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ECJ closes licence loophole following German case
Page 8
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TRUCK DRIVERS WHO have their licences confiscated by a court should not be able to apply for a driving permit in another European Union country where they do not live and get back to work, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled,
Judges have closed a loophole exploited by some German drivers who lost their licences in German courts. They applied for — and secured — a replacement in the Czech Republic, and since EU member states recognise each others' driving permits, these banned drivers were soon back behind the wheel.
In a case involving the regional government of Baden-WUrttemberg, the ECJ ruled: "Germany may refuse to recognise those licences . those nationals were not normally resident in the Czech Republic when the licences were issued."
That means lorry drivers from Britain or other EU states who lose their licences in British courts can no longer apply for a new licence in a country where they do not live and start working again.