VEHICLE LEASING companies have appealed to the National Roads Authority (NRA) to make special provisions to ensure they are not hit with multiple driver fines when the barriers on the M50 will be replaced with a system of electronic toll tags from August 30th.
Members of the Vehicle Leasing Association of Ireland (VLAI) provide vehicles to many firms and some leasing operators have a fleet of more than 20,000 cars that are leased for 12 months or for a number of years.
The VLAI said it fears that because the registered owner of the car is liable for any penalties, its members will have to pay for individual driver errors or fines and this will also create a huge administrative burden.
John Wallace, president of the VLAI, said the removal of the barriers is set up for a one car, one owner system and not for multiple fleet users or company cars.
Mr Wallace added that it cannot force drivers using their cars to set up an account to pay the toll premiums. The association informed the NRA and eFlow of its concerns at a meeting in Dublin yesterday.
"The user of the business vehicle should be made liable for any tolls and penalties where the registered vehicle is with a leasing company or used as a business vehicle and registered in a company name."
Hugh Creegan, of the NRA, said it was actively working with the VLAI to provide the simplest mechanism to operate the barrier-free tolling system.