Traffic Law Amended: Election Council Members' Tenure Extended, Zoning Amnesty Granted

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The Planning and Budget Commission at the Great National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) has passed the Bill Introducing Amendments to the Highway Traffic Law and Some Other Laws.

With the law, tenures of six members of the Supreme Election Council (YSK), including Chair Sadi Güven have been extended. The members' period in office was to end in January 2019.

Güven previously came under fire because of his statements regarding the past elections and his decision on considering unsealed voting papers valid in the referendum on April 16, 2017.

Pardon for unlicensed houses near Bosphorus

Another change which has been accepted with the same law is related to the unlicensed and improper buildings.

With the change in the law, building registration documents known as 'zoning amnesty' can be issued for the unlicensed buildings on the coastal line or view zone of the Bosphorus in İstanbul.

Traffic fines will not increase

As per the amendments introduced to the Highway Traffic Law, traffic fines will not increase in the forthcoming year.

Those who passed the first and second Bosphorus bridges in İstanbul with a vehicle belonging to a banned category will not pay fines. The law includes the period beginning on November 2, 2016. Those who have already paid the fines will be able to get repayments.

Another change introduced by the law is regarding the establishment of 14 metropolitan municipalities and 27 new district municipalities. (OI/EKN/VK)