The Dutch Inspectorate for Environment and Transport (ILT - Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works of the Netherlands) announced that it had imposed an administrative fine on a Lithuanian transport company on Thursday 29 October, following an inspection carried out jointly with Belgium and France and with the Dutch Inspectorate for Social Affairs and Employment (Inspectie SZW).
The investigation was undertaken on the basis of suspicions of "underpayment, violation of driving times and rest periods and weekly rest in the vehicle cab," the ILT said in a statement.
The Dutch inspectorate found, on the basis of historical tachograph data, that several drivers employed by the Lithuanian company spent their weekly rest period in the cab of their vehicle.
A practice that is now prohibited by the European regulation on driving and rest periods (561/2006), which came into force last July as part of the controversial ‘Mobility I’ package (see EUROPE 12524/19).
The administrative fine imposed on the Lithuanian company could be up to a maximum of €12,000, ILT said.
Lithuania is one of the major critics of the ‘Mobility I’ package and was the first state to announce its intention to bring an action before the European Court of Justice (see EUROPE 12589/17) regarding this legislative package aimed at reforming road transport. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)