European speeding tickets

[mattylondon]

I've been stopped twice, both times by hand held Gatso's. One time I was driving alone middle of nowhere between Rzeszow and Przemyśl in Poland on a back road just about to enter a small village. I was being tail-gated by a local so I sped up a bit right in view of the police. What luck! They waved me over but as I got near they just waved me on before I could speak with them. I can only assume they saw my UK plates and didn't want the hassle. I'm sure I was speeding but the sign posting in Poland on back roads is non-existing and didn't know what the limit was.

Second time was in Ukraine heading towards Kyiv on the main E40 road. There is a check point where you have to slow from nation speed to 90kph > 70 > 50 which I didn't slow in time for. Google map location You can see the traffic police with Gatso's. Once stopped I entered their office, did all the paperwork. Meanwhile a few phone calls were made and 20mins later I could go without the fine. Spending time making connections while fishing, shashlyk, and going to the sauna drinking vodka is essential in Ukraine!

[Pug]

It's annoying that we get tied up into their fines, but we can't pursue Europeans for crossing the Dartford crossing without paying, even though it's a French company who own it!

[Ameiseuk]

Rule change affects us in 'Norn Iron' too
The M50 motorway around Dublin has for the past few years been a barrier less 'e-toll'

For years 'foreign' (read, UK) cars could drive thru and never bother paying as they couldn't chase the fines.
May rule change now means that the non-payment and subsequent fines can be chased over the border.

...Not that I would have condoned such behavior in the past...ahem

[HPsauce]

Don't recall that, I'm sure I paid a conventional toll last year driving into Dublin centre from the North in my S8.

[steamship]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Don't recall that, I'm sure I paid a conventional toll last year driving into Dublin centre from the North in my S8.

I suspect what Chris means is that the likes of us 'foreigners' from the UK might drive through the e-toll lane, so avoiding having to pay the toll at the booths.

Being 8 drivers, we'd never even think about such things ...and it's too late now if we did.

[Architex_mA8tey]

By the way - the Dartford Crossing, London Congestion Charge and other such fines are ALL being chased now into Europe as I have had reports back from Germans visiting the UK that in both cases they have been pursued in their own language via mail

[pete-p]

Originally Posted by Ameiseuk

Rule change affects us in 'Norn Iron' too
The M50 motorway around Dublin has for the past few years been a barrier less 'e-toll'

For years 'foreign' (read, UK) cars could drive thru and never bother paying as they couldn't chase the fines.
May rule change now means that the non-payment and subsequent fines can be chased over the border.

...Not that I would have condoned such behavior in the past...ahem

They definitely chased me a few years back for not paying so it's more a case of being bothered to hunt drivers down and the cost of doing so.

[oldnick]

just to clarify the position in france , you may get flashed but not be liable for a fine !
for speeds up to 100Km/hr you will be given a 10% allowance before a fine is applicable eg 55k in a 50k limit is ok , 56 is not ; over 100 the margin is 10k ; for big excesses the fines can become penal ...up to confiscating the vehicle

latest idea is to park a car with camera installed beside the road for the day , catches a lot !
of course having a sat nav with warning for the fixed cameras is illegal just like a dedicated detector

[mattylondon]

Do they still require a photo of the driver in Germany, and can they catch RHD cars now? Their fixed cameras used to focus on the driver for LHD cars, which is the passenger for us. Therefore the German police couldn't pursue the speeding penalty with UK cars due to lack of photographic evidence of the driver. This is going back a few years now, so I would imagine Germany have tightened up on this. Anyone know?

[Ameiseuk]

I got flashed outside Mulheim, Germany in 1993....should I now be concerned that the Polizei will hunt me down for a fine???