In Niklasdorf in Upper Styria, the police have been using an uncalibrated weighbridge for checks for years. Was a large number of drivers wrongfully asked to pay as a result? A lawyer says: Yes!
Thousands of trucks use the roads in Styria every day. That is why regular police checks take place. In April of this year, the driver of a timber truck from the Murtal was also fished out by officials of the Leoben traffic inspectorate. To check the load, the driver was taken to the weighbridge at the customs office in Niklasdorf. There it turned out that the vehicle was overloaded with 5000 kilograms. The result: a fine of 1000 euros, which each of the three directors of the company would have to pay.
Not calibrated due to high cost
However, the company called in lawyer Marc Simbürger, who objected and requested the calibration protocol for the weighbridge. The following letter from the customs office to the police set alarm bells ringing: “Unfortunately, you must be informed that the weighbridge at the customs office in Niklasdorf has not been calibrated for many years due to the high calibration costs,” it says. .
Ministry of Finance pushes the buck further
The “Krone” found out when asked by the Ministry of Finance: “Since 2014, the weighbridge at the customs office in Leoben is no longer needed for customs clearance, no longer used and no longer calibrated. The police use the weighbridge at your own risk at irregular times for weighing work.”
“Not required by law”
“We know that the scale is not calibrated. It is also not legally necessary, “says police spokesman Fritz Grundnig. It only requires multiple weighing processes and higher tolerance limits. The lawyer contradicts this: “The position of the police that one may use a scale subject to legal verification is not only blatantly against the law, but also sounds like a protection claim to cover up this error.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
