A new kilometer-based road tax has resulted in a veritable flood of fines for Danish hauliers.
This is shown by an insight from ITD, the trade organization for Danish transport and logistics companies, which has examined the number of fines issued by the Danish Road Traffic Authority. From January 9 to 14, no fewer than 2,978 fines were issued.
Six of the fines have landed at Sax-Trans in Sakskøbing. Distributed over two trucks. For the same offense. And director Peter Flensted Rasmussen is not pleased.
- It is completely unreasonable and ridiculous. We have spent a lot of time and money installing the necessary equipment in the trucks and training our people in the new rules.
A box in the truck, which also functions as a Brobizz, keeps track of where the truck is. And where the fee must be paid. The system works in such a way that a light turns red in the truck if the system is not active. And green if it is. And a red light automatically triggers a fine.
- If you care the slightest about traffic safety, you can see that this is completely crazy. I will never tell my drivers to watch a red light and not the road.
The fines are 4,500 kroner each. And the bill of 27,000 has been paid. But the fines have also been appealed. And Peter Flensted expects to be upheld and get the money back.
- Anyone can see that we have it under control and follow the rules. So I expect to get that money back.
Less CO2
The kilometer-based road tax was introduced as part of the green transition of the transport sector. The tax applies to trucks over 12 tons and is calculated based on the vehicle's environmental class and the number of kilometers driven on the Danish road network. The purpose is to reduce CO₂ emissions by encouraging hauliers to invest in more environmentally friendly trucks and to provide funding for infrastructure projects. However, critical voices in the industry have pointed out that the tax hits the transport sector hard and creates administrative challenges for the hauliers.
At ITD, they have seen examples of fines for hauliers who have paid the road toll correctly, as well as fines issued to vehicles that the hauliers no longer own.
The fine rate is currently 4,500 DKK per 24 hours, but the government plans to double the amount to 9,000 DKK when everything is phased in.
- This is severe. We know from our review of the fines we have received that many fines are unjust or due to technical problems. This clearly shows that something is very wrong. An average of almost 600 fines a day is completely out of proportion, says ITD chairman John Agervig Skovrup.
It is Sund & Bælt that operates and has implemented the system. It has previously been announced that fines issued between January 1st and 8th will be annulled due to technical startup problems.
