Azerbaijan.US
A set of proposed amendments to Azerbaijan’s road traffic legislation aims to reduce the administrative burden on drivers, introduce clearer safeguards around vehicle impoundment, and modernize speed regulations to reflect changes in road infrastructure.
The changes were discussed at the Legal Policy and State Building Committee of the Milli Majlis and have been recommended for a first reading in parliament.
No Upfront Fine Required to Retrieve Impounded Vehicles
One of the most significant proposed changes concerns the procedure for retrieving vehicles taken to impound lots by traffic police. Under the new rules, drivers would no longer be required to pay the administrative fine in advance in order to recover their vehicle.
Instead, the vehicle owner would only need to cover the cost of towing and storage at the secured parking facility. Once those fees are paid, the car can be released immediately, while the administrative case related to the alleged violation proceeds separately.
Lawmakers say the change is intended to prevent situations in which drivers are effectively forced to accept or immediately pay fines before having the opportunity to contest them through legal channels.
Another important adjustment relates to how storage fees are calculated. According to the draft amendments, storage charges would no longer begin on the day the vehicle is impounded. Instead, the fee would start accumulating from 00:00 on the following day, a move expected to reduce costs for drivers whose vehicles are retrieved promptly.
Clearer Grounds for Appeals and Compensation
The proposed amendments also strengthen drivers’ rights to challenge impoundment decisions. If a vehicle owner believes the towing was unlawful, or if the car was damaged during transportation or storage, they would have the right to file administrative or judicial complaints.
Should such a complaint be upheld, any fees already paid – including towing and storage costs – would be refunded. Lawmakers say this provision is designed to introduce greater accountability into the enforcement process and discourage arbitrary or improper impoundments.
New Category for Paid Motorways
Beyond impoundment rules, the draft legislation introduces a new legal concept: the paid motorway. For the first time, Azerbaijan’s road law would explicitly distinguish paid highways from other types of roads, allowing for differentiated speed limits.
Under the proposal, the maximum speed limit on paid motorways would increase from 110 km/h to 130 km/h for passenger cars and light vehicles with a permitted weight of up to 3.5 tons. On standard motorways, the limit would remain at 110 km/h, while other roads would continue to be capped at 90 km/h.
Experts Call for a More Technical Approach
While welcoming the update, road safety experts argue that speed limits should be based on technical road standards, not solely on whether a road is paid or free. They note that some non-paid motorways may be equally suitable for higher speeds, while certain paid roads may not meet the same safety criteria.
Specialists also point out that Azerbaijan’s current road traffic law dates back to 1998, a period when traffic density, vehicle standards, and highway infrastructure were markedly different. From this perspective, the proposed amendments are seen as a partial but necessary step toward modernizing traffic regulation.
A Shift Toward Procedural Fairness
Overall, the proposed reforms signal a shift toward greater procedural fairness for drivers, separating administrative penalties from the immediate recovery of personal property and clarifying citizens’ rights to appeal enforcement actions.
If adopted, the amendments would mark one of the most notable updates to Azerbaijan’s road traffic framework in years, with practical implications for everyday drivers and broader implications for urban governance and rule-based enforcement.
