jimti:
Funny thing happened to me earlier this week, I was stopped by a GC near Alicante and on inspection of my cards asked if my passenger did any driving, (he didn’t) when I said I was the only driver he asked me if my boss actually made any money. We have to work to a schedule, and this trip it was very spaced out, so I was only driving a few hours each day.
Me too, last week I left Chessington at mid-day Monday, and arrived in Barcelona on mid-day Thursday, as per my instructions.
Generally, as soon as any French or Spanish Police see that you work like that, then they are happy to wave you on, as they are happy that you have a similar work ethic to their own.
Harry Monk:
Me too, last week I left Chessington at mid-day Monday, and arrived in Barcelona on mid-day Thursday, as per my instructions.
Generally, as soon as any French or Spanish Police see that you work like that, then they are happy to wave you on, as they are happy that you have a similar work ethic to their own.
I can beat that, parked up in Albufiera friday mid day and had to be in Alicante mid day Wednesday, and I didn’t need a full weekend as I had 70 hrs the weekend before…It was a push, but somehow I made it in time
There are some ridiculous fines being applied in Spain at the moment and not always correctly unfortunately.
Example one of mine was stopped last week near Leon and when they could not find anything else wrong they decided that the seal on his tachograph was damaged and the resulting fine was 3001 euros.
We employ a company that takes care of paying fines as it is usually far cheaper to pay them and carry on rather than pay usually much larger penalties for arriving late at your destinatiion, but all is not lost, the company that we employ automatically appeals all fines and in this case as soon as the vehicle was released he made his way to the nearest tachograph centre where it was certified that the seal was correct and not damaged, this paerwork will accompany the appeal and the money and costs will be refunded.
The same sort of tactics are being applied in France at the moment.
Why ?
goverments are skint
fact is that 80% of transport companies do not appeal or do not know how to do so
result
big cash windfalls
And by the way for the doubters I saw the laminated copy of Davids EU permit and also saw the accompanying police paperwork so I know it is correct what he is saying
Id be giving Europe, Spain / France in particular, a BIG miss, surely those kind of fines can finish an O/D!!
If the fines that David has paid are correct then I cannot understand why he continues to deliver in Spain, thats some serious cash he has handed over to the police,a good few months wages to a driver.
I take it David runs only one or 2 trucks or is his firm larger than that ?
Nevertheless I wish you all the best David in recuperating your money and good luck for the future.
I was only trying to lighten the mood with an earlier reply, apologies if I offended you.
Vascoingles:
And by the way for the doubters I saw the laminated copy of Davids EU permit and also saw the accompanying police paperwork so I know it is correct what he is saying
Hi Vascoingles, Thanks for your post.
It’s the ‘procedure’ thing in Spain that got me wondering.
So is it that the Spanish enforcement authorities can (more or less) make up any nonsense they like, then hold a vehicle until the deposit has been paid??
I can understand the economics that you explained, such as the transport companies being ignorant of the procedure for appealing the deposit and the State filling its coffers with easy money cos it went unclaimed, but it does seem to me that there’s more of an injustice caused by holding up the freight on legitimate vehicles and scaring a driver in this way.
IMHO, this seems to me be be akin to state-sanctioned banditry, and surely it’s inconsistent with a person’s human rights to be falsely accused and effectively held to ransom if it’s so obviously … errr… false.
I hope you’re able to assist david1686 by your knowledge of Spanish procedures on this occasion, because on the face of it, this episode does seem to be ridiculous.
dieseldave:
It’s the ‘procedure’ thing in Spain that got me wondering.
So is it that the Spanish enforcement authorities can (more or less) make up any nonsense they like, then hold a vehicle until the deposit has been paid??
been going on for years not just Spain but Italt. France, Portugal and we won’t even count countries further afield
dieseldave:
and surely it’s inconsistent with a person’s human rights to be falsely accused and effectively held to ransom if it’s so obviously … errr… false.
since when have a drivers human rights interestred anybody ? you only have to look at the wording of the laws in France about drugs being found in the trailer you are not charged with smuggling you are charged with transporting to which you have no defense and there is no difference between with or withoout your knowledge, add to that the laws of the UK where you as a driver have to prove your innocence otherwise your are presumed guilty ■■?
dieseldave:
I hope you’re able to assist david1686 by your knowledge of Spanish procedures on this occasion, because on the face of it, this episode does seem to be ridiculous.
I have spoken to David and tried to advise as best as I can but these are lengthy and complicated procedures to the way the Spanish law works that is why we employ a company that specialises in this to sort it out for us.
Just thinking, David1686 is overdue for another pasteing - any bets, € 5000 for having his boots laced criss-cross instead of over-under, € 7000 for not covering up the ■■■■■■■ on his Les Routiers girlie sticker near a church during daylight hours?
jj72:
Just thinking, David1686 is overdue for another pasteing - any bets, € 5000 for having his boots laced criss-cross instead of over-under, € 7000 for not covering up the ■■■■■■■ on his Les Routiers girlie sticker near a church during daylight hours?
I was thinking that he might be fined for having been fined in the past.
Then there’s the far more serious offence of having paid the fines on time, because that is clear evidence of a conspiracy to avoid the penalty for the late payment of fines, so I’d imagine that you could be charged with treason for paying fines on time.
jj72:
Just thinking, David1686 is overdue for another pasteing - any bets, € 5000 for having his boots laced criss-cross instead of over-under, € 7000 for not covering up the ■■■■■■■ on his Les Routiers girlie sticker near a church during daylight hours?
Hes probably ran out of money and cant pay any more fines !!
