Greek traffic police seized 1,109 driving licenses and impounded 1,144 vehicles in a single week, part of an intensifying crackdown on drivers operating without valid licenses, authorities said, as thousands continue driving despite having their licenses revoked.
Attica Traffic Police issued 7,020 citations between August 24 and 31 alone, illustrating the scale of ongoing enforcement across the region.
Under Greece's new highway code, driving without a valid license carries a €700 administrative fine for private vehicles.
But when the license was revoked due to a prior traffic violation, offenders now face criminal penalties as well: up to one year in prison and a fine of at least €2,000. Courts may also bar violators from reapplying for a license for an additional three years.
Nationwide, 29,522 violations for driving without valid licensing were recorded in the first seven months of 2026, down slightly from 30,115 during the same period last year.
The figures include drivers who never obtained a license, those lacking the required license category, and those continuing to drive after having their license revoked.
The revised highway code has also sharply increased penalties for other offenses — using a mobile phone while driving now carries a €350 fine and a 30-day license suspension, with similar penalties for failing to wear a helmet.
Police say enforcement has moved beyond administrative penalties: any driver caught operating a vehicle during a suspension period now risks arrest, prosecution and potential imprisonment, with courts already issuing prison sentences in several cases, some suspended.