The Department for Transport has reportedly said that it is considering £150 fines for lorry drivers who enter Kent without a negative coronavirus test.
As it stands, lorry drivers are already fined £300 for not being in possession of a Kent Access Permit when they enter the county. Police figures published last week show the fines are being enforced; 407 drivers have already had to fork out £300 each.
According to Kent Online, the Department for Transport say the fines will only be introduced if high levels of trucks enter Kent without the right test.
“Hauliers looking to cross the Channel should take their Covid-19 test before they enter Kent to help traffic flow. While we’re pleased many hauliers have heeded our calls to use 34 testing sites we’ve set up across the country, too many are still entering Kent without having taken a test and received a negative result. We welcome views from industry on how a new potential fine can best be introduced, but if hauliers continue to ignore the requirement to get a negative test before entering Kent, then fines may become necessary.”
Earlier this week, both Denmark and the Netherlands introduced requirements for lorry drivers to present negative coronavirus tests in entry to their territory.
You can find the full list of coronavirus testing sites for HGV drivers in the UK here.
Photo credit: Kent Police