Fines
In-game fines are penalties incurred for dangerous actions while driving. They can be charged from €100 to €5,000, depending on the offense(s) carried out by the driver. However, drivers should still try to avoid such infractions, as the cost can quickly add up. Occasionally drivers may get fined for various offenses at once.
With the update 1.37 of Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator, truck fines have been increased and any minor violation will be caught once you pull into a weigh station and you will receive a ticket.
With the update 1.41 of American Truck Simulator, a new truck fine was introduced. If you do not stop at Agriculture Border Custom Station when entering Northern California, you will be fined $3,000.
Offenses
| Offense Symbol | Offense Description | Amount in ETS2 (€) | Amount in ATS ($) |
 |
Wrong Way | 100 | 250 |
 |
Headlight usage offence | 160 | 250 |
 |
Not Resting | 150 | 200 |
 |
Running a red light | 350 | 700, 1,400 if caught by cop |
 |
Colliding with car | 400, 800 if caught by cop | 900, 1,800 if caught by cop |
 |
Speeding | 200 ~ 5,000 | 500, 1,000 if caught by cop |
| Failed to stop at weigh station | 140 | 700, 1,400 if caught by cop | |
| Illegal trailer | 300 ~ 1,500 | 1,000 in Yosemite, 1,500 in states that enforce LCV | |
| Damaged vehicle | 500 | 500 |
Wrong Way
Driving in the opposite lane will be fined as a "Wrong Way Offense".
Note that different countries have either left-handed or right-handed traffic. Only the United Kingdom drives on the left-hand side while the rest drive on the right-hand side.
Headlight usage offence
It is mandatory to turn on Low Beams during the night and during rain otherwise one will incur in the "Headlight usage offence". By pressing L once only parking lights will turn on, one more press will turn on Low Beams too. Game's detection of "night" extend for few hours after sunrise and few hours before sunset and it is related to player's position on map rather than a fixed time.
Not Resting
Usually, beginner drivers can drive for 10 hours before suffering fatigue, but this can be extended by upgrading the "Long distance" skill (up to 11 hours in ETS 2 or 14 hours in ATS).
Drivers can rest at the designated resting areas, which are usually located at the gas stations (except for ones that are situated in the urban areas), border crossings, toll booths, service shops, truck dealerships, hotels, owned garages, or simply along the highways. Occasionally, a bus station, a quarry, or a seaport may also feature a rest stop. Besides, the truckers can rest during the ferry rides.
Neglecting to rest will result in your fatigue level increasing and a €150 fine. Full fatigue will cause the screen to blacken for a second as a simulation of dozing and it will occur repeatedly, causing reduced visibility and a greater chance of hitting traffic or objects, which can cause damage to your truck, and possible collision fines.
Running a red light
Traffic lights can be found in every city. They can also occur at every road works area and level crossing. Failing to stop at a red light may result in a traffic signal fine.
Attempting to bypass toll gates without paying may result in this fine.
In American Truck Simulator, right turning at a red light is legal and does not incur any fines, however you must have your right-turn signal on when making the turn.
Colliding traffic
Colliding with another car/truck (whether moving or stationary) will result in player getting a fine and possibly damaging their truck. The fine will be doubled if the collision happens in front of the police car. Sometimes, players can receive the ticket for the collision even if they don't cause the crash (i. e. the AI vehicle crashes into the player, usually when the latter is maneuvering or changing lanes). On the other hand, the player may sometimes avoid getting fined if the collision happens on the low speed.
Speeding
Some areas of the game that have speed cameras, which are indicated by a sign with a camera on it or a sign in that country's language informing drivers of speed cameras ahead. Some cameras are fixed on a large metal bar that hangs across multiple lanes of traffic over a highway, some cameras are the round ball attached to traffic lights or to light poles, while some are small boxes mounted on the side of the road.
Driving past a speed camera or a police car by exceeding the speed limit for 5 km/h or more will result in a fine.
Until both Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator update 1.36, the amount of the fine was €200 in Europe and $500 ~ $1,000 in the United States, regardless of the driver's speed. Since update 1.37, the height of the fine depends on how much the speed limit is exceeded.
Failed to stop at weigh station
Drivers should stop at weigh stations for the weight inspection unless the station allows the driver to bypass. The message will appear on Route Advisor whether the driver should stop or continue to drive without stopping by.
Illegal trailer
Euro Truck Simulator 2
Most countries in Europe do not allow any articulated trailers. The driver will not get a fine except if the driver is in Romania or Turkey.
In Romania, the only place the driver can get fined is at a weigh station at the border crossing southwest of Craiova. In Turkey, the driver can get fined mostly at toll gates along the O-3 motorway.
American Truck Simulator
There are three states that do not allow any configuration of articulated trailers other than STAA double trailers: Arizona, California, and New Mexico. There are three states that allow all trailer configurations: Nevada, Utah, and Montana. For a complete overview of trailer configuration restrictions in all states, see Long Combination Vehicles#Restrictions. Hauling a trailer configuration that is forbidden in the current state will result in a fine when submitting to an inspection at a weigh station.
There are certain areas where all commercial trucking is prohibited. Ignoring a message from the route advisor, warning the driver not to drive through a national park, will receive a fine;
- In California, commercial trucking is prohibited on SR 120 between Modesto and the junction with US 395 in Lee Vining because of Yosemite National Park. There are signs in Modesto and in Lee Vining warning drivers not to drive through the area.
- In Colorado, US 34 runs through Rocky Mountain National Park. There are signs in Winter Park and Loveland warning the driver not to drive through the area.
- In Wyoming, commercial trucking in Yellowstone National Park is prohibited because the region is protected from heavy traffic.
- If the player owns the Special Transport DLC, there is a special transport route from Riverton to Jackson, but the real destination for this delivery in American Truck Simulator, is the Government Area in Yellowstone National Park, which is located across the road from Old Faithful. If the player wants to leave Yellowstone with no Illegal Trailer ticket, it is required to deliver the cargo by using the freight market and not the cargo market.
- In Montana, commercial trucking is prohibited in all national parks to protect the area from heavy traffic.
- If the player owns the Special Transport DLC, there is a special transport route from Thompson Falls to Kalispell and regular deliveries can be made to the Plaster & Sons construction site in West Glacier. If the player wants to leave Glacier National Park with no Illegal Trailer ticket, it is required to deliver the cargo by using the freight market and not the cargo market.
Damaged vehicle
Drivers with their vehicle damaged on the road will get fined if they get requested to pull in for an inspection at the weigh station. Drivers are reminded at the weigh station that their vehicle is not in perfect condition if one of their vehicles is 5% or higher. If their vehicle damage is 10% or higher, they will receive a fine.
Trivia
- If you don't want to get these fines, you can disable it by unchecking "Traffic Offense" in the gameplay settings.
- In real-life, failure to stop at a weigh station, when you have a red light, is called "Flying the Coop".