Earlier this week, it emerged that Germany’s road policing authority have been giving drivers from some countries discounts on fines – in some cases up to 50%. The BAG have now published an official response regarding the matter.
According to German road transport news service verkehrsrundschau.de, the BAG has confirmed that the fine amounts vary according to average income, saying that “the importance of the administrative offense and the degree of responsibility of the person concerned as well as their economic circumstances in particular must be taken into account.”
The BAG adds that the lower fines are “proportionate to the income situation of the person concerned”:
“Drivers who are not resident in Germany and who are employed by companies that are not based in Germany receive an income that is generally well below the usual wage level in Germany. According to established case law, the BAG must therefore ensure that the fine to be set is proportionate to the income situation of the person concerned and does not burden him or her excessively.”
However, the BAG were also keen to stress that the discounts on fines apply to driver only. Road transport companies are all fined equal amounts for the same offence:
Securing fair competition in freight transport is the focus of the BAG’s monitoring activities. It is therefore important for us to point out that in the event of violations by businesses, a uniform fine amount applies regardless of the location of the company, especially with regard to compliance with the provisions on client responsibility and cabotage.
Photo credit: BAG
