A total of €43,319 in fines and deposits were issued during a recent police inspection at the Port of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in France, specifically targeting Irish heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers.
The operation, which took place on May 3rd and May 5th, 2023, was conducted under the supervision of the European Labour Authority, aiming to ensure compliance with regulations and address potential violations within the transport industry.
During the two-day joint control operation, a team of seventeen individuals, including transport inspectors, labour inspectors, and representatives from various European organizations, carried out comprehensive checks at the entrance and within the port premises.
The authorities focused their attention on Irish drivers, who have been linked to fraudulent practices involving the misuse of driver cards, reports the local press.
Out of the 25 HGVs inspected during the operation, thirteen Irish vehicles were found to be in violation of regulations, resulting in fines and deposits amounting to €32,212.
These penalties were imposed for offences related to the improper use of driver cards; some drivers exceeded the permitted driving time, and some drivers used two cards.
According to the Normandy prefecture, the fraud involving Irish drivers includes the use of two driver cards, a practice that allows them to manipulate driving records and potentially evade detection.
However, due to jurisdictional limitations, Irish authorities are only able to address these fraudulent activities if they occur within their own territory. This joint operation is aimed to tackle such practices and ensure that all drivers, regardless of their nationality, adhere to the regulations in force.
The inspection also revealed additional infractions among drivers from other countries. Six vehicles from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, and France were found to be in violation of regulations, resulting in fines and deposits totalling €11,107. The actual nature of the violations in these cases was not specified in the official report.
