Since 1 January, the Danish Road Traffic Authority has issued 33,159 fines for non-payment of the new kilometre-based road tax for lorries. This is evident from a freedom of information request obtained by FemernBusiness.
The tax applies to vehicles over 12 tonnes and is calculated based on the vehicle's environmental class and the number of kilometres driven on state and municipal roads. Payment is made automatically via a box in the lorry - or manually via a digital ticket.
22,298 fines have been issued to foreign hauliers - primarily from Poland, Germany, and the Netherlands.Danish hauliers have been given 10,861 fines.
The system, operated by Sund & Bælt, has been criticised since its launch for technical errors and unpredictability. Several industry players have reported fines, even though they believed the road tax was paid correctly, and many have complained.
According to the Danish Road Traffic Authority, 13,147 objections have been submitted - almost half from foreign hauliers.
Foreign lorries with the most fines
Poland: 6,328 fines
Germany: 3,909 fines
Netherlands: 2,745 fines
Romania: 2,220 fines
Bulgaria: 2,048 fines
Sweden: 1,003 fines
One of the companies affected early on is Sax-Trans in Sakskøbing. Director Peter Flensted states that the eight fines he originally complained about and had rejected have since been waived.
Renewed confidence
He finds that both authorities and hauliers have become better at handling the rules.
- I have gained a certain confidence that there is now listening, and that we have all become sharper on how the system works, he says.
The company has also received a ninth fine. It was correct and has not been waived.
DI Transport has proposed a model where hauliers can pay the road tax retrospectively in the event of technical failures, thereby avoiding a fine if the error can be documented.
DTL - Danish Hauliers encourages its members to submit the case whenever they assess that a fine is unjust. This is to help ensure that errors are caught and the system is continuously improved.
Fines increase
From 1 July, the rules are further tightened. Here, the fine rate increases from 4,500 to 9,000 kroner per offence. At the same time, a new rule comes into effect, which makes it possible to deny foreign vehicles passage over bridges and tunnels if they have unpaid fines that have been adjudicated. Drivers will have to document payment on the spot, for example via instant transfer.
The goal, according to the Ministry of Transport, is to ensure uniform enforcement for Danish and foreign actors.
