Slovakia expands administrative penalties

In July 2026 Slovakia introduced a series of new enforcement measures aimed at strengthening administrative penalties. On 16 July an amendment to the administrative offence law allowed municipalities to assign mandatory community‑service work—20 to 150 hours for adults and 10 to 75 hours for juveniles—in place of monetary fines for minor offences. The reform seeks to address unpaid fines, support local labour shortages, and includes safeguards against abuse, though detailed implementation guidance remains pending.

A week later the Supreme Court of Slovakia affirmed a stricter traffic‑enforcement regime. Police may now confiscate a driver’s licence when owners neglect local property or waste‑collection taxes, provided a court order is issued. The court also broadened the definition of illegal phone use while driving, treating any handheld use as a punishable offence with fines of around €30. Together, these steps signal a broader move to diversify and tighten sanctions across municipal and traffic violations.