Amendments to Bulgaria's Traffic Act, passed at first reading in Parliament on Thursday, ban foreigners from permanently driving cars with Bulgarian registration plates.  

If the amendments come into effect, the Bulgarian car registration will have to be terminated and the plates returned. The violators would face a fine of BGN 300. 

The practice of citizens of neighbouring EU countries to buy and register their cars in Bulgaria was fairly common, mostly due to lower prices, taxes and cheaper insurance in Bulgaria. 

Another new provision in the Traffic Act, which has been amended 50 times since 1999, envisions stiff fines of up to BGN 150 for an unattended wailing car alarm.

The amendments also include the requirement for cars with foreign plates to be registered in the local municipality, even if they remain with their foreign plates.

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