The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is preparing to publish a final rule which would increase the cost of multiple fines resulting from safety violations. Some fines have increased by as much as 1/3rd.
The increase comes as a result of 2012’s MAP-21 highway funding bill and are meant to account for inflation. A driver who has been placed out-of-service caught operating a vehicle for example will now be fined $3,100, up from $2,100 before the changes.
Fine increases will go into effect 60 days after the publication of the rule which is scheduled for April 3rd.
Overdriveonline compiled the list below of some of the most common violations with their increased penalty amounts.
Next Story: Trucker Threatens FMCSA Inspector After Receiving Fine
Source: overdrive
That’s just what me need. Unreal.
Wow! The armed revenue collectors, I mean diesel cops will be out in force in more tasteless despicable acts of literal highway robbery!!!
Trucks are safer these days, more trucks have elod’s, which means less violations equals less revenue for fmcsa. So now they decide to raise the fines, the fines look outrageous to begin with, Totally ridiculous…..
If a driver’s average pay is in the mid $30K range, and a penalty is around $3K, isn’t one tenth of your year’s pay for a paperwork error cruel and unusual punishment? Truck drivers are the only occupation where perfection is legally demanded.
And a doctor can work 24 hours per day and the life of their patients may be at risk, for working so many hours their mind can be cloudy causing them to make deadly errors.
Finally someone thinks as I do! My step daughter is an EMT, and has peoples lives literally in her hands and works sometimes 26 hrs straight!! Really?
Maybe we’ll see insurance companies trying to sell driver error insurance the way they sell doctors malpractice insurance. And as far as doctors’ schedules – residents are often required to work 36 hour straight shifts, often resulting in disaster (including medical errors and accidents on the way home afterward). I’d like to see them a bit more regulated and transportation a bit less regulated.
Most of those violation are for carriers, not for drivers
I agree with you Kurt. And we are fighting just to get a pay raise, but the powers at hand can give themselves a pay raise anytime they want by just raising fines.
It’s called “Using the law to legally steal from people”.! I don’t care if it is the carriers,or the drivers…the government’s dishonesty still effects ALL OF US !
Ha! That will help with retention LOL
Anyone remember the Married with Children episode where Ed Bundy goes to court over an “assault” and looses the case?
“So I’ve gotta pay $10,000 I don’t have for something I didn’t do?”
Judge: “yes.”
“why not go double or nothing?” and punches the plaintiff dead in the face.
It’s too bad you can’t claim welfare for your NET pay, then we wouldn’t have to drive all the time.