Croatia fines drivers €60 for entering wrong lane at border crossings

Croatian border police are imposing a €60 fine on drivers who enter the traffic lane designated for EU/EEA/CH vehicles instead of the “All Passports” lane. The penalty can be halved to €30 if paid immediately at the checkpoint. The stricter enforcement follows the introduction of the EU Entry/Exit System, which requires more detailed checks of non‑EU travellers.

Incidents reported from the Croatia‑Bosnia and Croatia‑Serbia crossings show drivers from Bosnia‑Herzegovina and Serbia unintentionally joining the shorter EU lane and receiving fines. One Serbian motorist admitted the mistake and paid the fine, while officials warned that police may also redirect vehicles to the correct queue.

The measure aims to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion at busy summer border points, but it does not discriminate based on passport type—only on compliance with traffic signage.