Last year, the police issued over 353,000 fines for traffic violations. This is a significant increase in just a few years. The number has never been this high before.

353,000 tickets is 95,000 more compared to 2023, corresponding to a 35 percent increase, and a new record high. According to the police, it’s not that drivers are becoming worse at following the rules.

“It doesn’t have to do with people breaking more traffic laws. At the same time, we haven’t become stricter, it’s more about small adjustments,” says Petter Magnusson from the traffic police in Värmland to Carup.

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The police’s tighter controls means the number of tickets is also increasing. During the pandemic, both dropped but are now on the rise again.

According to Patrick Ström, a police inspector in Kungälv, it is difficult to say exactly why, but he thinks that the operations are more targeted today and that there are higher quantitative goals, while they still want the tickets to be of high quality and have an effect in the right places.

Speeding Most Common

The police have become more tactical, positioning themselves in areas where more drivers tend to break the law. According to Magnusson, it is important to follow societal patterns and be present where needed. Putting resources on roads and areas most affected by traffic crimes has produced significant results.

Certain offenses are decreasing, such as driving without a license. Over three years, this has dropped by 26 percent, but the number of DUIs remains steady each year.

However, speeding is by far the most common reason for being fined—of the 353,000 tickets issued in 2025, 235,000 were for speeding.

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