TRUCK DRIVERS are threatening a collective non-payment of M50 tolls after barrier-free tolling is introduced on the motorway next Friday night.
Such a move would almost certainly throw the new system, already facing significant teething problems, into chaos.
The Irish Road Hauliers' Association says it is considering an act of "civil disobedience" in protest at tolls of up to €6.10 per trip which will be levied on trucks under the new system.
It says barrier-free tolling should be free for trucks as they, unlike cars, have no alternative but to use the M50 when leaving Dublin.
IRHA president Jimmy Quinn said his members were "anything but happy" with the new arrangements, which he described as a tax on exports. "Truckers already face a mileage penalty because they have to take the long way around due to the ban on five-axle trucks in Dublin city. They shouldn't now face a cost penalty in addition to this."
Mr Quinn said they had raised their concerns with the National Roads Authority but it had refused to alter the arrangements coming into force next weekend.
He said truck drivers were also unhappy at the loss of bulk discounts of up to 15 per cent which applied to current tolling arrangements but would not be available under barrier-free tolling.
An internal meeting of the association to be held in early September will discuss a proposal for truckers to take down the electronic tags that are used to signal a vehicle's passage through the tolling area.
Non-payment of the tolls would trigger hefty fines but any collective decision by drivers not to pay up is likely to throw the administration of barrier-free tolling into chaos.
Paul Leddy, vice-president of the Vehicle Leasing Association of Ireland, said the new arrangements would impose a significant administrative burden on his members. Where leasing companies were the legal owners of vehicles, they were responsible for the payment of tolls and any fines, even though the vehicles were used by companies and their employees.
He said the 14 days allowed to pay a fine was "not a fair timeline" because it did not take into account delays caused by the post, holidays, errors and the identification of the driver involved.
Problems would also arise when tolls were incurred at a time when the ownership of a car was changing.
Mr Leddy predicted "havoc" if large numbers of motorists chose to contest toll charges. "I can't see judges taking it too kindly when a €2 toll turns into a court case."
Conor Faughnan of the AA predicted the new arrangements will result in a "tremendous amount of confusion" because of the different ways of paying the toll. While the majority of motorists would sign up for tags or number plate registration, the expense involved in pursuing unpaid tolls or correcting mistakes could be immense.
Mr Faughnan also expressed concern about the disruption which will occur on the M50 for two months after the introduction of barrier-free tolling as a result of the dismantling of the existing toll canopy and resultant traffic calming measures.