Czech police are taking a firm stance against transportation companies flouting regulations, recently detaining a truck driver and impounding his vehicle near Velký Beranov. The incident underscores increasing scrutiny of freight transport across European borders and highlights the potential consequences for drivers and carriers who violate hours-of-service and rest period rules [[1]]. Authorities say the driver, employed by a Turkish firm with a history of infractions, faced penalties due to discrepancies identified through tachograph and driver card analysis, a system crucial for monitoring driver activity and ensuring road safety [[2]].
Czech police recently detained a truck driver and impounded his vehicle after discovering repeated violations of driving regulations, highlighting ongoing concerns about transportation companies operating across European borders. The incident occurred on a highway rest stop near the town of Velký Beranov.
Authorities say the driver, employed by a Turkish transportation company with a history of infractions, had repeatedly exceeded permitted driving hours, failed to take required breaks, and violated weekly rest period regulations. During a check on the highway before the weekend, officers discovered the discrepancies through a review of the vehicle’s tachograph and driver card.
“The check of the tachograph and driver card revealed violations where the driver repeatedly exceeded the extended daily driving time, failed to comply with driving breaks, or the time between two weekly rests,” said police spokesperson Dana Čírtková. “Police utilized their authority and imposed a security deposit of 200,000 Czech koruna on the carrier, as the carrier does not have its registered office in the Czech Republic and this is a recurring issue.”
Failure to Pay Could Mean Vehicle Impoundment
Police were particularly cautious during the inspection due to previous encounters with the carrier, and the driver initially denied any wrongdoing. “Police are repeatedly dealing with this foreign carrier for the same violations, and the carrier even instructs drivers to leave the control point without paying the security deposit. Once, the driver succeeded in fleeing the control,” Čírtková stated.
However, authorities now have increased options for enforcing payment. According to Jaroslav Nesiba, deputy head of the Velký Beranov highway police department, officers can now prevent further travel by using technical means to immobilize the vehicle or by impounding it altogether. They can also prohibit further driving and confiscate the vehicle’s license plates.
“We can, among other things, prevent him from continuing his journey, using a technical means to prevent the vehicle from leaving or by impounding the vehicle. We can also newly prohibit him from further driving and confiscate the vehicle’s license plates,” Nesiba explained.
The Velký Beranov highway police department regularly conducts checks of social regulations. Last year, they inspected 740 vehicles and issued fines totaling 605,000 Czech koruna to 179 drivers. They also submitted 119 reports to the relevant administrative authority and imposed 117 security deposits totaling 11,0120,000 Czech koruna, Čírtková added.
