Speeding Penalties in Germany

[User33678888]

If a Brit was caught by a German scamera, what would the repercussions be? Many people post on here of getting away with being flashed in France.

Would there be a difference if it was a rental car? I'd assume the rental co would give out the drivers/hirers details, so ze Germans would then try to enforce a fine... but if he/she was a tourist and was now abroad?

All just theoretically you see...

[897sma]

They got me on camera in a rental car doing 130khm in a 90 on the autobahn - 450 euro fine sent to my home address in the UK

[zasker]

I think generally unless you are really caning it you need to be a serial offender to get a ban.

[User33678888]

The fine I can deal with. Its the ban I'm worried about. The letter doesn't have a fine amount on it, simply gives me a couple of weeks to send some forms back commenting on my side of the accusations, although I'm apparently under no obligation to.

I fear my case is being treated as more severe than 897sma (125 in an 80), inside city limits apparently.

Would the fact that I left my hoon for when it was a dry, well lit stretch of road in the very early hours count in my favour, or should I just stay quiet?

I'm sure I cannot be the first British PH'er to run into traffic probs overseas. I'm not looking to do anything illegal, but if I can get out of a ban it would be v helpful. I'm sure others will find this sort of info useful.

Edited by User33678888 on Thursday 1st November 18:46

[iluvmercs]

I have been flashed by a scamera in Germany recently.
I was approximately 20km/h over the limit and never heard a thing.

Darren

[User33678888]

zasker said:

I think generally unless you are really caning it you need to be a serial offender to get a ban.

TBF, I was over 50% above the limit. It's amazing what a 4pot Bavarian diesel will do these days

Just wondering if sticking my head in the sand will help, or if I should man up.

I don't want to admit anything until I know what the penalty might be, but I also don't want to become an international fugitive.

[aw51 121565]

Will you be going back to Germany in the same car? If so the car may get picked up next time it crosses the German border, with implications following very soon after. In a different car, you will be fine as the authorities won't have your passport number. Assuming, of course, it was your own car and not a hire car .

It might be worth asking how the land lies in the Germany forum (bottom of the main forum page) - perhaps asking a mod to move it to there using the 'report' button, making sure it is redirected from here...

[krallicious]

Fines in Germany are a lot less than in the UK. Getting points is not that easy either but for 50% above the limit potential raping would be in order if the offence occured in a 50kph area. The chances of geting stopped at the boarder are tantamount to zero, so if you were in your own car, then you will hear nothing at all.

[Deva Link]

krallicious said:

Fines in Germany are a lot less than in the UK. Getting points is not that easy either but for 50% above the limit potential raping would be in order if the offence occured in a 50kph area.

One of the guys in our German office was recently banned for a month and I can't remember the precise speed details but it seemed pretty harsh. He'd been caught twice within a fairly short space of time, second time was by a cop hiding using a speed gun at night.

[jamoor]

Essentially if it's a rental car, you will get fined.
If its your own car, you can ignore it (most don't bother with it at all)

Nothing will happen to your UK licence.

[User33678888]

It was a German hire car. The hire car company have given my details (at least Name, Address, DOB) to the German Authorities, and they have written to me, offering the chance to fill in the form, although saying I don't have to.

[User33678888]

jamoor said:

Essentially if it's a rental car, you will get fined.
If its your own car, you can ignore it (most don't bother with it at all)

Nothing will happen to your UK licence.

That is bad news initially, but good that my licence is safe.
Thanks for the help.


Anyone ever ignored the fine? Not that I'd dream of it..

Edited by User33678888 on Thursday 1st November 18:41

[Golgarth]

Can someone confirm......

I was always under the impression that the only cross boarder ban/points scenario was drink driving. Around 15 year ago I got flashed crossing the French/Belgian border, I was MASSIVELY over the limit and got a letter requesting my details etc (there were two of us driving that weekend in a company car). I somehow forgot to reply (genuine accident, letter was written out waiting to post nearly 8 months later when I found it) and nothing ever came of it.

I have heard of French Police leading people to ATMs to pay the fines as they are unenforceable overseas?

As mine was so long ago I wouldn't take it as what will happen now.

[krallicious]

Deva Link said:

One of the guys in our German office was recently banned for a month and I can't remember the precise speed details but it seemed pretty harsh. He'd been caught twice within a fairly short space of time, second time was by a cop hiding using a speed gun at night.

That's how I received my first German ticket at 11.45 in the arse end of no where. My MIL was caught doing 52 in a 30 (missed the sign but the 30 is only 100m long!) and was fined 25€ with no points. I generally find the police here to be very fair and there are no safety camera partnerships to worry about.

[Riley Blue]

krallicious said:

I generally find the police here to be very fair and there are no safety camera partnerships to worry about.

In Germany? They've been using cameras since the 1960s, in vans nowadays.

[Hugo a Gogo]

in the worst case scenario, they catch up with you:

http://www.verkehrsportal.de/bussgeldrechner/index...

says 200 euro fine, 23.50 costs etc, 4 points (on a ghost licence) and a one month ban

extra fine if you'd endangered anyone, or damaged something

the point is whether they can (or will) force you to tell them who was driving

if they decide it was you (I don't know how likely this is) and if you go back regularly, you might well find yourself arrested for driving without a licence.

if you took the ban, you can pick when it starts, so can schedule it for a month when you aren't there anyway

[Hugo a Gogo]

Riley Blue said:

In Germany? They've been using cameras since the 1960s, in vans nowadays.

the police have, yes

and always in the same pre-approved locations

they use Astra estates or VW Caddys here in NRW, or sometimes just the coppers standing at a bus-stop with the radar on a tripod, then they'll wave you down directly

[User33678888]

Hugo a Gogo said:

in the worst case scenario, they catch up with you:

http://www.verkehrsportal.de/bussgeldrechner/index...

says 200 euro fine, 23.50 costs etc, 4 points (on a ghost licence) and a one month ban

extra fine if you'd endangered anyone, or damaged something

the point is whether they can (or will) force you to tell them who was driving

if they decide it was you (I don't know how likely this is) and if you go back regularly, you might well find yourself arrested for driving without a licence.

if you took the ban, you can pick when it starts, so can schedule it for a month when you aren't there anyway

Great link, thanks.

I like the idea of taking the ban when I definately won't be in the country. Could take a longer ban instead of the fine? If I cannot remember who was driving, am I liable as the main hirer?

[Olivera]

I was flashed earlier this year in Germany at approx 20-30kmh over the limit - received nothing.

[Hugo a Gogo]

User33678888 said:

Great link, thanks.

I like the idea of taking the ban when I definately won't be in the country. Could take a longer ban instead of the fine? If I cannot remember who was driving, am I liable as the main hirer?

if another driver was insured, if you have an idea who that other driver could be (he was driving with your permission of course) and if that other driver looks like the person driving in the photograph they have (pics are from the front of course)