Starting today, July 15, significant changes to the law on administrative offenses (priestupok) have taken effect in Slovakia. Maximum fines for a number of everyday violations have increased by hundreds of percent, and instead of money, people may now be sent to clean streets.
What You Will Pay More For
For a long time, fines in Slovakia were considered too low – many had not changed since the 1990s. The government decided that the old amounts no longer scared anyone and did not even cover inflation. From now on, punishments for common offenses will hit your wallet much harder:
- Disturbing public order. Noise after 10 PM (rušenie nočného pokoja) or throwing trash on the ground instead of in a bin will now cost up to 300 euros instead of the previous 100 euros.
- Illegal business. If you provide paid services without official registration – for example, doing manicures at home, repairing electronics, or driving people for money – the maximum fine has increased from 331 to 1000 euros.
- Causing harm to health and extremism. Causing harm to health through negligence is now punishable by a fine of up to 300 euros (it was 99 euros). Fines for acts of extremism have increased from 500 to 1000 euros.
- General violations. Any minor offense for which the law does not specify a separate amount will now cost up to 100 euros on the spot, instead of 33 euros.
Community Service Instead of Money
The main innovation for the Slovak punishment system is the introduction of minor community service. Cities and villages now have the right to assign offenders 20 to 150 hours of free work for the benefit of the community (for minors, 10 to 75 hours).
This decision will be applied in two cases: when a person does not have money to pay the fine, or when the local authority believes that simply paying is not enough for education. You will have to work during your free time within one year. This could include cleaning streets, maintaining parks, or helping social services or utility companies.
If an offender ignores the assigned work, the case will become criminal. Refusal to perform the work can lead to prosecution under the article concerning obstruction of the execution of an official decision.
What This Means for Ukrainians
The new rules apply to everyone living or staying in Slovakia. Special attention should be paid to two everyday aspects:
- Observing quiet hours. Neighbors in Slovakia are very sensitive to noise and often call the police for loud music, renovations, or noisy gatherings after 10 PM. On weekends and holidays, the rules are even stricter, and some cities also have quiet hours during the day. Now, such a call could cost you 300 euros, and repeated violations risk community service.
- Working "under the table." Many people who have moved to Slovakia look for clients for their services through social media. Fines for providing services without registering a business or having official employment have become very high. Tax and trade inspection authorities regularly monitor local online groups.
A full list of all updated penalties can be found in the Refresher article, and a detailed explanation of the new powers of local authorities can be found on the website of the Ministry of Interior of Slovakia.
