A 20-year-old driver driving his Spanish-registered truck has been kicking out toll gates for three months. So he escaped without paying the transit fee, which concessionaire Vinci Autoroutes estimates at almost 10,000 euros.
The Romanian driver’s technique is disarmingly simple. Each time he passed through the tolling area, he would get close enough to the barriers to activate the device and cause them to rise. Dar Vinci Autoroutes, the highway operator, installed surveillance cameras and warning systems along the route. This made it possible to quickly identify fraud. The competent authorities were then notified.
On the night of Wednesday 19 July to Thursday 20 July, the gendarmes of the motorized platoon in Malatavern, supported by the gendarmes of PSIG Pierrelatte, finally put an end to the series of frauds, arrested the Romanian driver and confiscated his truck. He has been placed in police custody and is being subpoenaed for 45 counts of fraud.
In addition to unpaid taxes, the ongoing investigation reveals other illegal actions of the driver. He is also suspected of stealing fuel and goods. The robberies may have been the explanation for his many trips between Montelimar and Orange.
This case highlights the importance of vigilance measures and devices to ensure the safety of all road users and thus stop these illegal activities on the roads. Clearly, the authorities are facing significant challenges in enforcing the law and safety on French motorways.
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