Speeding in Germany, can you help?

[Deester]

Does anyone know what will happen to your British licence if you are caught speeding in Germany?

I have been caught speeding in Frankfurt in my German registered BMW M5. I have a full British driving licence.

I was leaving Frankfurt at 81km/h on a 50 km/h limit according to the letter I received. Although my car told me I was travelling at 75 km/h... In Germany this merits a 1 month driving ban, 100 Euro fine and 3 points. Can the Germans put points on my licence? They have a different points scheme. Can they take my licence?

Please, if any one has been in a similar situation could you let me know how it goes from here.

Many thanks,
Deester...

>>> Edited by Deester on Thursday 15th August 14:44

>>> Edited by Deester on Thursday 15th August 15:52

[kevinday]

As far as I am aware the scheme for cross posting points between countries is not in place yet. They cannot take your licence because they did not issue it. Therefore fine only.

[Bodo]

Deester, I don't think that's a problem, because there is nearly no communication between German and UK authorities, unless a Straftat is the topic. AND German plod has no hole punchers
A pity, you didn't have a British plate - I guess they'll charge you with a fine.

cheers,
Bodo

BTW: which road was it?

[Deester]

I was flashed as I was leaving Frankfurt on the outskirts of the city (Mainzer Landsträße), heading for the A66 direction Wiesbaden. The camera that flashed me was hidden in the back of a van and flashed me from the front! I hope they cant take the licence! That would be sweet!

I did get the standard letter, Fahverbot Droht. Sent it back but no reply or fine yet...

Many thanks,
Deester...

>> Edited by Deester on Thursday 15th August 16:31

[Dazren]

Although the Germans can't take your english license, I would have thought they can still suspend you from driving in Germany for the duration of the ban.

DAZ

[Bodo]

Found two weblinks about that topic:

www.kba.de

and

www.eucaris.net "european plod union"

[Deester]

Bodo, thanks for the links. This technology looks bad.... real bad and accurate! :|

[outlaw]

depends wether you still in germany or not.

if your back at home in the uk bin it.

[Bodo]

quote:
I was flashed as I was leaving Frankfurt on the outskirts of the city (Mainzer Landsträße), ...

Must have been there!?:



here's another link - from the opposite party:

www.radarfalle.de

[Deester]

Thats the fellow. Under that bridge!!

I am not back in the UK, I will be in Germany for the next 6 months... So i have to deal with it

[Dazren]

quote:
Thats the fellow. Under that bridge!!

I am not back in the UK, I will be in Germany for the next 6 months... So i have to deal with it

Book annual holidays abroad to follow your court date.

DAZ

>> Edited by Dazren on Thursday 15th August 17:21

[mainz5]

You're unlucky as I believe the threshold for a ban is +30km over the limit.

I was banned in similar circumstances but with a German license which you have to obtain if you are there for more than a year.

At least the public transport around Rhein-Main is good

[Deester]

Thats right, 1km (1/2 a MPH slower) and I would only get a fine. I don't get it, I drive at 160MPH on the autobahn legally and for a measly 31 km/h over the limit I get a 1 month ban... Germany is a good place for drivers provided you don't speed where there are speed limits posted.

[madcop]

Foreign convictions at the moment will not affect your UK driving licence with any points but that will not always be the case. I cannot give you any idea when the EU is going to standardise the system across the whole of the member states but it will happen!

[Deester]

Madcop thanks for your reply. Do you know if the German police can actually take my licence from me? Or do you mean they just can't endorse it with points? Thanks in advance.

Deester...

[JMGS4]

Deester, they can try to take your license from you, but they're not legally allowed to as they did not issue it. A court can take it and send it back to UK.
If you're only going to be in Germany for a sixmonth then try and use all "extending" procedures, ask for photo etc. Dont Admit anything. Maybe you'll leave before it all come sup, and as Britain does not have a personal address registration in force they'de have difficulty finding you if you were a bad boy and gave them a faulty address....
However you'd be better coughing up, as at some time in the future they may get you when you're here again.
They can ban you from driving in Germany, make you pay a fine but CANNOT take your license or give you points today at least....

[madcop]

quote:
Madcop thanks for your reply. Do you know if the German police can actually take my licence from me? Or do you mean they just can't endorse it with points? Thanks in advance.

Deester...

The system here for non domestic licence holders is that once convicted by court(and only convicted by the court so FPT notices do not count unless under totting up when you would appear anyway), The court issue the offender through the DVLA a skeleton licence. This is a licence which exists only for the benefit of DVLA and the courts who can endorse it or disqualify it within the UK only. A foreign national appearing on charges therefore will attract either points or a disqualification only on the skeleton licence and not on his/her domestic foreign licence. He/she will retain their domestic licence and entitlements to drive unscathed in other European countries (AT THE MOMENT)

I do not know anything about the German system but I would imagine that they have a similar system.

The previous advice is worth taking note of as it is possible that they could link any driving convictions not discharged through your identity on entering that country again, maybe even years afterwards. It could become a little inconvenient being arrested at the air/ferry/port for non payment of a speeding fine some years previous. I am not sure that this happens at the moment but it will noit be long before it does as the EU become more and more integrated into British and every other states lives. Money from fines will then go to the European central bank and treasury instead of Mr Browns, IMO anyway.

[jjr1]

Madcop

If you had a southern Ireland licence and drove here on the mainland and received a FPT I guess you would receive no points? Can you confirm this? In fact it probably counts for N.Ireland too since points there don't affect you here.

[madcop]

quote:
Madcop

If you had a southern Ireland licence and drove here on the mainland and received a FPT I guess you would receive no points? Can you confirm this? In fact it probably counts for N.Ireland too since points there don't affect you here.

You would recieve no points on your domestic licence but you would recieve a skeleton UK licence which would be endorsed with the points. Hence should you be a constant visitor to UK and continued to disregard the rules, 4 camera activations would attract a disqualification period on your skeleton licence. You would therefore be banned in the UK for the totting up on points. You could haowever still drive in other member EU states on your domestic Southern Irish Licence.

This is from memory and may have changed slightly.

[Deester]

Hi Folks,

A quick update. Recieved a letter today from the police. They were at my door when I was out. I have to go and say "Yes that is me in the photo" or "Nope thats not me". The letter tells me if I say it was not me the police will make me keep a travel book. This is a book in which I would have to record EVERY journey for police inspection. What a lot of crap. I am supposed to be on the ferry to Dover on Saturday so here is hoping they wont take my licence when I visit the German plod tomorrow.

Bollocks...

End rant.

Deester...