Monaco’s newly adopted road-safety law has now moved decisively from legislation to enforcement, with the publication of a ministerial decision authorising preventive roadside checks throughout the Christmas and New Year period…
Signed on December 17, 2025, the decision gives concrete effect to Law No. 1.582 of November 14, marking a significant shift in how dangerous driving is policed in the Principality.
For the first time, the Minister of State has formally activated the law’s most far-reaching provision: the ability for police to carry out preventive alcohol and drug screenings without the need for a prior traffic offence. The decision explicitly cites the festive period as a heightened risk, noting increased alcohol consumption, large public events, and a surge in visitors, particularly younger drivers, using motor vehicles late at night.
Preventive checks will be conducted across the entire territory during defined time windows, including late-night and early-morning hours on weekends and public holidays, extending through to January 4, 2026. Drivers may be screened for blood alcohol levels, signs of intoxication, or the presence of narcotics, even in the absence of erratic driving or visible impairment.
The legal justification is unambiguous. The government stresses that driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.80 g/l or higher, or under the influence of drugs, represents a direct danger to both residents and visitors. The decision also reinforces the Minister of State’s general police powers to act preventively where public safety is at stake.
Coming just weeks after the law’s adoption, the move sends a clear message: the era of reactive enforcement is over. Monaco is now prioritising early intervention, deterrence, and visibility; particularly at times when the consequences of dangerous driving have historically been most severe.
