Sanctions for Overloaded Trucks: 1.2 Million BGN in Two Days

The National Toll Administration imposed sanctions of nearly 1.2 million leva on overloaded trucks in just two days. This is evident from a Facebook post by GERB MP and former Regional Minister, Nikolay Nankov. From his post, we learn of significant financial sanctions imposed on carriers who have violated the rules regarding the weight of transport vehicles.

From October 15th of this year, the phased activation of a system of so-called scales began. These facilities, embedded in the asphalt, are designed to measure the weight of heavy-duty vehicles, whose mass exceeds 3.5 tons. The collected information is submitted in real-time to the National Toll Administration.

In his publication, Nankov comments on the introduced measures. "As they say – "the advantage" for the trucks is over. Sanctioning the violators is an important step in the fight against road traffic traumatism. Because overloaded trucks are extremely risky participants in traffic," he writes. This shows a determination to deal with a problem that has been on the agenda for years.

Furthermore, according to Nankov, the application of sanctions is also important for the maintenance of road infrastructure. "Stopping them is also important for preserving the road surface. It is designed for a certain load-bearing capacity. And its use by overloaded trucks deforms it. We have all seen the "wheel ruts" in the asphalt," he adds. Obviously, the condition of the roads is directly affected by overloaded vehicles.

The data provided by the National Toll Administration indicates that on October 15th, 297 electronic tickets were issued to violators. The following day, October 16th, their number was 147. This underscores the scale of the problem with overloaded vehicles.

Specific deadlines and procedures are provided for violators. They have 14 days in which they can pay a compensatory fee of 1200 leva. This allows for the cancellation of the electronic ticket. If this option is not used, a fine or property sanction follows. For a first violation, a fine of 3000 leva is provided, and for each subsequent one – 4000 leva.