Fines to be able to be paid half during 72 hours after notification in Moldova

Chisinau, 26 April /MOLDPRES/ - Fines will be able to be paid half during 72 hours after the moment of notifying the person sanctioned, under a decision approved by the Constitutional Court today.

The Court declared unconstitutional the stipulation which allows the payment of half of the fines in the first 72 hours “after the moment of their establishment.”  

The judge who lifted the exception of unconstitutionality said that, in reality, fined persons have at their disposal less than 72 hours to pay a half of the fine, because of the delay in the mail deliveries, in the case of the persons who do not pay the fine on-the-spot.   

The contesting of this provision from the Contravention Code has at its basis a pending case at the Balti Court concerning a woman who was selling food products at the entrance into a Balti-based market without having a permit to this effect. After receiving the letter reading that she must pay a fine, the plaintiff had no time to pay a half of the fine, as the 72 hours after the ascertaining of the infringement had passed because of delay in mail deliveries.  

After decision has been pronounced, the parliament is to make amendments to the Contravention Code, so that the phrase “starting the moment of the fine’s establishment” is changes into “starting the moment of notifying the person sanctioned.” 

The Constitutional Court’s ruling is final, cannot be subjected to any appeal, enters into force on the date of adoption and is published in Moldova’s Official Journal (Monitorul Oficial).  

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor M. Jantovan)