New driving laws valid from January 2005
Translated by Claudia Pereira for the “Americans in Portugal” club

Fines for excessive speeds will increase and also there will be a distinction between fines in urban areas and fines outside those areas

Within urban areas
Over limit 20km/h €60 to €300
Over limit 20-40km/h €120 to € 600
Over limit 40-60km/h €300 to €1500
Over limit 60+km/h €500 to €2500

Outside urban areas
Over limit 20km/h €60 to €300
Over limit 30-60km/h €120 to €600
Over limit 60-80km/h €300 to €1500
Over limit 80+km/h €500 to €2500

Alcohol
The limit for alcohol blood level remains 0,5g/l.

Blood alcohol level Fine

0,5 to 0,8g/l €700
0,8 to 1,2g/l €2000
over 1,2g/l €2500 and imprisonment for two years

Motorways
Minimum speed on motorways will increase from 40km/h to 50km/h. Breaches of this rule will incur a fine of €300.

Overtaking on the right-hand side will be punishable by a fine of between €250 and €1250.

Parking
Parking on pedestrian crossings will be considered a serious offence, and may be punished by withdrawal of the offender’s driving licence for a period from one month to one year.

Disregard for traffic signs
Disregarding a stop sign, a red light, or a signal from a traffic officer, or crossing a continuous line, will be considered serious offences and may be punished by withdrawal of the offender’s driving licence for a period from two months to two years.

Thrown objects
The driver or other occupant of a vehicle who throws objects from the vehicle will commit an offence, punishable by a fine of €60 to €300.

Use of a retro-reflecting vest
In addition to use of the reflective triangle to signal danger, it will be compulsory to use a retro-reflecting vest. Its color and characteristics have not yet been determined. Failure to use one can incur a fine of €120 to €600.

Transport of children
It will be prohibited to travel with children under the age of 12 in the front seat, except for babies in appropriate seats and facing the rear of the vehicle. Failure to observe this rule will incur a fine of €120 to €600. Carrying children unsecured by a seatbelt is a serious offence and will be punishable by a fine of €120 to €600.

Payment of fines
Payment of fines will take place immediately, i.e., at the time of the violation. The vehicle can be impounded if the driver refuses to pay. A driver wishing to appeal must leave as deposit the established minimum value of the fine.

The period for appeal and payment of fines that are not subject to immediate payment will be reduced to 15 days.

In addition to the court, the Director Geral de Viação can direct that a driving licence be withdrawn.

Payment of fines over €160 can be requested to be made in instalments.

Use of cell phones
The use of cell phones without a hands-free kit or an earphone will be a serious offence punishable by the loss of the driving licence for a period from one month to one year, or a fine of €120 to €600, or both.

Inspection of the vehicle
Failure to carry out the statutory regular vehicle roadworthy inspection will be punishable by a fine of €250 to €1250.

Insurance
Using a vehicle without appropriate insurance will be punishable by a fine of €500 to €2500.

aaahh very nice and how many will be obeyed or enforced???

NON......and all they have to do is start educating ..and stopping the numerous idiots we see daily overtaking at breakneck speeds after tail gating....swinging out into oncoming traffic.........a simple and cheap effort to do this would cut traffic accidents by a huge amount.........On seconf thoughts why not sack whoever is in charge of roads......and put in somebody that has at least a little idea of the job to be done.....

There seems to be no mention of the two second separation rule - does anyone know if that is a "fine-able" offence? It is a little difficult to prove in a court of law but by golly it is dangerous and drives me up the wall when these people tailgate you at high speed (or at any speed for that matter).

“the two second separation rule” ?…….never heard of that one…..some kind of kamikaze manoeuvre is it?
I’m surprised to see “Overtaking on the right-hand side will be punishable”…is this a new law, or are they just increasing the penalty?

We have spent our summer holidays in the Algarve for the last three years, and everytime we had a hired car to explore the countryside. I know it has been said before, the roads can be dangerous, and one certainly has to be careful. But can some one please explain the Portuguese rule regarding priority at unmarked junctions? I’ve been told we have to give way to traffic approaching from our rightside? If this is true, I doesn’t make sense to me, I would have though that if they must live without signs and white line, best give way to traffic on your left as you would on a mini roundabout. Anyway I always stop and give way to them all.

There's an interesting question Andrew - in my relatively modest experience there is one and only one rule of the road in the Algarve and that is "always expect the unexpected" otherwise known as "always watch your a##e.

The two second rule - you should be at least two seconds behind the car in front while driving. This can be guaged by a lampost or static object on the side of the road, and counting between the car in front and yourself. Both my girls were taught this when learning to drive.

2 seconds
too close for comfort especially when looking at lamp posts

Lesley Jean wrote: The two second rule - you should be at least two seconds behind the car in front while driving. This can be guaged by a lampost or static object on the side of the road, and counting between the car in front and yourself. Both my girls were taught this when learning to drive.

I was also taught this when learning to drive, weren't you, digger? Otherwise known in the US as "tailgating".

no, not in my day.......
we were taught to drive carefully

It is a MINIMUM of 2 seconds, which if you do it correctly gives you to right distance to stop if the car in front stops quickly. Try it, you will be about three car lengths back from the one in front

It is meant as a rule of thumb and does make sense - at 30mph you will be leaving a gap of 13 metres, but at 70mph the gap will be 32 metres (try leaving that kind of gap on the M25 in the rush hour and see how many people pull into it!)

Blood alcohol level Fine

0,5 to 0,8g/l €700
0,8 to 1,2g/l €2000
over 1,2g/l €2500 and imprisonment for two years

anyone know how much Sagres that is?
or how many 33cl bottles I can drink and drive legally?

Thimblefull I should think