding the new wording of Section 14.¹, Paragraph twelve shall come into force on 1 July 2024.

[22 June 2023 / The abovementioned amendment shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 July 2024]

67. Amendments to Section 45 of this Law shall come into force on 1 January 2024.

[22 June 2023]

68. If a vehicle is registered in the Russian Federation, the registration referred to in Section 10, Paragraph 1.² of this Law shall be carried out regardless of the period when the vehicle is in Latvia and is participating in road traffic and regardless of the nationality of the owner of the vehicle. The vehicle shall be registered not later than by 14 February 2024. Use of a vehicle registered in the Russian Federation in road traffic in Latvia shall be permitted until the relevant time limit.

[2 November 2023]

69. After the end of the time limit specified in Paragraph 68 of Transitional Provisions, the use of a vehicle registered in the Russian Federation in road traffic in Latvia shall be permitted if the territory of Latvia is crossed not more than once with such vehicle in transit and if the following information has been submitted to the Road Traffic Safety Directorate by using the e-services ensured by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate:

1) the make and model of the vehicle;

2) the registration country of the vehicle;

3) the State registration number of the vehicle;

4) the given name, surname, date of birth, and electronic mail address of the driver of the vehicle;

5) the time period during which the vehicle will participate in road traffic in Latvia not exceeding 24 hours.

[2 November 2023]

70. After the end of the time limit specified in Paragraph 68 of Transitional Provisions, the use of a vehicle registered in the Russian Federation in road traffic in Latvia shall be permitted if the vehicle is in the ownership or possession of such person who enjoys immunities and privileges in accordance with the norms of international law binding on Latvia or in the ownership or possession of such person who is going on a short-term trip, including transit, for the performance of official functions or for ensuring technical support to the diplomatic or consular mission of Latvia or a foreign country or an international organisation. Upon request of the competent official, the documents certifying the abovementioned circumstances shall be presented.

[2 November 2023]

Informative Reference to the European Union Directives

[3 March 2011; 23 February 2012; 21 November 2013; 10 December 2015; 16 June 2022]

This Law contains legal norms arising from:

1) [10 December 2015];

2) Council Directive 2002/15/EC of 11 March 2002 on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities;

3) Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on driving licences;

3¹) Directive 2008/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on road infrastructure safety management;

4) Directive 2010/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2010 on the framework for the deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in the field of road transport and for interfaces with other modes of transport;

5) Directive 2011/82/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 facilitating the cross-border exchange of information on road safety related traffic offences;

6) Directive (EU) 2019/1936 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 amending Directive 2008/96/EC on road infrastructure safety management.

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 1 October 1997.

Acting for the President, Deputy Chairperson of the Saeima A. Ameriks

Rīga, 21 October 1997

¹ The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2024 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)