Law on Misdemeanours

(1) In this Law, for the purpose of protecting public order, general morality, public health, the environment and the economic order;

a) the general principles relating to misdemeanours,

b) the types and consequences of the administrative sanctions that may be applied in response to misdemeanours,

c) the decision-making process in respect of misdemeanours,

d) the legal remedies against decisions concerning administrative sanctions,

e) the principles relating to the enforcement of administrative sanction decisions,

have been laid down, and various misdemeanours have been defined.

(1) The term misdemeanour means an unlawful act in response to which the law provides for the application of an administrative sanction.

Amended: 6/12/2006, Law No. 5560, Art. 31

(1) The following provisions of this Law;

a) the provisions concerning legal remedies against administrative sanction decisions, where there is no provision to the contrary in other laws,

b) the other general provisions, in respect of all acts requiring the sanction of an administrative fine or forfeiture (transfer of ownership to the public),

shall apply.

(1) Which acts constitute a misdemeanour may be expressly defined in the law; in addition, the content of a framework provision whose scope and conditions are determined by the law may also be filled in by general and regulatory acts of the administration.

(2) The type, duration and amount of the sanctions imposed in response to a misdemeanour may be determined only by law.

(1) The provisions of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237 dated 26.9.2004 concerning application in time shall also apply to misdemeanours. However, as regards the enforcement of decisions concerning the administrative sanctions prescribed in response to misdemeanours, the rule of immediate application shall prevail.

(2) A misdemeanour shall be deemed to have been committed at the time the offender performs the act or omission. The time at which the result occurs shall not be taken into account in this respect.

(1) The provisions of Article 8 of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237 concerning application in place shall also apply to misdemeanours. However, cases in respect of which laws contain provisions to the contrary are reserved.

(1) A misdemeanour may be committed by an act or by an omission. For a misdemeanour committed by omission to exist, the person must be under a legal obligation to perform a certain act.

(1) An administrative sanction may also be imposed on a legal person for a misdemeanour committed, within the scope of his or her duty, by a person acting as its organ or representative, or by a person who, although not an organ or representative, has assumed a duty within the framework of the activities of the legal person.

(2) An administrative sanction may also be imposed on the natural person represented for a misdemeanour committed by a person acting in the capacity of representative in connection with that capacity. For a misdemeanour committed by a person working in a business belonging to a natural person within the framework of that activity, an administrative sanction may also be imposed on the owner of the business.

(3) The provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall also apply in cases where the law requires special characteristics in the organ or representative or in the person represented.

(4) The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall also apply where the transaction forming the basis of the organ, representation or service relationship is not legally valid.

(1) Except where the law expressly provides otherwise, misdemeanours may be committed both intentionally and negligently.

(1) The provisions of the Turkish Penal Code concerning cases of mistake shall apply only to misdemeanours committed intentionally.

(1) An administrative fine may not be imposed on a child who had not completed the age of fifteen at the time of committing the act.

(2) An administrative fine shall not be imposed on a person who, due to mental illness, is unable to perceive the legal meaning and consequences of the act committed, or whose ability to direct his or her behaviour in relation to that act is significantly diminished.

(1) Except where this Law provides otherwise, the provisions of the Turkish Penal Code concerning grounds of justification and grounds excluding culpability shall also apply to misdemeanours.

(1) An attempt to commit a misdemeanour shall not be punished. However, cases where the relevant law provides that an attempt may also be punished are reserved. In such case, the provisions of the Turkish Penal Code concerning attempt to commit an offence and voluntary abandonment shall also apply to misdemeanours.

(1) Where more than one person participates in the commission of a misdemeanour, an administrative fine shall be imposed on each of them as an offender.

(2) In cases where the quality of a special offender is required, an administrative fine shall also be imposed as an offender on a person who participates in the misdemeanour but does not possess that quality.

(3) For participation in a misdemeanour, the existence of an act committed intentionally and unlawfully is sufficient. An administrative fine shall be imposed on a person participating in the commission of the misdemeanour regardless of whether the others are liable.

(4) Where an act defined by law as an offence in respect of a person having the quality of a special offender and as a misdemeanour in respect of other persons is committed jointly by persons having and not having that quality, the provisions on participation in an offence shall apply.

(1) Where more than one misdemeanour is committed by a single act and only administrative fines are prescribed in the definitions of those misdemeanours, the heaviest administrative fine shall be imposed. Where administrative sanctions other than an administrative fine are also prescribed by law in relation to those misdemeanours, a decision shall be made to apply each of those sanctions.

(2) Where the same misdemeanour is committed more than once, a separate administrative fine shall be imposed for each misdemeanour. In misdemeanours that may be committed by a continuous act, the act shall be deemed a single act until an administrative sanction decision is made on that account.

(3) Where an act is defined both as a misdemeanour and as an offence, a sanction may be imposed only for the offence. However, in cases where no sanction can be imposed for the offence, a sanction shall be imposed for the misdemeanour.

(1) The administrative sanctions to be applied in response to misdemeanours consist of administrative fines and administrative measures.

(2) Administrative measures are forfeiture (transfer of ownership to the public) and the other measures set out in the relevant laws.

(1) An administrative fine may be fixed or proportional.

(2) An administrative fine may also be determined by indicating its lower and upper limits in the law. In such case, in determining the amount of the administrative fine, the degree of wrongfulness of the misdemeanour committed and the fault and economic situation of the offender shall be taken into account together.

(3) Amended: 6/12/2006, Law No. 5560, Art. 32 The portion of administrative fines imposed by the public administrations listed in Schedules (I), (II) and (III) annexed to the Public Financial Management and Control Law No. 5018 dated 10/12/2003 other than the rate determined in their relevant laws after 1/6/2005, as well as administrative fines imposed by chief public prosecutor's offices and courts, shall be recorded as revenue to the General Budget. Administrative fines imposed by social security institutions and local administrations shall be recorded as revenue to their own budgets. Administrative fines imposed by other public institutions and organisations shall be recorded as revenue to the General Budget, without prejudice to the provisions of their relevant laws. Fines imposed by professional organisations having the status of public institutions shall be subject to the provisions of their own laws. Where the economic situation of the person is not favourable, it may be decided that the administrative fine be paid within one year in four equal instalments, provided that the first instalment is paid in advance. Where the instalments are not paid on time and in full, the whole of the remaining portion of the administrative fine shall be collected.

(4) Amended: 6/12/2006, Law No. 5560, Art. 32 Final decisions concerning administrative fines which are to be recorded as revenue to the General Budget shall be sent to the collection offices to be determined by the Ministry of Finance, for collection in accordance with the provisions of the Law No. 6183 dated 21/7/1953 on the Procedure for the Collection of Public Receivables. Administrative fines imposed by social security institutions and local administrations shall, unless their relevant laws provide otherwise, be collected by themselves in accordance with the provisions of the Law on the Procedure for the Collection of Public Receivables. Administrative fines imposed by other public institutions and organisations which are not required to be recorded as revenue to the General Budget shall, unless their relevant laws contain special provisions, be collected in accordance with the general provisions.

(5) Within one month at the latest after the administrative fine has been collected in full, the relevant public institution or organisation shall be notified of the situation.

(6) A public official imposing an administrative fine for a misdemeanour shall, if the person concerned consents, immediately collect it himself or herself. Amended sentences: 1/7/2022, Law No. 7417, Art. 46 Administrative fines for which no payment period is regulated in their laws shall be paid within one month from service. Where the administrative fine is paid within the payment period, a reduction of 25% shall be applied to the fine. Added sentence: 1/7/2022, Law No. 7417, Art. 46 Making the payment shall not affect the right of the person to apply for legal remedies against that decision.

(7) Administrative fines shall be applied, with effect from the beginning of each calendar year, increased by the revaluation rate determined and announced for that year pursuant to the provisions of repeated Article 298 of the Tax Procedure Law No. 213 dated 4.1.1961. In calculating the administrative fine in this manner, fractions of one Turkish Lira shall be disregarded. The provision of this paragraph shall not apply to administrative fines of a proportional nature.

(1) Forfeiture of goods constituting the subject of the misdemeanour or obtained through its commission may be ordered only in cases expressly provided by law.

(2) The forfeiture decision may, in respect of the goods;

a) their being rendered unusable,

b) the alteration of their nature,

c) their being used only in a certain manner,

be deferred for a certain period subject to the fulfilment of one of these conditions. If the condition is not fulfilled within the specified period, forfeiture of the goods shall be ordered.

(3) Until the forfeiture decision becomes final, the goods may be seized by the relevant public institution or organisation, or may be left in the custody of persons.

(4) Ownership of the goods shall pass to the relevant public institution or organisation in cases expressly provided by law, and otherwise to the State.

(5) In order for forfeiture of the goods to be ordered, it is not necessary that an administrative fine or another administrative sanction decision has been imposed on the offender.

(6) Forfeiture of the substitute value may also be ordered.

(7) Forfeited goods shall be destroyed if it is not possible to dispose of them in another manner.

(8) The forfeiture decision shall be enforced once it becomes final.

(1) The provisions in other laws concerning sanctions prescribed in response to a misdemeanour for a specified period, such as;

a) prohibition from exercising a profession or trade,

b) closure of the business premises,

c) withdrawal of a licence or permit,

d) withholding of a land, sea or air vehicle from traffic or navigation,

are reserved until amendments in conformity with the provisions of this Law are made in the relevant laws.

(1) Where the limitation period for investigation has expired, no administrative fine may be imposed on a person for the misdemeanour.

(2) Amended: 6/12/2006, Law No. 5560, Art. 33 The limitation period for investigation is;

a) five, for misdemeanours requiring an administrative fine of one hundred thousand Turkish Liras or more,

b) four, for misdemeanours requiring an administrative fine of fifty thousand Turkish Liras or more,

c) three, for misdemeanours requiring an administrative fine of less than fifty thousand Turkish Liras,

years. Added sentence: 13/2/2011, Law No. 6111, Art. 22 However, where, for an act requiring an administrative fine as specified in the Military Service Law No. 1111 (excluding Article 89 thereof), the Law No. 2839 on the Election of Members of Parliament, the Road Traffic Law No. 2918, the Law No. 2972 on the Election of Local Administrations and Neighbourhood Headmen and Councils of Elders, the Law No. 3376 on the Submission of Constitutional Amendments to Referendum, the Road Transport Law No. 4925, the Civil Registration Services Law No. 5490 and the Law No. 6001 on the Organisation and Duties of the General Directorate of Highways, an administrative fine has not been imposed and served by the end of the last day of the calendar year following the date on which the act was committed, no administrative sanction decision may be made, and those already made shall lapse.

(3) The limitation period for misdemeanours requiring a proportional administrative fine is eight years.

(4) The limitation period shall begin to run upon the commission of the act in the definition of the misdemeanour or upon the occurrence of the result.

(5) Where the act constituting the misdemeanour also constitutes an offence, the provisions on limitation of prosecution relating to the offence shall apply.

(1) Where the limitation period for enforcement has expired, the decision concerning the administrative fine or forfeiture may no longer be enforced.

(2) The limitation period for enforcement is;

a) seven, where an administrative fine of fifty thousand Turkish Liras or more has been imposed,

b) five, where an administrative fine of twenty thousand Turkish Liras or more has been imposed,

c) four, where an administrative fine of ten thousand Turkish Liras or more has been imposed,

d) three, where an administrative fine of less than ten thousand Turkish Liras has been imposed,

years.

(3) The limitation period for forfeiture is ten years.

(4) Amended: 23/7/2010, Law No. 6009, Art. 37 The limitation period shall begin to run from the beginning of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the decision becomes final.

(5) The limitation period shall not run where, by virtue of a provision of law, enforcement of the administrative sanction cannot be commenced or carried out.

(1) The administrative boards, authorities or public officials expressly designated in the relevant law are competent to make an administrative sanction decision for a misdemeanour.

(2) In cases not expressly provided by law, the highest superior of the relevant public institution or organisation is competent in this regard.

(3) Administrative boards, authorities or public officials are competent to make administrative sanction decisions only for misdemeanours committed in places falling within the area of duty of the relevant public institution or organisation.

(4) The rules on territorial jurisdiction of the Code of Criminal Procedure No. 5271 dated 4.12.2004 shall also apply to misdemeanours.

(1) The public prosecutor is competent to make an administrative sanction decision for a misdemeanour in cases expressly provided by law.

(2) Where the public prosecutor learns, within the scope of an investigation initiated for an offence, that a misdemeanour has been committed, he or she may notify the relevant public institution or organisation of the situation, or may himself or herself make an administrative sanction decision.

(3) Where it is understood that the act subject to investigation constitutes a misdemeanour, the public prosecutor shall make an administrative sanction decision on that account. However, for this purpose, no administrative sanction decision must have been made by the relevant public institution or organisation.

(1) Where it is understood that the act subject to prosecution constitutes a misdemeanour, an administrative sanction decision shall be made by the court.

(1) In the report concerning the administrative sanction decision;

a) the identity and address of the person against whom the administrative sanction decision is made,

b) the misdemeanour act requiring the administrative sanction decision,

c) all evidence serving to prove that this act was committed,

d) the date of the decision and the identity of the public officials making the decision,

shall be clearly written. In addition, the act constituting the misdemeanour shall be described in the report, indicating the place and time of its commission.

(1) The administrative sanction decision shall be served on the person concerned in accordance with the provisions of the Notification Law No. 7201 dated 11.2.1959. The text of the notification shall clearly state the legal remedy available against this decision, the competent authority and the time limit.

(2) Where the administrative sanction decision is made in the presence of the natural person concerned, this shall be clearly stated in the report. After the person has been informed of the legal remedy, the competent authority and the time limit for applying against this decision, he or she shall be asked to sign the decision report. In the event of refusal to sign, this shall be clearly stated in the report. A copy of the decision report shall be given to the person.

(3) Administrative sanction decisions made against a legal person shall in all cases be served on the legal person concerned.

(4) Added: 18/5/2017, Law No. 7020, Art. 15 Administrative sanction decisions may be served electronically by the Ministry of Finance on behalf of those making the decisions, within the framework of protocols to be concluded between the Ministry of Finance and those making administrative sanction decisions, by using the technical infrastructure established pursuant to the provisions of Article 107/A of Law No. 213. Service effected electronically shall be deemed to have been made at the end of the fifth day following the date on which it reaches the electronic address of the addressee. Notifications made in this manner shall replace service under paragraph 1.

(1) An application may be made to the criminal court of peace (sulh ceza mahkemesi) against an administrative sanction decision concerning an administrative fine or forfeiture within fifteen days at the latest from the date of service or pronouncement of the decision. If no application is made within this period, the administrative sanction decision shall become final.

(2) Where this period has been missed due to force majeure, an application may be made against the decision within seven days at the latest from the date on which that cause ceases to exist. This application shall not prevent the decision from becoming final; however, the court may stay enforcement.

(3) The application shall be made by a petition to be submitted to the criminal court of peace in person, or by a legal representative or attorney. The application petition shall be submitted in two copies.

(4) The application petition shall clearly set out the information concerning the administrative sanction decision and the evidence put forward against this decision. The petition shall also set out, together with its supporting grounds, the force majeure that prevented the application from being made within the time limit.

(5) Amended: 6/12/2006, Law No. 5560, Art. 34 Where the administrative sanction decision is made by a court, only an objection may be lodged against this decision.

(6) Added: 6/12/2006, Law No. 5560, Art. 34 Where an administrative sanction decision is made on the ground that the act subject to investigation constitutes a misdemeanour rather than an offence, and an objection is lodged against the decision of non-prosecution, the application against the administrative sanction decision shall also be examined by the authority hearing that objection.

(7) Added: 6/12/2006, Law No. 5560, Art. 34 Where an administrative sanction decision is made on the ground that the act subject to prosecution constitutes a misdemeanour rather than an offence, and a legal remedy is sought against the judgment of acquittal rendered because the act does not constitute an offence, the objection against the administrative sanction decision shall also be examined by the authority hearing that legal remedy.

(8) Added: 6/12/2006, Law No. 5560, Art. 34 Where, within the scope of the procedure in which the administrative sanction decision was made, decisions falling within the jurisdiction of the administrative judiciary have also been made in respect of the same person, allegations of unlawfulness concerning the administrative sanction decision shall be heard by the administrative judicial authority together with the request for annulment of that procedure.

(1) Following the preliminary examination conducted by the court upon the application, it shall be decided:

a) where it is understood that the court lacks jurisdiction, that the file be sent to the competent criminal court of peace;

b) where it is understood that the application was not made within the time limit, that the administrative sanction decision which is the subject of the application is not among the decisions that may be examined by the criminal court of peace, or that the applicant has no right to apply, that the application be rejected on these grounds;

c) where the grounds listed in subparagraphs (a) and (b) do not exist, that the application be accepted on procedural grounds.

(This is the decision to be rendered.)

(2) Where the application is accepted on procedural grounds, the court shall serve a copy of the petition on the relevant public institution or body.

(3) The relevant public institution or body shall respond to the court within fifteen days at the latest from the date of service of the application petition. A copy of the entire procedural file relating to the administrative sanction which is the subject of the application shall be submitted to the court together with the response petition. The court may also request the original of the procedural file from the relevant public institution or body. The response petition shall be submitted in a number of copies exceeding by one the number of persons who applied against the administrative sanction decision.

(4) The court shall serve a copy of the response petition on the persons who made the application; upon request or of its own motion, it may summon the parties and hear them on a specified day and at a specified time. Care shall be taken that there is a period of at least one week between the day set for the hearing and the day on which service is to be made. The parties or their attorneys shall be present during the hearing. Failure to appear without an excuse shall not prevent a decision from being rendered in their absence. This matter shall be expressly stated in the notice of service.

(5) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to testimony, expert examination and on-site inspection shall also apply in relation to this application.

(6) At the hearing, in the following order, the applicant who is present and his or her attorney, the representative of the relevant public institution or body and the witnesses, if any, shall be heard, the expert report shall be read and the other evidence shall be presented.

(7) After hearing the persons concerned and presenting all the evidence, the court shall ask the party against whom the administrative sanction decision was rendered and who is present for his or her last word. The right to the last word may also be exercised by the legal representative or the attorney of the party against whom the administrative sanction decision was rendered. The court shall announce its final decision in the presence of the parties who are present.

(8) As its final decision, the court shall decide, regarding the administrative sanction decision:

a) on the ground that it is lawful, "that the application be rejected";

b) on the ground that it is unlawful, "that the administrative sanction decision be set aside".

(This is the decision to be rendered.)

(9) Added: 6/12/2006, Law No. 5560, Art. 35 Where an application is made against an administrative fine imposed for misdemeanours for which the lower and upper limits of the administrative fine are specified in the law, the court may also decide to accept the application by changing the amount of the administrative fine.

(10) Decisions rendered upon applications against administrative fines of up to and including fifteen thousand Turkish Lira shall be final.

(1) An objection may be lodged against the final decision rendered by the court in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure. This objection shall be made within two weeks at the latest from the date of service of the decision.

(2) The decision on the objection shall be rendered by examination on the file.

(3) The court shall decide, with respect to each objection, "that the objection be accepted" or "that the objection be rejected".

(4) The decision rendered by the court shall be served on the parties. Where the parties are represented by an attorney as proxy, no separate service shall be made on the parties.

(5) Amended: 31/3/2011, Law No. 6217, Art. 27 Where the administrative sanction decision is rendered by an assize court (ağır ceza mahkemesi), an objection may be lodged against that decision in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure.

(1) The person who has applied for legal remedy may withdraw his or her application until a decision is rendered on the matter. In the event of withdrawal, no further application may be made on the same matter.

(2) The relevant public institution or body may also, until a decision is rendered by the court, accept the application for legal remedy and revoke the administrative sanction decision.

(1) The application remedy against an administrative sanction decision shall not be subject to fees.

(2) All costs and attorney's fees arising from the application for legal remedy shall be paid by the party whose application or defence is rejected.

(1) A person who acts contrary to an order lawfully issued by the competent authorities for the purposes of judicial proceedings or for the protection of public security, public order or general health shall be imposed an administrative fine of one hundred Turkish Lira. This fine shall be decided by the authority that issued the order.

(2) This Article may be applied only in cases where there is an express provision in the relevant law.

(3) References made in other laws to Article 526 of the Turkish Criminal Code No. 765 dated 1.3.1926 shall be deemed to have been made to this Article.

(1) A person who engages in begging shall be imposed an administrative fine of fifty Turkish Lira. In addition, the income obtained from begging shall be seized and its confiscation shall be decided.

(2) For this misdemeanour, the administrative fine and seizure shall be decided by law enforcement officers or municipal police (zabıta) officers, and confiscation shall be decided by the local administrative chief (mülkî amir) or the municipal executive committee (belediye encümeni).

(1) A person who gambles shall be imposed an administrative fine of one thousand Turkish Lira. In addition, the income obtained from gambling shall be seized and its confiscation shall be decided.

(2) For this misdemeanour, the administrative fine and seizure shall be decided by law enforcement officers, and confiscation shall be decided by the local administrative chief.

(1) A person who, while drunk, behaves in a manner that disturbs the peace and tranquillity of others shall be imposed an administrative fine of fifty Turkish Lira by law enforcement officers. The person shall, in addition, be kept under control until the effect of drunkenness wears off.

(1) A person who causes noise in a manner that disturbs the peace and tranquillity of others shall be imposed an administrative fine of fifty Turkish Lira.

(2) Where this act is committed within the scope of the activity of a commercial enterprise, the natural or legal person owning the enterprise shall be imposed an administrative fine of one thousand Turkish Lira up to five thousand Turkish Lira.

(3) For this misdemeanour, the administrative fine shall be decided by law enforcement officers or municipal police officers.

(1) A person who disturbs others in order to sell goods or services shall be punished with an administrative fine of fifty Turkish Lira.

(2) Law enforcement officers or municipal police officers shall be competent to impose the administrative fine for this misdemeanour.

(1) A person who, without the express and written permission of the competent authorities, occupies squares, avenues, streets or pavements used by pedestrians, or offers goods for sale in such places, shall be imposed an administrative fine of fifty Turkish Lira by municipal police officers.

(2) A person who, without the express and written permission of the competent authorities, piles construction materials on squares, avenues, streets or pavements used by pedestrians shall be imposed an administrative fine of one hundred Turkish Lira up to five hundred Turkish Lira by municipal police officers.

(3) The provisions of special laws are reserved.

(1) A person who consumes tobacco products in the enclosed areas of public service buildings shall be imposed an administrative fine of fifty Turkish Lira by public officials authorised by the head of the relevant administrative unit. The provision of this paragraph shall not apply in areas designated for the consumption of tobacco products.

(2) A person who consumes tobacco products in public transport vehicles shall be imposed an administrative fine of fifty Turkish Lira. Where the misdemeanour is committed in public transport vehicles operated by persons of private law, this fine shall be imposed by the officials of the law enforcement unit first applied to. Where it is committed in public transport vehicles belonging to the public, the provision of paragraph 1 shall apply as regards the competence to impose the administrative fine.

(3) A person who, in the enclosed areas of buildings belonging to persons of private law and open to everyone, acts contrary to the prohibition despite the display of a clear sign stating that tobacco products may not be consumed shall be imposed an administrative fine of fifty Turkish Lira. This fine shall be imposed upon complaint by the officials of the nearest law enforcement unit.

(1) A person who, when asked in connection with the duty, refrains from giving information to a public official regarding his or her identity or address or makes a false statement shall be imposed an administrative fine of fifty Turkish Lira by that official.

(2) A person whose identity cannot be determined because he or she refrains from making a statement or makes a false statement shall be held, and the public prosecutor shall be informed of the situation immediately. This person shall be taken into custody until his or her identity is clearly established and, if necessary, placed in pre-trial detention. The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure shall apply as regards the competence and procedure for deciding on custody and pre-trial detention.

(3) Where the identity of the person is determined, custody or pre-trial detention imposed for this reason shall be terminated immediately.

(1) A person who throws household waste and refuse outside the places designated for their collection or storage shall be imposed an administrative fine of twenty Turkish Lira. The provision of this paragraph shall also apply where individual waste and refuse is thrown.

(2) Where the act is committed in places of food preparation and service, the natural or legal person owning the enterprise shall be imposed an administrative fine of five hundred Turkish Lira up to five thousand Turkish Lira.

(3) A person who slaughters animals outside the places designated for animal slaughter, or leaves the waste of slaughtered animals on the street or in any other public area, shall be imposed an administrative fine of fifty Turkish Lira.

(4) A person who throws construction waste and refuse outside the places designated for their collection or storage shall be imposed an administrative fine of one hundred Turkish Lira up to three thousand Turkish Lira. Where the construction activity is carried out on behalf of a legal person, the upper limit of the administrative fine to be imposed on that legal person shall be five thousand Turkish Lira. The cost of removing such waste and refuse shall also be collected separately from the person.

(5) A person who leaves household goods that have become unusable or are surplus to requirements on the street or in any other public place outside the day designated for their collection shall be imposed an administrative fine of fifty Turkish Lira. The days determined by the municipality at regular intervals, being not less than three days a year, for the collection of such goods shall be announced in advance by appropriate means.

(6) A person who leaves motorised land or sea transport vehicles that have become unusable, or their integral parts, on the street or in any other public place shall be imposed an administrative fine of two hundred and fifty Turkish Lira. The cost of their removal shall also be collected separately from the person.

(7) Amended: 6/12/2019, Law No. 7196, Art. 60 For these misdemeanours, the administrative fine shall be decided within municipal boundaries by municipal police officers and outside municipal boundaries by law enforcement officers.

(8) Where the pollution caused by these misdemeanours is immediately remedied by the person, an administrative fine may not be imposed.

(9) Repealed: 6/12/2019, Law No. 7196, Art. 60

(10) The provisions of special laws are reserved.

(1) A person who posts cloth, paper or similar posters and notices on squares or parks, on public walls or areas along avenues or streets, or on areas belonging to private persons without their consent shall be imposed an administrative fine of one hundred Turkish Lira up to three thousand Turkish Lira. Posters and notices with the same content shall be deemed a single act.

(2) The provision of paragraph 1 shall not apply to posters and notices posted on the basis of express and written permission obtained from the competent authorities. This permission shall clearly indicate the period during which the posters and notices are to be posted. These posters and notices shall be removed immediately by the natural or legal person to whom permission was granted upon the expiry of this period. Where the obligation to remove is breached, an administrative fine shall be imposed in accordance with the provision of paragraph 1.

(3) The costs of removing these posters and notices shall also be collected separately from the persons concerned.

(4) For these misdemeanours, the administrative fine shall be decided by law enforcement officers or municipal police officers.

(5) The provisions of special laws are reserved.

2/7/2018, Decree-Law No. 703, Art. 20 Amended together with its heading: 8/5/2025, Law No. 7547, Art. 13

(1) A person who calls the 112 Emergency Call Centre for the purpose of keeping it busy and speaks with the officers, or persistently leaves calls, shall be imposed an administrative fine of one thousand five hundred Turkish Lira by the provincial governors.

(2) Where it is established by official report by the teams dispatched to the scene that a report made to the 112 Emergency Call Centre is false, the person shall be imposed an administrative fine of fifteen thousand Turkish Lira by the provincial governors.

(3) Where the acts set out in this Article are repeated within one year, the administrative fine shall be applied at twice the amount.

(1) A person who, without obtaining a licence from the competent authorities, visibly carries weapons that are not prohibited by law in parks, squares, avenues or streets shall be imposed an administrative fine of fifty Turkish Lira by law enforcement.

Added: 26/6/2009, Law No. 5918, Art. 9

(1) In cases where it does not constitute a misdemeanour requiring a heavier administrative fine, where, by an organ or representative of a legal person, or by a person who, although not an organ or representative, undertakes a duty within the scope of the activity of that legal person, any of the following:

a) under the Turkish Criminal Code No. 5237:

1) the offence of fraud defined in Articles 157 and 158,

2) Added: 27/12/2020, Law No. 7262, Art. 19 the offence of manufacturing and trafficking in narcotic or stimulant substances defined in Article 188,

3) the offence of bid rigging defined in Article 235,

4) the offence of rigging the performance of an obligation defined in Article 236,

5) the offence of bribery defined in Article 252,

6) the offence of laundering assets derived from an offence defined in Article 282,

b) the offence of embezzlement defined in Article 160 of the Banking Law No. 5411 dated 19/10/2005,

c) the smuggling offences defined in the Law No. 5607 on Combating Smuggling dated 21/3/2007,

ç) the offence defined in Additional Article 5 of the Petroleum Market Law No. 5015 dated 4/12/2003,

d) Amended: 27/12/2020, Law No. 7262, Art. 19 the offence of financing of terrorism defined in Article 4 of the Law No. 6415 on the Prevention of the Financing of Terrorism dated 7/2/2013,

is committed for the benefit of the legal person, that legal person shall additionally be imposed an administrative fine of ten thousand Turkish Lira up to fifty million Turkish Lira. Added sentence: 27/12/2020, Law No. 7262, Art. 19 However, the administrative fine may not be less than twice the benefit that is the subject of the transaction or act.

(2) The court having jurisdiction to try the offences listed in paragraph 1 shall be competent to decide on the administrative fine under the provisions of this Article.

(3) Added: 27/12/2020, Law No. 7262, Art. 19 Annulled paragraph: by Constitutional Court decision of 18/1/2024, E. 2021/28, K. 2024/11

Added: 2/7/2012, Law No. 6352, Art. 102

(1) Where it is understood that money presented, for whatever purpose, to banks or financial institutions defined in Article 3 of Law No. 5411, to institutions providing support services to banks by counting and examining money, or to companies permitted under the legislation to carry out foreign exchange transactions, is counterfeit, and the notification obligation regulated in Article 278 of Law No. 5237 is not fulfilled, the legal persons listed in this Article shall be imposed an administrative fine of one thousand Turkish Lira up to five thousand Turkish Lira by the public prosecutor.

Added: 8/8/2026, Law No. 7593, Art. 8

(1) With respect to all kinds of knives and other cutting, piercing or bruising implements, under whatever name, falling outside the scope of the Law No. 6136 on Firearms, Knives and Other Implements dated 10/7/1953:

a) their sale and display outside places licensed under the Law No. 2521 on the Manufacture, Purchase, Sale and Possession of Rifles Used in Hunting and Sports, Target Pistols and Hunting Knives dated 11/9/1981 and workplaces licensed under the relevant regulation,

b) their sale to children under eighteen years of age and their purchase or carrying by children,

are prohibited.

(2) A person who does not comply with the prohibitions listed in paragraph 1 shall be imposed an administrative fine of five thousand Turkish Lira, or, where the knives or implements subject to the misdemeanour are serious in terms of number or nature, ten thousand Turkish Lira. In addition, where the operator or responsible person who learns that this misdemeanour has been committed fails to notify the competent authorities, an administrative fine of five thousand Turkish Lira shall be imposed.

(3) The confiscation of the items constituting the subject of the misdemeanour listed in paragraph 1 or obtained through its commission shall be decided.

(4) For the misdemeanour listed in paragraph 1, the administrative fine and seizure shall be decided by law enforcement officers, and confiscation shall be decided by the local administrative chief.

(5) With respect to a child who has not completed fifteen years of age at the time of committing the misdemeanour in paragraph 1, the local administrative chief shall, having regard to the best interests of the child, request a measure from the juvenile judge for the purpose of deciding on protective, supportive and guidance measures under the provisions of the Child Protection Law No. 5395 dated 3/7/2005.

(6) The provisions of this Article shall also apply to internet sales and distance sales.

(7) The use, possession and carrying, at the place of practice and by the persons practising, of knives, skewers and similar items necessary for the practice of an art or profession and for training shall not be subject to the provisions of this Article.

Added: 11/5/2005, Law No. 5348, Art. 5

(1) The provisions on the jurisdiction of tax courts contained in the Tax Procedure Law No. 213 dated 4.1.1961 are reserved.

(1) In place of the expression "Turkish Lira" used in relation to administrative fines in this Law and in other laws entering into force after 1 June 2005, in practice, the expression "New Turkish Lira" shall be used for as long as the currency in circulation in the country is named "New Turkish Lira" under the provisions of the Law No. 5083 on the Currency of the State of the Republic of Türkiye dated 28.1.2004.

(1) The provisions of this Law shall not apply to administrative sanction decisions whose annulment has been sought by actions brought before administrative courts as of the date of its entry into force.

(1) Where an action for annulment has not yet been brought against decisions concerning administrative fines previously imposed but the time limit for bringing an action has not expired, an application may be made to the criminal court of peace in accordance with the provisions of Article 27 within fifteen days from the date of entry into force of this Law.

(1) This Law shall enter into force on 1 June 2005.

(1) The provisions of this Law shall be executed by the Council of Ministers.