Prague, 20 September 2019 - Today CzechToll delivered 40 vehicles specially designed and modified for mobile toll collection enforcement in the Czech Republic as of 1 December 2019. Vehicles, which were used for enforcement by the Customs Administration, were received in Ivančice u Brna by the Minister of Transport Vladimír Kremlík together with Radek Mátl, entrusted with the management of the Road and Motorway Directorate of the Czech Republic.
Although at first glance, the new vehicles are very similar to today's vehicles, they hide a much wider range of technologies and their operation will be more environmentally friendly and economical. For example, the Customs Administration-labelled vehicles have batteries installed to allow a stationary vehicle to carry out enforcement without having to start the engine for more than 5 hours. For winter operation, the vehicles are equipped with an economical independent heating system.
“I consider the delivery of vehicles for mobile toll enforcement to be an important signal that the new system is ready and will operate from the beginning of December, both in the field of toll collection and also in the area of the necessary enforcement of compliance by hauliers. I would like to appeal to all of them not to postpone the obligation to register to the last moments and to secure a new on-board unit in advance, ” said Vladimír Kremlík, the Minister of Transport of the Czech Republic.
At the same time, CzechToll successfully completed the comprehensive process of the electronic toll system testing this week. As of Sunday, 22 September, the process of registering hauliers in the new system can be launched.
“As part of various tests, vehicles with the new on-board units have travelled more than 2 million kilometres on Czech roads and motorways. We have completed the complex system testing process without any defects, and I can say that the electronic toll system is ready to be launched,” said Matej Okáli, the CEO of CzechToll.
The current microwave toll system will be replaced by the satellite system as of 1 December 2019. Toll collection will not be interrupted, so hauliers will have to use the current microwave on-board units by 30 November, and from midnight to 1 December 2019 then units for the satellite toll system. The enforcement of the compliance with the hauliers’ obligation to have an operational on-board unit in a vehicle driving on toll roads will be continuously performed as well.
“The Czech Customs Administration is taking all steps to be ready for the transition of the new toll system as at 1 December 2019,” said spokeswoman of the General Customs Directorate Martina Kaňková . As part of its enforcement activities in the electronic toll system, the Customs Administration detected 12,497 cases of violations of legal regulations by hauliers from January to July of this year and imposed fines in the total amount of more than CZK 12 million. Last year, there were 22,335 violations with fines in the total amount of almost CZK 21 million.
Basic information about new mobile enforcement vehicles
- Volkswagen Transporter 2.0 TDI
- The interior of the vehicle is completely adapted to operate as a full-fledged mobile office.
- Toll collection enforcement systems can be operated from the front passenger seat and from the second row of seats in the rear of the car.
- The systems can be powered by batteries integrated in the vehicle for more than 5 hours.
- The technologies located on the rear of the roof communicate with vehicles’ on-board units via DSRC (Microwave System), scan the vehicles' license plate to identify them: this ensures the control of the vehicles that are passing by the mobile enforcement vehicles (whether passing by a parked mobile enforcement vehicle or while it is moving).
Obligations of hauliers related to the launch of the new system
Hauliers are obliged to register in the new electronic toll system and to equip the vehicles with the on-board unit no later than on the start date, i.e. 1 December 2019. From 22 September 2019, they can meet the obligation to register at more than 200 Points of Sale at selected branches of the Czech Chamber of Commerce, through Fleet Card Issuers or online at www.myto.gov.cz.
Complete information about the new toll system can be obtained from the hauliers on the web portal www.myto.gov.cz or on the customer service line +420 243 243 243, which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
