Tachograph Rules & Offences

Tachographs and the law

Tachographs, which record the speed of a vehicle and whether it is stationary or mobile at any given time, are mandatory within the road haulage industry, where their primary legal use is by officials enforcing rules regarding working hours for drivers.

Because of the legal requirement for tachographs and the importance of the records, it is against the law to tamper with the device or its data, or falsify any related information. It is also illegal not to fit a tachograph to a vehicle which requires one under law.

If convicted of tampering with a tachograph in any fashion, an individual will find themselves facing up to two years in prison, as well as an unlimited fine. If a vehicle covered by the relevant regulations is found not to have had a tachograph installed in the first place, those responsible could find themselves facing a fine of up to £50,000.

Vehicles which must have tachographs installed include heavy goods vehicles (7.5 tonnes or more), vehicles which can transport more than 12 people, and public service vehicles. In order to be considered sufficient, a tachograph is required to record the following information:

• distance
• speed
• breaks and daily rest periods
• driving time
• other periods of work
• the opening of the case containing the record sheet
• any interruptions of the electrical supply which provides power to the speed and distance sensor.

If you are facing prosecution for a tachograph-related offence or wish to know more about the rules governing tachographs, you may wish to enlist the aid of a professional motoring solicitor.