As of March 1, EU countries have started imposing fines on drivers and carriers if their vehicles are not equipped with new, second-generation tachographs.

In France, the fines are the harshest. If a vehicle does not have a new tachograph, the fine is equivalent to €30,000. The vehicle is temporarily confiscated, and a prison sentence may also be imposed. In Germany, the fine for this violation is significantly lower – €1,500.

In Southern Europe, fines also vary. In Portugal, a fine for violating the law can reach €6,000, while in Spain, a fine of €2,001 is applied, and the vehicle may be confiscated. In Italy, where the first fine of this type was imposed on March 1, the vehicle owner may have to pay a fine ranging from €866 to €3,464. In some cases, the driver’s license may be revoked for a period of up to three months.

In Lithuania, not installing a second-generation tachograph results in a fine ranging from €350 to €600 for the driver, while the responsible person or company may have to pay a fine ranging from €900 to €1,700. In Poland, the fine is 12,000zł, which is equivalent to €2,870. A 10,000zł (€2,400) fine is imposed on the transport company. In Poland, the driver will also be granted a temporary 7-day permit to drive the truck, but if the tachograph is not replaced during this period, the driver will no longer be allowed to use the vehicle.

Keywords: work for drivers, work long-haul drivers, tachographs, fines