The Ministry of Internal Affairs in North Macedonia is upgrading its 'Safe City' surveillance infrastructure to include the automated tracking of foreign license plates. Minister of Interior Pançe Toshkovski confirmed that this expansion aims to close a long-standing loophole that often allowed foreign-registered vehicles to avoid traffic violation penalties.
Ensuring Enforcement Parity
The primary goal of this initiative is to ensure that all motorists, regardless of where their vehicle is registered, are held accountable for traffic infractions. Currently, domestic drivers face automated fines processed through the camera network, while foreign drivers have frequently avoided these consequences due to a lack of integration between traffic violation databases and border control systems.
"We are committed to creating a system where traffic safety applies equally to everyone on our roads," stated Minister Toshkovski.
Technical Upgrades and Implementation
The upgrade relies on advanced Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology integrated into the existing camera network. Key aspects of the rollout include:
- Real-time Monitoring: The system will automatically identify vehicles with foreign plates and log violations as they occur.
- Border Synchronization: The Ministry is finalizing the integration of the violation database with border crossing points to ensure that outstanding fines are addressed upon entry or exit.
- Ongoing Deployment: As of June 4, 2026, the system is in the final stages of technical implementation, with full operational capacity expected to be achieved as part of the ongoing expansion of the 'Safe City' project.
This move is part of a broader push by the North Macedonian government to digitize law enforcement and enhance road safety through modern technological solutions.
