Over 10,000 fines have been issued, and nearly 3,000 haulers have complained. But while the fines are coming in, case processing has been put on hold - the waiting time for a decision is up to three months.
The haulers receive fines of 4,500 kroner for not having paid the kilometer-based road tax that came into effect on January 1. But several claim that they have followed the rules and that the system that registers the payments is full of errors.
The tax applies to trucks over 12 tons that drive on a total of 10,900 kilometers of state and municipal roads. Payment is made via a box in the truck or by purchasing a digital road tax ticket. License plate scanners register trucks that have not paid, and the fine is 4,500 kroner each time.
Three months waiting time
Since New Year, the Danish Road Traffic Authority has issued 10,289 fines to haulers who, according to the system, have not paid the mandatory road tax. The haulers have sent 2,926 complaints, but only seven of them have been processed - and three have been annulled. This is shown by data from the Danish Road Traffic Authority.
- It cannot be right that we have to wait three months for a decision while fines are still being sent out in large numbers, says Peter Flensted Rasmussen, director of Sax-Trans in Sakskøbing. His company has received eight fines and has complained about them all.
Peter Flensted wants the Danish Road Traffic Authority to stop issuing the fines until things are under control.
- Forgive the whole mess. And start over. When they can handle the complaints within 14 days, they can start issuing fines again.
Political support
Peter Flensted receives support from the Danish Democrats' transport spokesperson, Kenneth Fredslund. He has been against the kilometer tax from the start and has fought the hauliers' cause.
- The issuance of fines should be suspended. It is no use to keep sending out fines when complaints cannot be processed within a reasonable time, says Kenneth Fredslund.
Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen has said that the many fines need to be looked at. And that there will be waivers where there is good faith and systems that have failed.
It is Sund & Bælt that registers the violations and then informs the Danish Road Traffic Authority, which sends out a fine. So far, seven objections have been processed. And three have been upheld.
- It is the Danish Road Traffic Authority that makes decisions on objections to fines, based on a recommendation from Sund & Bælt. We are in the process of validation. Therefore, it is too early to conclude how many objections may be upheld.
At the same time, the government is considering raising the fine from 4,500 kroner to 9,000 kroner from July 1. It is currently being considered in the Folketing.
