According to Nuremberg police, the driver continued driving after reaching the permitted driving limit. He also continued the journey without his driver card inserted in the tachograph.
An examination of the recorded data revealed several major infringements relating to driving time and rest periods. Based on those findings, police proposed a penalty of €15,023.75 for the driver and €82,874.75 for the company. The amounts include fees and procedural costs.
Cash deposit ordered
To secure the administrative proceedings, officers collected deposits on the spot. The driver was required to pay €2,000, while the company paid €5,900.
Police also determined that the driver had already been on the road for around 12 hours. He was instructed to take an 11-hour daily rest.
The truck was held at a parking area in Nuremberg. Until the mandatory rest period was completed, the vehicle was immobilised with a wheel clamp to prevent it from continuing its trip.
Under German rules, shortening a break by just a few minutes can result in a fine of up to €60 for the driver and €180 for the employer. Exceeding driving time by more than two hours can trigger a penalty for the operator of around €180 for each additional started 30 minutes. Missing documents or the required authorisation for transport (especially in international operations) can lead to fines ranging from €1,250 to €3,000. More details on penalties in Germany are available in this article.
