Driving in Croatia is always a pleasure. From the famously smooth roads, even in the most rugged and mountainous areas, to taking in the truly diverse scenery the country has to offer from coast to continent, a road trip through Croatia is undoubtedly a must do when spending any length of time here.

Despite the joy of driving on such perfect roads and enjoying the incredible bio-diversity of the land, winter is well and truly on its way and along with freezing temperatures and snow, it intends to bring some hefty fines and a stronger police presence across the country.

The police have already announced a few new sets of high fines and multiple actions in which the ''hunt'' will be on for those not wearing seat belts or using their phones while driving, and the Zagreb police are upping their game once again as the cold begins to bite in continental Croatia.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 6th of December, 2018, in the area governed by the Zagreb police administration, a preventative action is set to take place. The Zagreb police announced that the action will be implemented this weekend.

From the 7th to the 10th of December, Zagreb police officers will carry out a preventive action directed at enhanced vehicle and driver supervision, the general aim of which is to prevent and sanction the most serious violations, known commonly all over the world as the four major killers on the road.

These offenses are alcohol consumption while driving, speeding, not wearing a seat belt, and the improper use of mobile phones and similar devices, as well as an array of other offenses which frequently contribute to the occurrence and the often tragic consequences of most traffic accidents.

Make sure to stay up to date with our news page for more. If it's just Zagreb you're interested in, make sure to follow Total Zagreb for everything going on in the Croatian capital city.

The Croatian police have been upping their game recently when it comes to fining drivers, from offenses like using your phone while driving to not having your seatbelt buckled, we've now entered the colder months and drivers having left snow on their car roofs and car bonnets (hoods), are next in line for a hefty fine.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 28th of November, 2018, drivers who haven't cleaned bothered to clean the snow from their vehicle's roof or engine cover pose not only a major danger to themselves on the roads, as well as to others.

Avoiding the unwanted task of having to clean snow off your car in the morning can however be avoided entirely with the use of a simple piece of cardboard and two socks, according to 24sata.

If you put the piece of cardboard on the windshield in the morning, it won't freeze over, and a sock on each windscreen wiper blade will prevent them from freezing and sticking themselves to the glass. If you haven't or don't intend to do this, make sure to take other proper measures or be prepared to wake up that bit earlier as properly removing snow and ice is, as you'll likely be aware of, quite time consuming.

The Croatian police have warned that hefty fines will be given to those who drive their cars without having removed the snow and ice from the vehicle beforehand. Snow that flies off your car when in motion can cause a danger to other drivers, and you may be completely blinded when braking, which is one of many reasons why uncleaned snow and ice can easily cause an otherwise completely avoidable traffic accident.

If the Croatian police stop you on the road with snow and ice left on your car, you will receive a 1,000 kuna penalty.

Make sure to follow our news page for more info on the Croatian police and driving in Croatia.

Ivica Todorić has been spending time in Zagreb's Remetinec prison since his extradition from Britain to Croatia to face trial for his alleged crimes in Agrokor, his former company. The trial however, still appears to have no set date, at least not publicly.

Despite his year long attempts and final appeal while living in London to stop the British decision to extradite him having failed, he continued to fight for his right to freedom following his arrival in Croatia, with his lawyers questioning why he needs to be behind bars when he poses no threat of influence over any witnesses.

In response to this, the Croatian authorities have claimed that while that might be true, his flight risk is still very high, especially given his ''trip'' to London, which lasted an entire year, at a very crucial time. Todorić himself still claims this was a pure coincidence, that he had to be in London for business, and that he wasn't escaping anything.

Recently, his freedom had a price of 7.5 million kuna placed on it, and while the former Agrokor boss may indeed possess that in assets, the clause was that it had to be paid in cold hard cash, which looked like it was about to throw a wet blanket on the entire idea. Until today.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 20th of November, 2018, Ivica Todorić's defense team sent their proposal to Zagreb County Court, and a confirmation of the payment having been paid is now being awaited, according to N1.

What this means is that Ivica Todorić has paid the one million euro bail fee, and Agrokor's former owner will likely soon be released from Remetinec. This information was confirmed to Telegram by a source close to the Todorić family.

Make sure to follow our news page and keep up with all things related to Ivica Todorić here.

Ivica Todorić's huge bail sum must be paid in cash. Just some spare change, then?

After a year-long stay in London, which was made up entirely of Ivica Todorić attempting to find a way out of the British extraditing him to Croatia to face trial, the former Agrokor boss returned to his country on the 7th of November, 2018, exactly one year after handing himself in to the Metropolitan police and paying a massive £100,000 bail fee for his relative freedom in the British capital.

His time in London was spent fighting his cause, from texts on his now infamous blog, to creating a YouTube channel and speaking directly to his audience, to then giving exclusive interviews when he felt those methods weren't enough.

Rumours of him having hired powerful British lawyers to help him fight his corner flew around, including one about him having engaged the formidable Michael O'Kane, a lawyer specialising in extradition from the United Kingdom, who has dealt with high profile, complicated cases involving the likes of the Russian mafia. 

It was all in vain, and after several delays and hearings, the British finally extradited the former tycoon back to Croatia. Just says after the order, Ivica Todorić was seen in London Heathrow awaiting a regular Croatia Airlines flight to Zagreb. He was escorted by police, his wife Vesna Todorić was not allowed to sit with him, and on board the aircraft (which was delayed), he was separated from all other passengers. He read English newspapers and ate nothing, drinking only Jana water, which was offered to him by the Croatia Airlines stewardesses. 

Although photography was strictly forbidden on board, some managed, and when Todorić was asked how he was feeling, he said he ''felt good'', which is much more than could be said of his wife, Vesna, who was visibly shaken and provided a statement to those on board that her husband was innocent and that he had misappropriated nothing from Agrokor.

Upon landing at Zagreb's Franjo Tudjman Airport, Vesna went home and Ivica Todorić was taken by the police, away from the main passenger terminal, to a police van which was already waiting for him, and directly to Remetinec prison in Zagreb.

Since being imprisoned, Todorić's lawyer, Jadranka Sloković, who has been with him throughout his ordeal in both Croatia and Britain, have sought bail, claiming that Todorić has no reason to be kept behind bars as he poses no threat of influencing witnesses. The Croatian authorities have in turn argued that while that may be true, there is a risk of flight. His earlier ''trip'' to London confirming that concern.

With that being said, has a potential resolve been reached for the former Agrokor boss? 

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 15th of November, 2018, a bail amount of 7.5 million kuna has been set for Todorić, and if that amount is paid in cash, he can leave Remetinec. Zagreb County Court's spokesman Kresimir Devčić confirmed this.

As stated, the cash amount of 7.5 million kuna must be paid in cash for Todorić to taste freedom before his trial, the date of which still remains unknown as yet.

Follow all you need to know about Ivica Todorić here.

Drivers need to beware this week as the police will be ever-present checking for the placement of winter tyres and other required equipment up and down the country's roads.

As Index writes on the 11th of November, 2018, some big changes for drivers in Croatia will come into effect as of Thursday. Namely, on most roads, they will need to make sure they're drive with their winter equipment.

The penalty for non-compliance with this important safety regulation currently stands at 700 kuna.

"Although winter begins only at the beginning of December, from November the 15th, winter equipment will be required in the Republic of Croatia.

The Decree on the Mandatory Use of Winter Equipment on Winter Roads in the Republic of Croatia, issued by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, states that winter equipment is mandatory on from the 15th November of the current year to the 15th of April next year, in this case from the 15th og November 2018, to the 15th of April 2019.

According to the Decision, the mandatory use of winter equipment applies to all types of motor vehicles, regardless of the weather conditions and the road conditions,'' explains HAK.

Pursuant to Article 193 of the Road Traffic Safety Act (OG 67/08), winter conditions include snow and ice on pavements too. If the traffic police stop a vehicle on the road without winter tyres and other necessary equipmenr at a time when winter equipment is required, they will be forced to immediately stop the vehicle, or make the driver continue driving on a road on which the movement of that type of vehicle (without winter equipment) is permitted, or to put the winter equipment in place there and then. Otherwise, the driver will face a fine of 700 kuna.

"Tyres are one of the most important parts of the vehicle, and the way in which they work between the car and the road is crucial for safety. It's good that the vehicle has the proper tyres for every time of year, since at temperatures below 7°C, summer tyres lose their elasticity as well as their adherence properties,'' they state from HAK.

Summer tyres almost have no chance whatsoever of properly functioning in the snow, with an extended stopping time which can then become very dangerous. At a temperature of -10°C, a car with summer tyres on travelling at a speed of 60 kilometres per hour will stop only after 55 metres, while a car with winter tyres on will come to a halt after 44 metres.

At lower temperatures, the braking distance is even longer. If the car still has its summer tyres on, it will stop only after 62 metres, with winter tires, it will stop by up to 50 metres.

Make sure to follow our news page for more important updates.

Ivica Todorić returned to Croatia a few days ago following the British decision to extradite him to Croatia to face trial for his alleged crimes within his former company, the gigantic Agrokor Group. Todorić raised the enormous company from its very roots decades ago, employed around 60,000 people, and became one of the most powerful people in not only Croatia, but the wider region. What goes up, however, must eventually come down, and things couldn't have taken more of a 360 turn for the former Agrokor boss if they tried.

From a luxurious life in Kulmerovi dvori up in the hills above Zagreb and gracing the glossy pages of Forbes magazine, to being on the run and appearing as one of Europol's most wanted, to paying £100,000 to the British authorities for relative freedom to live in London on tag for a year, to being extradited to Croatia on a regular Croatia Airlines flight (which was also delayed), and then taken to Zagreb's Remetinec prison. Whoever said life could be predictable? 

Just how does one of Croatia's most formidable characters spend his time behind bars as he awaits trial? 

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 10th of November, 2018, Ivica Todorić, as his wife Vesna said, was actually pleased with the conditions in Remetinec and shares his cell with an individual who is currently serving time behind bars for a fairly petty criminal act.

Todorić and his cellmate must clean up their cell every day, and they do so after getting up at seven o'clock in the morning. For about half an hour after that, which is about as much time as there is between waking up and being given breakfast, which is brought to them in their cell - they have time for personal hygiene and similar things.

Lunch comes at 13:00. If Todorić has any health problems, such as autoimmune conditions, allergies, diseases or intolerances which require a different diet, his menu will be adjusted to him in accordance with a doctor's recommendations. In addition to the menus prescribed by a doctor in the case of potential food issues, prisoners have the right to a religious and a vegetarian menu. For Easter and Christmas, a traditional meal is served, and the daily intake is 3000 calories, according to a report from Večernji list.

After lunch comes time for a rest, and dinner is served at 19:00. During the day, prisoners are provided with a two-hour walk through the prison circle. There are three walkways in Remetinec. The men and the women are separated for this also.

Showering happens at least once a week, it can be more frequent, but it doesn't occur every day.

Television can be watched until 23:00, and on Fridays, Saturdays, holidays, and for the duration of any sort of football championship, for an hour longer. After that time, it's lights out. Visits are on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and the first and third Sunday of the month, and visitation permission is given by the competent investigating judge.

Find out more about Ivica Todorić here.

People often say that less is more, and that can apply to words, too. Former Economy Minister Martina Dalić, once one of the most powerful women in Croatia, was short and not so sweet in her comments about Ivica Todorić's extradition from London to Croatia to face trial for his alleged crimes in Agrokor.

Martina Dalić is a controversial character who was heavily involved in the entire Agrokor saga from start to finish. Close to Agrokor's extraordinary administration proceedings from the beginning, the former Deputy Prime Minister has been shrouded in suspicion for a while, particularly since the discovery of her having used a simple Hotmail email account to discuss extremely sensitive matters with other involved individuals, known as the Hotmail Affair, which saw her leave her position at Prime Minister Andrej Plenković's side.

One thing that stands out when it comes to Dalić is Todorić's previous insisting, via his now somewhat infamous blog, that she had been sending him and his family members threatening emails and messages, in an apparent attempt, in his words, to blackmail him into singing Lex Agrokor, a law which in itself, despite having allowed the government to intervene and rescue Agrokor as a company, boasts more question marks than it does clear answers.

Of course, people ignored Todorić's often rather bizarre allegations which he had a tendency to fire at all and sundry across the political scene in Croatia, claiming Plenković had given him chocolates at midnight was one of the stranger statements. When the Hotmail Affair raised its ugly head, however, people recalled what Todorić had written about all those months ago online, and although she allowed DORH to investigate all of the electronic devices she uses for communication, a move though which she proved her innocence at least in this matter, nobody was laughing anymore and the seeds of doubt about Martina Dalić were planted in the minds of many.

Ivica Todorić was finally extradited to Croatia last night following the British decision to reject his appeals and push forward with his removal from the United Kingdom, where he'd been living for the past year under the watchful eye of the British authorities after handing himself in to the metropolitan police and paying a hefty bail fee. Todorić spent the night in Remetinec prison in Zagreb, and you can read more about what happened last night here.

Martina Dalić was of course asked for her thoughts and opinions on Todorić's extradition to Croatia, and she was in no real rush to provide a response. In fact her lack of desire to even discuss the matter was surprising given her level of involvement in the Agrokor case. With the ex Agrokor boss' extradition happening so soon after the publishing and promotion of her brand new book on the matter, a book which has also been met with appreciation and disgust across the board, one would assume she'd have quite a bit to say.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 8th of November, 2018, insistant journalists urged her to comment on the extradition of Ivica Todorić to Croatia, and Dalić was very short.

Her obvious lack of desire caused journalists to insist on her providing a response to the extradition from London, about which she was extremely short and blunt:

"That's not something I'd be interested in," she said.

As Novi List reports, Martina Dalić is currently in Opatija where she is part of a panel entitled "Economic Reforms: A solution or a problem?". Agrokor's current extraordinary commissioner, Fabris Peruško, is also participating in the event.

Want to keep up with more news about Todorić's case now he's back in Croatia? Make sure to stay up to date with our news page.

Exactly one year after handing himself over to the British authorities at Charing Cross Station in London, the extradition of Ivica Todorić to Croatia to face trial for his alleged crimes in Agrokor, has finally happened.

To briefly recall, Ivica Todorić handed himself over to the British authorities following the issuing of a European Arrest Warrant by Croatia. The metropolitan police then detained Todorić as the warrant prescribed, before releasing him on bail after he paid the £100,000 fee. He continued to live at relative liberty in London for the next year, fighting his looming extradition.

Earlier this year, the British rejected Todorić's appeals and approved his extradition, and exactly one year to the day of his first contact with the London police, the British extradited him, on a regular Croatia Airlines flight, back to the Croatian capital, where the Croatian police awaited his arrival.

Well known N1 journalist Hrvoje Krešić tweeted yesterday afternoon that Todorić was in the process of transition and that he was expected in Croatia soon.

As Index writes on the 7th of November, 2018, at 16:45, HRT announced that Ivica Todorić had been seen at London Heathrow Airport.

The regular Croatia Airlines flight from London Heathrow was delayed as boarding took a while, and Todorić was the first to enter the aircraft with his police escorts. He was separated from other passengers, and his wife Vesna Todorić was not allowed to sit next to him.

His wife, Vesna, who had to leave her husband upon landing in Zagreb, was asked how she felt. She responded, visibly shaken: ''How would you feel if you were extradited? He's an innocent man. My husband is innocent, he hasn't stolen anything. I'm going home, and he's going to jail.''

Todorić himself remained calm, and was allegedly reading British newspapers and drinking Jana water on board. Although filming and taking photographs on the flight was strictly forbidden, upon being asked how he felt by journalists on the flight, he said that he ''felt good''.

The extradition of Ivica Todorić was nowhere near as eventful as many had hoped, and his flight ended up landing at Zagreb's Franjo Tudjman Airport at 20:58 last night, where a police transfer van was already waiting for him.

Todorić didn't leave the airport through the regular passenger terminal, and was arrested and escorted to the police van upon his arrival at Zagreb Airport, the police then took him straight to Remetinec prison.

To recall, official investigations against Ivica Todorić, his sons Ivan and Ante, and twelve of Agrokor's former managers and auditors were launched last year for the illegal obtaining of one billion and 142 million kuna from Agrokor, which almost dragged the Croatian economy to its knees. Click here for detailed information on exactly what happened within Agrokor, and get better acquainted with Todorić's situation up until now here.

Want to keep up with more info on the extradition of Ivica Todorić and the processes that will now follow? Make sure to keep up with our news page.

The Croatian police have been upping their game over recent weeks when it comes to monitoring the traffic in various locations across the country. While punishments for not buckling up or for using your phone while driving have been on the rise, much more serious offences such as exceeding the speed limit and drink and drugs testing have been being performed much more often in and around the capital.

Road accidents have risen in recent months, and this call to action from the police is part of a greater aim to get those morbid figures back down by tightening their grip on drivers who could save their own lives by doing up their seatbelt, or save the lives of others by making sure to avoid consuming alcohol and by putting their phones down while the car is in motion.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 30th of October, 2018, the fines and potential punishments for drivers breaking the law are also on the up, meaning that the lowest penalty for speeding is 300 kuna, and the highest is a huge 15,000 kuna.

The Croatian police are, as mentioned, reinforcing their presence and cracking down on would-be law breakers on roads up and down the country. The interior ministry has also purchased numerous brand new cameras, and at as many as 90 locations across Croatia, 75 cameras and 150 cages, some of which will be left empty to act as mere warnings, will arrive, RTL reports.

The bid for the new equipment and everything to do with the move should be concluded by the end of the month and by the end of the year, the new cameras will be able to be found on Croatia's roads.

Over the course of the weekend, over 1900 speeding fines were recorded across Croatia, the unlucky ''winner'' was recorded in continental Croatia, more specifically in Brod-Posavina County, driving at a ridiculous speed of 235 kmh.

As stated, the penalties are harsh, and the lowest penalty for speeding is 300 kuna, while the highest could be as much as 15,000 kuna. Drivers can go to jail for up to sixty days if the police catch them driving 50 kmh faster than allowed.

Want to keep up with the news from up and down the country? Make sure to follow our news page to stay up to date with everything you need to know.

The Ivica Todorić latest... Although the High Court in London refused the former Agrokor boss' appeal and confirmed that it was indeed now time for him to return to Croatia, there is another possible remedy to his situation: a request for appeal to the Supreme Court. It ain't over til the fat lady sings, as they say in Ole' Blighty.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 26th of October, 2018, despite being very much under the watchful eye of the Metropolitan police, Ivica Todorić is still at relative liberty in the British capital. After the High Court refused his appeal and confirmed his extradition to Croatia, it doesn't necessarily mean we've come to the very end of the line. Let us not pretend that the chances of him managing to slither out of this situation are great, they aren't, the possibilities of success in him submitting an appeal to the Supreme Court are extremely narrow. Such a move could only really ''take off'' if his rights have been somehow violated, for example, as N1 reports.

Jadranka Sloković, Ivica Todorić's attorney, says she doesn't know whether or not Todorić will decide to attempt to go down that route.

"That's not my decision," she stated simply. It appears also that nobody is quite sure when Todorić will have to return to Croatia at all.

"I don't know exactly when those deadlines are, and according to what I've heard from his English lawyers, it can take about three to four weeks, a maximum of four weeks. Even if he was to go along with this appeal and it ends up getting rejected, it's about four weeks,'' noted Sloković.

Paperwork and red tape will be, as usual, the main hold up should there be any delays in the upcoming process. The transfer from London, where Todorić has been living for about a year, back to Zagreb, needs to be very carefully arranged by the police in Zagreb and in London, as well dealing with who will accompany him on what will likely be a very regular flight from England to Croatia.

"That's all their thing, and as you know, these processes aren't public so we can't talk about them," stated Davor Božinović, the current Croatian Minister of the Interior.

Back in Croatia in Remetinec (Zagreb prison), a decision on the appeal has been being awaited, and a witness who is apparently currently not in Croatia should be questioned.

Todorić's defense thinks that that one witness in question poses no reason for Todorić to be held in custody, but the Zagreb County State Attorney's Office is sticking to its guns. The real question is does it actually make any sense.

"I don't think that it's likely to be for this reason alone, even the court in London has allowed him (Todorić) to remain at liberty with precautionary measures in place," said Aleksandar Maršavelski, a professor of law at the Faculty of Law in Zagreb.

While the Zagreb State Attorney's Office continues investigating, it has, at least currently, revealed absolutely nothing about its plans regarding this issue.

In addition to the questioning of various witnesses, an ongoing accounting audit should be carried out within the scope of the investigation - this will apparently be carried out by a Polish company. Involved attorneys are not particularly pleased with this because they believe, among other things, that this will slow the process down even more and increase costs. They aren't sure it will even be completed on time.

Fran Olujić, Ante Todorić's lawyer stated that he has serious doubts that such an examination can be carried out and completed in the time given, which is a mere three months.

The Agrokor case which rocked Croatia has been being led against Todorić and numerous others who once made up the gigantic company's former management body for an entire year.

Follow the latest news about the former Agrokor supremo here.