Ukraine installs modern truck weighing systems and increases fines. Foreign trucks will not escape with impunity

In September, a law came into force in Ukraine that increased fines < for overloaded trucks. The amount of the fine now depends on the excess weight of the truck.

Previously, the fine for exceeding the maximum permissible weight of the truck ranged from 510 to 680 UAH (20-25 euros). When the new law comes into force, drivers of congested vehicles will pay several times more . Exactly how much depends on how much the permissible weight of the vehicle is exceeded.

The amount of the new fines is as follows:

– weight exceeded by 5-10%: 8 500 UAH (320 €);

– weight exceeds 11-20%: 17 000 UAH (640 euros);

– weight exceeds by more than 20%: 34 000 UAH (1300 EUR).

The responsibility for the violation lies with the owner of the truck . If the person responsible for the vehicle is unable to prove his identity, the transport company to which the vehicle belongs shall be liable for the fine.

In the case of vehicles with foreign registration plates, the fine must be paid by the person who drove the truck in the country. Failure to pay the fine could lead to a subsequent ban on entering Ukraine.

Ukraine invests in WIM systems

A few days ago, Ukrawtodor (State Agency for Roads and Bridges) installed two of the six planned WIM (Weighing in Motion) systems on the Kiev-Chop route as an experiment. They detect, along with other things, the weight of trucks in motion. The other four will be located on the roads leading to Kiev.

So far, the system only controls selected trucks and transmits the data to the Transport Security Service (Ukrtransbezopasnost). It is important that no fines are issued, as the automatic ticketing system has not yet been launched. It is unknown at this time when the system will run.

How the WIM system works

The WIM system captures truck data without stopping the truck. The sensors are installed on the road surface in such a way that the driver does not know that he is being checked. They record the date and time of passage, air and surface temperatures, as well as the direction of travel, the lane, the speed, the registration numbers, the dimensions, the distance between the axles and the load on the individual axles. The system is designed to control all vehicles moving at speeds from 10 to 120 km / h. Over the next year and a half, Ukraine plans to purchase and install one hundred such systems.

Higher fines for other violations

There are more changes. A new penal scheme for other violations has been in force since September 27. For speeding above 50 km / h the driver will have to pay a fine of up to 3,400 UAH (130 euros). Previously, the fine for this was approximately 20 euros.

Drivers who caused an accident and fled the scene are subject to fines ranging from 255 to 3400 UAH (10-130 EUR) and loss of their driver’s license for up to 6 months. For driving without a driver’s license drivers will pay 20 400 UAH, ie. approximately 760 EUR. In case of repeated violation of this type, twice as much, ie. more than 1,500 euros.