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23 clusters · 52 sources · 91 days · First seen · Last updated

North Macedonia police enforcement and traffic safety

Overview

In late July 2026, the Macedonian Ministry of Internal Affairs secured a two‑year contract for 10,000 rapid drug‑testing kits from China to enable roadside screening. Following this, police launched various operations, including a nationwide crackdown in mid-August that resulted in 63 alcohol-related sanctions and several arrests for reckless driving. By early September, the Ministry expanded its ‘Safe City’ surveillance system with technical upgrades to identify motorcycles by their rear license plates. Minister Panče Toškovski noted that the system detected approximately nine speeding violations on its first day. Concurrently, authorities reported that despite new regulations introduced in mid-July—which lowered electric scooter speeds to 20 km/h and banned riders under 18—nearly 1,000 scooter-related violations were recorded between May and July. In September, intensive inspections targeting bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles resulted in 1,803 recorded violations. The vast majority (1,478) involved failure to wear protective helmets. These controls also led to 132 instances of ‘careless driving of a motor vehicle’ under Article 297-a of the Penal Code and the confiscation of 88 motorcycles. High violation rates were noted in the Skopje, Manastir, and Veles regions. Additionally, a 24-hour period in early September saw 17 drivers arrested for offenses including driving without a license, driving under the influence, and driving against the flow of traffic. By late September, the Ministry reported that intensified inspections from May to August 2026 resulted in 10,411 total violations, including 619 criminal offenses and the seizure of 423 vehicles. During August alone, 606 electric scooter violations were recorded, with 18 scooters confiscated. In mid-September, authorities reported 1,875 offenses from August controls, primarily involving helmet non-compliance. Minister Toškovski announced plans to expand the ‘Safe City’ project nationwide by early 2027, with upcoming implementations in Ohrid, Strumica, Štip, and Bitola.

Entities

Ministry of Internal Affairs · Skopje · Strumica · Tabanovce · Manastir

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 7 sources
    Fatal car accident on Strumica–Radovish road in North Macedonia

    A 58-year-old driver died in a collision on the Strumica–Radovish road after a 19-year-old driver, testing positive for alcohol, crashed into his vehicle.

  2. [CRIME] 2 sources
    North Macedonia police seize 88 motorcycles following traffic inspections

    North Macedonian police recorded 1,803 traffic violations in September 2026, including 1,478 helmet infractions and the confiscation of 88 motorcycles.

  3. [CRIME] 3 sources
    North Macedonia police crack down on motorcycle traffic violations

    North Macedonian authorities arrested a motorcyclist for speeding at 188 km/h and reported over 1,800 traffic violations involving two-wheeled vehicles in September.

  4. [CRIME] 2 sources
    North Macedonia police detain 14 drivers for unsafe driving

    Fourteen drivers were detained in North Macedonia for unsafe driving, including 12 individuals operating vehicles without licenses and one driver under the influence of alcohol.

  5. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Macedonian police receive 33 new motorcycles and equipment

    Macedonia's Ministry of Internal Affairs has acquired 33 new Piaggio motorcycles and full protective gear worth over 16.8 million denars to improve traffic police mobility and road safety.

  6. [POLITICS] 5 sources
    North Macedonia to use AI to fine motorcyclists without helmets

    North Macedonia will soon use AI-powered ‘Safe City’ technology to identify and fine motorcyclists not wearing helmets, following a 30% decrease in traffic fatalities this year.

  7. [CRIME] 2 sources
    North Macedonia police detain 12 drivers for reckless driving

    Police in North Macedonia detained 12 drivers in 24 hours for reckless driving, including several operating vehicles without licenses, under the influence, or despite active driving bans.

  8. [CRIME] 3 sources
    North Macedonia police arrest 21 drivers for reckless driving

    Police in North Macedonia arrested 21 drivers for reckless driving, including 11 unlicensed drivers and 10 individuals operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol.

  9. [CRIME] 2 sources
    North Macedonia reports 606 electric scooter violations in August

    North Macedonian authorities reported 606 electric scooter violations in August, resulting in 18 confiscations. Manastir saw the highest number of infractions, primarily involving safety gear and path usage.

  10. [CRIME] 7 sources
    Ministry of Internal Affairs reports 10,411 traffic violations

    North Macedonian police recorded 10,411 traffic violations and 619 criminal offenses during intensified inspections of scooter and motorcycle riders between May and August 2026.

  11. [CRIME] 10 sources
    North Macedonia police detain 19 drivers for reckless driving

    North Macedonian police detained 19 drivers for reckless driving, including 10 for DUI and eight for driving without a license, following a nationwide crackdown on traffic violations.

  12. [CRIME] 2 sources
    North Macedonia traffic controls result in 1,875 offenses

    North Macedonia's Ministry of Internal Affairs reported 1,875 traffic offenses and 116 criminal charges during August 2026 enforcement actions targeting cyclists and motorcyclists.

  13. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    North Macedonia to expand ‘Safe City’ project nationwide

    North Macedonia aims to implement the ‘Safe City’ project nationwide by early 2027 to improve traffic safety and combat the high rate of traffic-related crime.

  14. [CRIME] 2 sources
    North Macedonia electric scooter violations persist despite new laws

    New traffic laws in North Macedonia have yet to curb widespread electric scooter violations, with many riders still using sidewalks and ignoring safety rules despite increased fines and speed limits.

  15. [CRIME] 2 sources
    North Macedonia police arrest 17 drivers for traffic offenses

    North Macedonian police arrested 17 drivers in 24 hours for offenses including unlicensed driving, driving under the influence, and driving against traffic.

  16. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    North Macedonia expands Safe City system to monitor motorcycles

    North Macedonia's ‘Safe City’ system can now identify motorcycles via new technical equipment, with nine speeding violations recorded on the first day of implementation.

  17. [CRIME] 10 sources
    North Macedonia police arrest 43 for reckless driving during traffic blitz

    North Macedonian police recorded 1,621 traffic violations and arrested 43 people for reckless driving during a three-day intensive patrol, including high-speed arrests of drivers from Serbia and the Netherlands

  18. [CRIME] 13 sources
    North Macedonia police issue 140 traffic violations in nationwide crackdown

    North Macedonian police recorded 140 traffic violations during a five-hour crackdown on cyclists and motorcyclists, with 102 cases involving failure to wear a helmet.

  19. [CRIME] 6 sources
    Skopje police sanction 262 drivers in targeted traffic operation

    Skopje police sanctioned 262 drivers during a targeted traffic operation, with 102 penalties issued to motorcycle and moped riders, primarily for not wearing helmets.

  20. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    North Macedonia police issue 63 alcohol-related driving sanctions

    North Macedonia's Ministry of Internal Affairs issued 63 alcohol-related driving sanctions and detained eight drivers during a nationwide crackdown.

  21. [CRIME] 3 sources
    North Macedonia police issue 1,322 traffic fines in two-day crackdown

    North Macedonian police issued 1,322 traffic fines and arrested 32 drivers for reckless driving during a two-day crackdown on speeding, unlicensed driving, and alcohol consumption.

  22. [CRIME] 3 sources
    North Macedonia police crackdown on traffic violations and hotel raid

    Macedonian police fined 178 drivers for traffic offences, arrested 13, and later raided Gostivar hotels, detaining two people and 15 foreign nationals for illegal stay and drug possession.

  23. [CRIME] 6 sources
    Macedonian Police to Deploy Fast Drug Tests for Roadway Screening

    North Macedonia's police have bought 10,000 cheap Chinese rapid drug tests (99% accurate, 3‑10 min results) for driver screening, under a €80k two‑year contract with VisioMed, delivery expected early August.

Sources

a1on.mk · alfa.mk · almakos.com · alsat.mk · brif.mk · centar.mk · denesen.mk · english.republika.mk · epokaere.com · espreso.co.rs · expres.mk · faktiditor.ch · gazeta.mk · koha.mk · libertas.mk · lider.mk · lokalno.mk · makpress.mk · miroslavaarpasova.blog.sme.sk · nacionalno.mk · nezavisen.mk · opserver.mk · orainfo.net · petel.bg · plusinfo.mk · portalb.mk · press24.mk · prv.mk · racin.mk · republika.mk · seredonline.sk · shenja.tv · sitel.com.mk · skopje1.mk · skopjeinfo.mk · skopskoeho.mk · slobodenpecat.mk · strumicadenes.mk · telegrafi.com · tetova1.mk · tetovasot.com · tocka.com.mk · ts.mk · utrinskivesnik.mk · utro.mk · vecer.mk · vesnik.com · viaranews.com

This summary has been updated 13 times: see revision history