Warsaw (31.03.2011) – From 30.06.2011, Poland is replacing the truck toll sticker system for trucks using motorways and country roads with the electronic viaTOLL toll system.

From the 1st of July 2011, every driver of a vehicle over 3.5 tons total weight or a bus with more than 9 seats will be liable for charges for using the “viaTOLL System“ roadways network.

On the 1st of July 2011 the central management for country roads and highways (GDDKiA) in Poland intends to start running the country's first electronic toll system. Initially it includes only trucks from 3.5 tonnes and coaches from 9 seats on highways and motorways, and will calculate the road toll charge to the exact kilometre. The charges will be set at between 0.20 to 0.23 PLN. The system is called viaToll and the corresponding internet site is http://www.viatoll.pl/de, which first went online on the 26th of January 2011. Additionally, at the beginning of May, a hotline will be available. So that all driving movements can be logged, every vehicle must be registered and be fitted with a so-called viaBox.

Comparable devices cost 12 to 20 Euros in Western Europe. On state highways there will be special barriers for trucks liable to tolls and penalties which will automatically open on the approach of a vehicle fitted with the viaBox. The driver must charge up the viaBox account before starting the journey. The respective toll sum is then automatically debited at the barrier. The operating instructions are written in nine languages, amongst them German, English, Lithuanian, Russian and Ukrainian. For small vehicles or passenger cars the electronic toll charges are planned to be introduced by the 1st of January 2012.