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Hauliers and Truckers Soothed with Promises of Lower Fines and Fees
Monday 18 January 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, January 18 (TASR) - Transportation Minister Lubomir Vazny (Smer-SD) met with representatives of the transporters association CESMAD and road transporters union UNAS on Monday and confirmed that first-class roads will be further subdivided for toll purposes, ministry spokesman Stanislav Jurikovic has told TASR.
"There will be more than 1,000 sections," said Jurikovic. CESMAD and UNAS representatives were also told of plans to radically decrease the fine for an incorrectly connected OBU (On-Board Unit) by more than €1,500 – to €120. However, the regulations determining the final amount will be decided by Parliament at its extraordinary session set for Wednesday (during which a vote on the ouster of Vazny is also scheduled).
The disgruntled hauliers were allowed to submit their complaints and reservations vis-a-vis the electronic toll system by January 15 (Friday). According to Jurikovic, the transporters haven't met the deadline. Nonetheless, the ministry has promised to go over their complaints and possibly even include them within the amended legislation. However, this won't be the case with the current legislative package, which is set to come into effect as of February 1 due to a shortage of time.
It got off to a shaky start, but the new road-toll system was launched as of January 1. Only vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes are subject to the road-toll and required to pay for approximately 2,000 km of motorways, highways and first class roads. The introduction of electronic toll system didn't sit well with hauliers who organised protest demonstrations, blocking off Roznavska street in Bratislava.
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