Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Infractions
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​From the 1st of June, 2016 on a total of 12 (twelve) points will be given to each driver in its driving licence.
For each major or very serious offence or road traffic crime, points will be subtracted to your licence.
If you do not commit major or very serious offences or road traffic crimes, points can be added to your licence.
If you commit a major or very serious offence, besides the fine and to be, eventually, temporally disqualified from driving, you will also lose points. -
​No. The new system of demerit point system licence does not imply any replacement of documents. The points will be subtracted or added by computer.
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No. Any major or very serious offence or road traffic crime perpetrated before this system coming into force will be punished under the previous system and it will not have, as consequence, the subtraction of demerit points.
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The points will only be subtracted on the definite date of the administrative decision or the date when the sentence has been passed in a court of law.
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Generally, when a major offence is perpetrated, 2 (two) points are subtracted from your licence.
3 (three) points are subtracted from your licence upon the following major offences:
- Drink-driving, with an alcohol reading equal or higher than 0, 5g/l and lower than 0, 8g/l or equal or higher than 0, 2 g/l and lower than 0, 5 g/l when concerning a novice driver, rescue or emergency vehicles driver, driver of public transports for children and youngsters until 16 years old, taxi driver, bus or heavy goods vehicle or transport of dangerous goods driver;
- Excessive speed higher than 20 km/h (motorbikes or cars) or higher than 10 km/h (other motor vehicles) in coexistence areas;
- Overtaking in duly signed zebra crossings or immediately before, and in pedal cycle routes.
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​Generally, when a very serious offence is perpetrated, 4 (four) points are subtracted from your licence.
5 (five) points are subtracted from your licence upon the following very serious offences:
- Drink-driving, with an alcohol reading equal or higher than 0, 8g/l and lower than 1, 2g/l or equal or higher than 0, 5 g/l and lower than 1, 2 g/l when concerning a novice driver, rescue or emergency vehicles driver, driver of public transports for children and youngsters, until 16 years old, taxi driver, bus or heavy goods vehicle or transport of dangerous goods driver, as well as when the driver is considered to be under the influence of alcohol by medical report;
- Driving under the influence of drugs;
- Excessive speed higher than 40 km/h (motorbikes or cars) or higher than 20 km/h (other motor vehicles) in coexistence areas.
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It will be subtracted 6 (six) points.
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When several major or very serious offences are perpetrated on the same day, 6 (six) points will be subtracted at the maximum. However, if among the major or very serious offence convictions there are those of drive-drinking or drug-driving, it will be subtracted the corresponding points (3, 5 or 6 – depending if it is a major, very serious or road traffic crime offence).
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​Yes. The conditions which determine the extent of the legal consequence will remain unchanged. After perpetrating a major or very serious offence, the process runs its legal procedures and, in case of a decision of legal consequence of a temporarily driving disqualification, the driver must handover his driving licence to fulfil the penalty.
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Yes. At the end of each 3 (three) year period without having any major or very serious offences or road traffic crimes, it will be given 3 (three) points to the driver, up to a maximum of 15 (fifteen) points.
At each period the driver renews his driving licence and if he has not committed any road traffic crimes and voluntarily assisted to road traffic safety training, he will be given one point; however the points cannot exceed the limit of 16 (sixteen) points. This limit is applied, only, in situations in which he was given points according to the previous paragraph; otherwise, the maximum of 15 (fifteen) points will remain the same.
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The 3 (three) years are computed as from the definite date of the administrative decision or from the decision of legal consequence of the last offence. (major, very serious or road traffic crime offences).
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Yes, up to a maximum limit of 15 (fifteen) points.
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​The legal procedures in force remain the same. There is to say, in case of committing two major offences or one very serious offence, the driving licence is revoked.
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​In case all the points are subtracted, the driving licence is revoked by order in an autonomous process; that is to say that, you lose your driving licence.
Once the driving licence is revoked, you will be unable to get a new licence during a period of 2 (two) years. After this period you could regain your driving licence again, bearing all duly costs.
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Now, you must attend a Road Safety training initiative. A non-justified absence entails the revocation of the driving licence, that is to say, you lose your driving licence and you will have to wait 2 (two) years to regain it again, bearing all duly costs.
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Now, you must do the theory qualifying test of the driving exam. A non-justified absence or failure to pass the test entails the revocation of the driving licence, that is to say, you lose your driving licence and you will have to wait 2 (two) years to regain it again, bearing all duly costs.
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​To check on any points you have, you will have to register in the Road Offences Site (https://portalcontraordenacoes.ansr.pt/).
Note: This information does not exclude the reading of Traffic Road Code.
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​The National Road Safety Authority does not make contact hours to the public on their premises.
The onsite citizen service is provided at the PSP District Command offenses Section or the Office of Citizen Assistance District Command / Traffic Detachment of GNR, between 9h00 am and 16h00, whose addresses can be found here regardless of other means of existing contacts, Call Center and email.
NRSA's mission​ is nationwide planning and coordination in order to support the Government's policy on road safety as well as the implementation of the road administrative offenses law.
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The voluntary payment of the fine is accepted for the minimum:
- witho​​ut costs, within 15 working days after the notification of the infraction
or,
- ​​​at an​y time in the proceeding - but always before the decision, without prejudice to the costs that may be payable.
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In the lesser infractions, only penalized with fines-the proceeding is immediately archived, except if a defense is presented.
In serious or very serious infractions, sanctioned with fines and the ancillary sanction of being disqualified from driving, despite there being a voluntary payment of the fine, the proceeding continues and is only restricted to the assessment of existing elements with a view to the application of the additional penalty of driving disqualification or if a defense has been presented.​​
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​For residents in Portugal
- ​At any Post Office in Portugal (CTT) or at the stations of the Payshop Network, using for this purpose this document, which will be valid as a receipt after authentication by the CTT;
- Through the Network of Automatic Teller Machines (ATM's) or via Homebanking, for which you should use your banking card or online banking access by performing the following operations:
- Select the operation: Payment for Services
- Enter the information:
Entity: 20 843
Reference: XXX XXX XXX (infraction number)
Amount: XXX XXX XXX (In Euros, corresponding to the minimum value of the fine)
- Terminate the operation confirming the entry of the information with the GREEN key. The receipt for the operation is valid as proof of payment.
For non-residents in Portugal
BAN: PT50 0781 0112 01120012757 90
BIC CODE: IGCPPTPL
Banco: AGÊNCIA DE GESTÃO DA TESOURARIA E DA DÍVIDA PÚBLICA – IGCP, E.P.E.
Country: Portugal
Entity: National Road Safety Authority
Details: infraction no.
The proof of payment of the fine by bank transfer must be sent by via email to mail@ansr.pt with the indication of the infraction number or the payment reference.
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​The deposit is intended to guarantee the payment of the fine to which the offender may be sentenced, being returned if there is no conviction.​​​
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The deposit is only legally accepted within 48 hrs. following the notification of the infraction.
- In the act of supervision:
When notification is made in the act of verification of the infraction, the offender shall, immediately or within a maximum period of 48 hours, provide the deposit of an amount equal at a minimum the fine provided for the alleged infraction.
- When notification is made by mail:
When you are notified of the infraction by mail and do not wish to make the voluntary payment of the fine immediately, you must, within 48 hours after the respective notification, pay a guarantee of a value equal to the minimum fine provided for the infraction that occurred.
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If the deposit is not made the following documents are provisionally seized:
- The driver's license, if the penalty concerns the driver;
- The vehicle title and the registration, if the penalty relates to the holder of the vehicle identification document;
- All the documents referred to in the sections above, if the penalty relates to the driver and the latter is, simultaneously, the holder of the vehicle identification document.
In the event that the deposit is made and a defense is not presented within the time limit stipulated for this purpose, the deposit automatically becomes a payment.​
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​No. The system of road infractions does not permit this.​​
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After the seizure of the documents as a guarantee of payment of the fine, the replacement document for the seized documents is issued, with validity for the time considered necessary and renewable until the conclusion of the process, and these must be returned if in the meantime the payment or deposit of the guarantee is made.​
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The replacement document for seized documents may be revalidated with the Infraction Section of the District Command of the PSP or Citizen Service Office of District Command/Traffic Detachment of the GNR, of the area of residence, for which the contact information you can consult here in​​​.​
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Requests for information about the status of the infractions may only be provided and evaluated if their author is the defendant of the infraction proceeding or a lawyer/legal representative duly authorized for this purpose.
If the request for information or application is requested and signed by a different person, this will not be taken into consideration due to a lack of legitimacy to intervene in the process.​
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No.
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Should you wish to respond to the notice of infraction, you may present a defense, within 15 working days from notification.
The defense should be addressed to the President of the National Road Safety Authority and presented in writing, in Portuguese, and contain the following elements:
- Infraction number (composed of nine digits and which can be found in the upper-right corner of the notification);
- Identification of the defendant by name;
- Statement of the facts, reasoning and request;
- Signature of the defendant or, where applicable, of the authorized representative who must attach the power of attorney for this purpose or a legal representative.
- The defendant, in the defense must indicate clearly the facts upon which it bases the proof, under penalty of denial of the evidence presented and, if he so wishes, he may call witnesses up to a limit of 3. The witnesses indicated by the defendant in the defense should be present on the date, time and place indicated by the entity instructing the proceeding.
Location for submission of the defense:
- By registered mail to the National Road Safety Authority, located at the Science and Technology Park of Oeiras, Avenida de Casal de Cabanas, Urbanização de Cabanas Golf, n. º 1, Tagus Park, 2734-507 Barcarena,
or
- ​Personally at the Infraction Section of the District Command of the PSP or at the Citizen Service Office of District Command/Traffic Detachment of the GNR, of the area of residence of the defendant, for which contact information may be consulted here in​​.
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The period of time to evaluate the defense depends on the elements that have to be analyzed during the evidentiary phase of the proceeding. The assessment/response to the defense is given in the administrative decision handed down.​
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To identify the driver of the infraction, the defendant, or the representative must atta​ch the power of attorney for this purpose, fill the form approved​ by the office of the President of the ANSR.
Location for submission of the request:
- By registered mail to the National Road Safety Authority, located at the Science and Technology Park of Oeiras, Avenida de Casal de Cabanas, Urbanização de Cabanas Golf, n. º 1, Tagus Park, 2734-507 Barcarena,
or
- Personally at the Infraction Section of the District Command of the PSP or at the Citizen Service Office of District Command/Traffic Detachment of the GNR, of the area of residence of the defendant, for which the contact information may be consulted here in​.​
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No. In the above process the defendant only has the opportunity to submit a written defense. All of his arguments should be given in this defense and all evidence that is understood to be relevant should be attached.​
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To ask questions concerning the proceeding, the defendant, or representative, who must attach his power of attorney for​ this purpose, requests this previously from the ANSAR by filling out the printed form approved​ by the office of the President of the ANSR.
Location for submission of the request:
- By registered mail to the National Road Safety Authority, located at the Science and Technology Park of Oeiras, Avenida de Casal de Cabanas, Urbanização de Cabanas Golf, n. º 1, Tagus Park, 2734-507 Barcarena,
or
- ​Personally at the Infraction Section of the District Command of the PSP or at the Citizen Service Office of District Command/Traffic Detachment of the GNR, of the area of residence of the defendant, for which the contact information may be consulted here in​​.
The provision of the proceeding for consultation is carried out in the Infraction Section of the District Command of the PSP or the Office of Citizen Services of the District Command/Traffic Detachment of the GNR, of your area of residence, or another that has been indicated, in digital format and is not subject to payment. The time for consultation will be sent to the applicant by letter.
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The copy of the photographic record must be requested by the defendant or representative, who must attach the power of attorney for this purpose, by submitting the form approved​​ by the office of the President of the ANSR and attaching proof of payment, for which the cost appears in the annex to Directive No. 1334-C/2010 of December 31 (consult question nº 21).
Location for submission of the request:
- ​By registered mail to the National Road Safety Authority, located at the Science and Technology Park of Oeiras, Avenida de Casal de Cabanas, Urbanização de Cabanas Golf, n. º 1, Tagus Park, 2734-507 Barcarena,
or
- ​Personally at the Infraction Section of the District Command of the PSP or at the Citizen Service Office of District Command/Traffic Detachment of the GNR, of the area of residence of the defendant, for which the contact information may be consulted here in​​.
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The certificate or the copy of the proceeding can be requested by the defendant or representative, who must attach the power of attorney for this purpose, by submitting the form av​ailable​​ at www.ansr.pt and attaching the proof of payment, for which the costs appear in the annex to Directive No. 1334-C/2010 of December 31 (consult question nº 21).
Location for submission of the request:
- By registered mail to the National Road Safety Authority, located at the Science and Technology Park of Oeiras, Avenida de Casal de Cabanas, Urbanização de Cabanas Golf, n.º 1, Tagus Park, 2734-507 Barcarena,
or
- ​Personally at the Infraction Section of the District Command of the PSP or at the Citizen Service Office of District Command/Traffic Detachment of the GNR, of the area of residence of the defendant, for which the contact information may be consulted here in​.
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​In the defense:
The consultation/request for the photographic record suspends the time period for submission of the defense, provided that it is requested within the time limit provided for submission of the defense. After the provision of the proceeding for consultation/photographic record, a new deadline will be granted for submitting of the defense.
On appeal:
The request of consultation/photographic record does not suspend the time period for submitting the appeal.
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The amount of the fees is set out in Directive No. 1334-C/2010 of December 31 (updated automatically on March 01 each year, art. 3:
- Certificate, per page – 25 €
- Color photocopy– 1.43 € per page
- Black and white photocopy– 0.75 € per page
- ​Authenticated photocopies – 1.43 € per page in black and white, and an additional 2.77 euros per each page for color
- ​Photocopy in digital format – 21 €
- In the case of photocopies requested if they relate to the proceeding already filed, an addition to the total of 4.12 €
Payment can be made by postal order or by bank transfer to the IBAN: ANSR – Third Parties – PT50 0781.0112.01120012759.84
Once the payment of the indicated fee is made, the respective proof of payment must be sent to these Services.​
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The fine and the ancillary sanction are graduated, in each case, taking into account the circumstances under which the infraction was committed, any aggravating or attenuating circumstances legally provided for, the guilt and the economic situation of the offender, when known, and his background in relation to the enforcement of traffic laws and regulations.
In addition, the special duties of care that fall upon the driver are weighed in the decision, when the offence is committed in the course of driving, in particular when this individual drives rescue vehicles or emergency service vehicles, public transportation of children, rental cars for public transport, taxis, heavy vehicles for passengers or merchandise delivery, or for the transport of dangerous merchandise.​
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​No. The system of road infractions does not permit this​​.
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No, because the law does not permit this. If you do not submit the driver's license/vehicle documentation within the legal time period, you will be in a situation of non-compliance and will be committing the crime of contempt.​​
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​You should submit the document within 15 business days following the deadline to appeal the decision of the administrative authority – 15 days after its notification to the defendant. This means that you should submit the document between the 16th and 30th day after notification of the decision.​
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​The deadline for submission of the driver's license is counted in business days.​​
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​Compliance with the ancillary sanction is carried out through the effective submission of the driver's license/vehicle documentation and is counted in days following this, or, if the document is seized due to the non-payment of the fine through the delivery of the respective replacement document.
It may be submitted at the Infraction Section of the District Command of the PSP or at the Citizen Service Office of District Command/Traffic Detachment of the GNR, of the area of residence of the defendant, for which the contact information may be consulted here in​​.​
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​No. The law does not provide for exemption from the accessory sanction. The current wording of the Highway Code contemplates only the possibility of special mitigation in the case of very serious infractions or the suspension of execution of the ancillary sanction for serious infractions.​
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​Yes, but only for the serious infractions, provided that the fine is paid and in consideration of the circumstances of the infraction and the conduct of the offender if:
- The offender has not been convicted, within the last 5 years, for the commission of a serious or very serious infraction or has not been convicted of traffic crimes, the suspension can be given for a period of 6 months to 1 year.
- ​If the offender in the last 5 years has committed only one serious infraction, the suspension can be given for a period of 1 to 2 years. Such a suspension will be conditioned as a singular or cumulative period:
- The provision of a guarantee of good conduct (which is set at between € 500 and € 5000, taking into consideration the time period of the additional sanction applicable and the economic situation of the offender)
- The attendance of training activities in the case of the ancillary sanction of driving disqualification.
In very serious infractions the suspension of the ancillary sanction is not permitted, but only special mitigation.​
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​If the accessory sanction applicable is suspended, in its execution, the defendant does not have to submit his driver's license or vehicle title for compliance purposes.
However, if during the period of suspension set out in the decision the defendant commits another serious or very serious infraction, the Highway Code or supplementary legislation either will require the practice of the sanctions with prohibition or disqualification from driving or if it is the cancellation of the driver's license is determined, the suspension of the execution of the sanction will be revoked and the defendant will have to comply with the ancillary sanction for the specified period and which was additionally imposed in the new decision.​
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​A driver is considered a repeat offender when he is sanctioned for the commission of the infraction with a fine and ancillary sanction after having been convicted for another infraction of the same type or having been convicted less than five years ago and also fined with the ancillary sanction.​
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It can be requested in the period granted for the presentation of the defense.​
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​No. If the defendant does not submit the appeal within the legal deadline (15 business days after the notification of the decision), the decision becomes final and you can no longer appeal, except if the defendant requests legal assistance, with the obligation to provide information on the proceeding on a timely basis.​
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In the event that the defendant wishes to respond to the decision issued by this Administrative Authority, the defendant, or the representative, who must attach the power of attorney for this purpose, may ask for a judicial/appellate review, within 15 business days following the notification of the administrative decision.
The appeal must be directed to the Judge of the Court of the Judicial District of the area where the infraction was committed, must be written in the Portuguese language and must meet certain legal formalities such as:
- Identification of the infraction number;
- Complete identification of the defendant
- Allegations (reasons for the appeal, i.e. that the grounds that the defendant considers relevant for his appeal);
- Conclusions (summary of the grounds alleged, aiming at this being easy and quickly understood by the Court);
- Signature by the defendant (pursuant to I.D.) or by a lawyer duly authorized for this purpose through a power of attorney. (The election of representative is not mandatory).
​Location for submission of the motion to deny:
- By registered mail to the National Road Safety Authority, located at the Science and Technology Park of Oeiras, Avenida de Casal de Cabanas, Urbanização de Cabanas Golf, n.º 1, Tagus Park, 2734-507 Barcarena,
or
- ​Personally at the Infraction Section of the District Command of the PSP or at the Citizen Service Office of District Command/Traffic Detachment of the GNR, of the area of residence of the defendant, for which the contact information may be consulted here in​​​.
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Yes.
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- ​Request process consultation (see question Nº.17);
- ​Request administrative offense copy and proof of notification (see question Nº.19).
- ​Request process consultation (see question Nº.17);
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​To enroll in the training, you must contact the PRP - Portuguese Road Safety Service, within 15 business days after the time period has ended to appeal the decision of the administrative authority – 15 business days after its notification to the defendant.
Contact Information:
Email: psi@prp.pt​​
Telephone: 210 036 600
Fax: 210 036 649
Address: Estrada da Luz, nº90, 1º andar, 1600-160 Lisboa
Enrollment in the training activity is optional. If you do not intend to attend the training activity, you should submit your driver's license.
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Yes. The suspension of the ancillary sanction prohibiting driving is always revoked if during the respective period of suspension:
- You perform sanctioned actions with a prohibition or disqualification from driving;
- The offender commits serious or very serious infractions;
- The offender does not comply with the duties imposed (provision of guarantee of good conduct, attend training activities);
- ​​​Is the driver's license is cancelled.
Revocation will result in complying with the sanction whose execution was suspended and the enforcement of the guarantee, if it has been provided, which reverts to the administrative entity.
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​The payment of the fine in installments can be requested at any stage of the proceeding, up to sending of the proceeding to the court for execution, by filling out the form ​approved​​ by the office of the President of the ANSR (link) and is granted only if the following conditions are fulfilled:
- The fine provided for the infraction must be of an amount greater than or equal to € 200 (200 euros) – art. 175 no. 2, section d) of the Highway Code;
- ​The amount of each installment shall be not less than € 50 and it must be for a period which may not exceed 12 months.
Failure to pay one of the installments will cause the termination of the possibility to pay in this manner, and payment for the entire amount will be required.​
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​The costs are due:
- When the voluntary payment of the fine is made outside of the deadline of 15 business days after notification of the infraction;
- ​​In cases where a defense is presented, a request for payment in installments is made or any request concerning the method of complying with the applicable ancillary sanction is submitted.
The minimum amount of the costs of the infraction is € 52,50, corresponding to 1/2 of an Account Unit (the value of Account Unit is € 105.00). To this value can be added other amounts expressly provided for by law and which are the responsibility of the defendant.​
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No. Only the courts may apply court fees.​​
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The amount paid is returned in the following cases:
- Absolution;
- ​​When there is no conviction, provided that the same amount has been paid as a guarantee and a defense has been submitted within the legal deadline.​
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The payment of the fine and / or costs can be made by international bank transfer in local bank partner of ANSR and IGCP, depending on the country of residence, as indicated in the instructions list.
The infraction number must be referenced in the description of the transfer after the IBAN as mentioned in the instructions list.
The documents proving the transfer should be sent to (indicating the number(s) of infraction(s) in the subject):​
Email: receita@ansr.pt​​
Mail address:
National Authority for Road Safety (ANSR)
Tagus Park- Av.ª Casal Cabanas
Urbanização Cabanas Golf nº 1
2743-507 Barcarena​Email: mail@ansr.pt
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- ​Send your driver's license/vehicle document by registered mail, to the address of the National Road Safety Authority;
or
- ​​​Submit the driver's license/vehicle document, in person or through a duly authorized person to the Infraction Section of the District Command of the PSP or to a Citizen Services Office of District Command/Traffic Detachment of the GNR​, of the area of residence, for which the contact information you can consult here in​​.
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In the act of supervision:
- If in any act of supervision, it becomes apparent that you failed to meet the financial penalties applied definitively, you should proceed immediately to make payment and if you do not do so, you are subject to the following consequences:
- Provisional seizure of your driver's license (if the sanction relates to the driver) and/or of the vehicle documents (if the sanction relates to the holder of the vehicle identification document) and issuance of the respective replacement documents for those, for a period of 15 days, during which the amounts owed must be paid;
- ​If payment is not made in this period, the vehicle will be impounded for payment of the sums due.
- If in any act of supervision, it becomes apparent that you did not comply with the ancillary sanction of driving disqualification or vehicle impoundment, the driver's license or vehicle title, as the case may be, will be seized for the purposes of complying with the respective sanction.
In the administrative entity:
- Failure to pay the fine and/or costs applied by administrative decision will entail the referral of the case to court for enforcement;
- Non-compliance with the ancillary sanction applied by administrative decision entails a crime of contempt.
- If in any act of supervision, it becomes apparent that you failed to meet the financial penalties applied definitively, you should proceed immediately to make payment and if you do not do so, you are subject to the following consequences:
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If the proceeding has already been referred to court for enforcement, the defendant should contact the Clerk of the Court to ask how, in this case, he may stop the enforcement.​​
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​If the offender holds a driver's license issued less than 3 years, this will maintain its provisional nature until the decision has become final or res judicata and expires if the defendant is convicted for the commission of a traffic crime, of a very serious or serious infraction, with this implying that the respective individual will have to take a special examination, if he wishes to be able to drive motor vehicles again.​​
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To apply for a certificate of registration of driver infractions (RIC) you can use the form available here.​
Who may apply:
The driver himself or his attorney, duly authorized for this purpose may request the RIC certificate, and this is issued by the National Road Safety Authority.
Location for submission:
The application must be sent by mail to the headquarters of the National Road Safety Authority or delivered to the Infractions Section of the District Command of the PSP or the Citizen Services Office of the District Command/Traffic Detachment of the GNR, of the area of residence of the applicant.
The application shall be accompanied by:
- Photocopy of identity card/citizen's card and letter or driving license;
- ​Payment of a fee of 25 € per page, by check or money order made payable to the National Road Safety Authority. If the fee is of higher amount, due to the certificate containing more than one page, you must pay the difference, by the same means, at the time of the obtaining the certificate or when so required by the ANSR.
The applicant must also indicate how he intends to obtain the certificate, such as:
By mail, with the payment of the fee of 21 €, which must be added to the total amount of the certificate.
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​You should go personally to the Department of offenses at the District Command of the PSP or the Office of Citizen Assistance District Command/Traffic Detachment of GNR, whose addresses can be found here​.
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​Statutory limitation of the proceeding:
The proceeding for traffic infractions shall terminate due to statutory limitation, provided that two years have elapsed since the commission of the infraction.
Without prejudice to the application of the system of suspension and interruption referred to in the general scheme of mere administrative infractions, the limitation of the proceeding due to traffic infractions is interrupted with the notification to the defendant of a conviction.
Limitation of fines and ancillary sanctions:
The fines and ancillary sanctions are terminated through statutory limitation after the period of two years counting from the final decision or res judicata of the conviction.
Traffic
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- ​For health reasons
People, who for serious health reasons have a medical certificate of exemption, given free of charge by the health authority in the area of their residence, are exempt from the use of seat belts.
This medical certificate shall state the expiration date, contain a symbol itself (a dummy with a seatbelt) and should be shown to controlling authorities whenever it is requested.
- For professional reasons
Taxi drivers, drivers of police vehicles and fire department vehicles as well as firefighters and law enforcement officers transported in those vehicles are exempted from wearing seat belts.
- Other cases
Contact the Institute of Mobility and Land Transport.
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- ​Jurisdiction for signs
Signs placed on public roads are under the jurisdiction and responsibility of the respective management entity. In the case of municipal roads, the authority falls upon the City Hall, the authority for national roads is Estradas de Portugal, SA, and on highways, the authority is the respective concessionaire.
- Traffic signs
The signs to be placed on public roads must correspond to those established in the regulation of Traffic signs, approved by Regulatory Decree nº. 22-A/98 of October 1.
Questions relating to road traffic regulations and the interpretation of signs placed on public roads should be addressed in writing to the National Road Safety Authority, Road Prevention Unit, at fax Nº. 354 21 21 29.
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​Questions relating to road traffic rules and the interpretation of signs placed on public roads should be addressed in writing to the National Road Safety Authority, Road Safety Unit, at fax nº. 354 21 21 29.​
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​The performance of sporting events on public highways is regulated in Decree Nº. 22/2005, of March 24, and requires permission from the City Hall where the event is carried out, and favorable opinions from the GNR and PSP must be obtained previously.​
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People whose disability causes them reduced mobility, being able to park, on the public highway, in the places indicated by signs, i.e. marked with the sign H1a - authorized parking, complemented with the additional panel of model 11d, may take advantage of this card. The card must be placed in the front windshield of the vehicle carrying the person with disabilities so that it is visible from the outside (Decree-Law Nº. 307/2003 of December 10). The card is issued by the Institute of Mobility and Land Transport.​​
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​The movement of heavy vehicles used for the transport of dangerous goods which are to be marked with orange panel is prohibited between the 6:00 pm and the 9:00 pm on Fridays, Sundays, national holidays and on the eve of national holidays.
Directive Nº. 331-B/98, of June 1.
The movement is furthermore prohibited of vehicles bearing special transit permits of Directive Nº. 387/99, of May 26, which approved the Regulation of Special Transit Permits, as amended by Directive Nº. 472/2007, of June 22.​
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Pursuant to art. 84 – Prohibition of the use of certain devices – of the Highway Code, it is prohibited to use sound receivers and radiotelephone apparatus unless equipped with a headset or microphone with speakerphone system, whose use does not involve continuous handling. The use of mobile phones equipped with two headsets is prohibited.
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​In accordance with section g) of nº. 3 of article 56 the load transported in vehicles used for the transportation of passengers or mixed transport, may not go beyond the outside contours of the vehicle and the correct identification of signaling devices and lighting and the license plate must be safeguarded.
Consequently, bikes must be transported preferentially on the roof of vehicles. However, taking into consideration the provisions of c) of nº. 1 of article 13 of the Regulation of Special Transit Permits, approved by Directive Nº. 472/2007, of June 22, if they do not go beyond the width of the vehicle, do not cover the license plates, as well as preventing the ability to identify signaling devices and lighting of the vehicle, nor exceed 450 mm at the rear beyond the contour of the vehicle, as an exception, these may be transported on the rear provided that these conditions are respected.​
Reimbursements by transfer
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​The ANSR has several means of contact to validate and reimburse incorrect payments (due to overpayment or due to an administrative decision) or to return the guarantee. The request for reimbursement of an overpayment must be sent only by the offender himself and never by third parties. The reimbursement shall be made only by bank transfer.
What to do in case of a mistake in payment of the fine:To facilitate the process of reimbursement, we will explain to you then the necessary steps:
- The offender should contact the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR) requesting the respective return through the following means:
- Via e-mail: mail@ansr.pt
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Via mail to:
National Road Safety Authority
Management and Operations Support Group
Tagus Park - Avª Casal de Cabanas
Urbanização Cabanas Golf nº 1
2734-507 Barcarena
- He must make certain that the following elements are sent:
- copy of infraction document (document no., in the case of a guarantee);
- copy of proof of payment;
- Nº. of Identification Document or Citizen Card;
- Taxpayer nº.;
- Bank identification number.
Note: Only after receipt of the above documentation will be possible to return the amount in question.
- The offender should contact the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR) requesting the respective return through the following means: