Understanding False Log Book Violation Penalties
Filling out log books with a detailed record of driving hours and other critical information is more than a courtesy. Federal law mandates that all truck drivers, no matter their experience level, properly log their travels. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains a vested and legitimate interest in ensuring that truck drivers conduct themselves safely on the road to protect the public and drivers themselves.
Whether due to employer pressure or one's own volition, it's not unheard of for truck drivers to falsify their own log book. Make no mistake: log book violation penalties are very serious. Learn more about the DOT violations list and their corresponding penalties from the experts at FMCA Filings.
Why Do Drivers Falsify Their Logs?
Drivers may elect to enter a false logbook entry for a variety of motives.
Editing a record of duty status or withholding driving hours may enable additional monetary gain. This is both highly illegal and morally unscrupulous behavior. Yet a desire for a little extra cash, no matter the cost, may prove too tempting for some truckers; the more hours spent on the road, the more profit.
Employers may also coerce or pressure their drivers into providing faulty supporting documentation. This may also be for financial reasons. In some situations, it's less overt and intentional, but still problematic; if an employer gives a driver an unreasonably short amount of time to complete a delivery, that driver might feel like they have to lie in their logbook.
Another common cause of logbook falsification pertains to health reasons. Drivers with certain health conditions, or perhaps those with a particularly positive estimation of their own fatigue tolerance, may create false logs to give themselves extra time on the road or to avoid driving during certain times of the day.
Failure to Use a Logbook
A common violation is for drivers to forgo having a logbook altogether. Unfortunately, no matter if it's simply an accident or if you misplace the book, FMCSA regulations punish drivers without a proper logbook.
First-time offenders may receive a warning. More common, however, are fines, license suspensions, and even criminal charges. Misdemeanor charges for first and second-time drivers and felonies for habitual offenders are par for the course.
Fines and/or jail time may be levied by law enforcement on a driver operating without a logbook.
False Logs
The aforementioned civil and criminal consequences apply to inaccurate, false logs. While drivers may assume that this offense occurs the same way each time, in reality, there are two types of false log offenses: intentional and unintentional false logs.
Intent does matter to the law. Intentional lying, whether by having one book that appears legal and another that is fraudulent or by directly editing logs, reflects poorly on a driver, and they will experience severe penalties as a result. Innocent mistakes — proven by proper evidence — may result in a mere warning.
Broken or Missing Electronic Logging Device
Trucks manufactured in or after the year 2000 require a gadget known as an electronic logging device or ELD. The ELD routinely monitors truck performance and keeps track of critical information, such as travel duration and miles driven. Some drivers decide to alter or even remove their ELD to falsify their logs.
Even failing to maintain your ELD on accident can result in fines or criminal charges. Drivers with short-haul exceptions may excuse themselves from using an ELD, however.
No Record of Duty Status
Record of duty status refers to a summary of a driver's activities within a 24-hour time frame. Every 24 hours, a driver must note the past day's activities, including where they traveled, how long they drove, and details pertaining to rest stops. Failure to proffer a record of duty status can incur civil and criminal charges.
What Are the Fines for DOT Violations?
Logbook violation penalties vary depending on the offense. Nowhere is this reality more apparent than in the types of fines drivers may have to pay for different violations.
A knowing falsification of records offense, while no trivial matter, warrants a maximum fine of $12,135. Failure to cease operations fines are nearly double that amount, at $26,126. However, there are even worse fines.
Truck drivers must consider their cargo's integrity while driving, as well as the safety of others and their property. Violation of hazardous materials or safety permitting regulations may result in a fine of $78,376. Worst of all, however, are incidents involving injury, property destruction, or death; any violation that results in one of these tragic outcomes can result in a fine of up to $182,877 and serious charges.
Understanding fines for dot violations and other log book violation penalties is important for any truck driver. The right filing company, such as the professionals at Federal Motor Carrier Authority Filings, can keep you driving in accordance with federal regulations. Contact FMCA Filings today via the company website or speak with one of our professional Live Agents today.
