After my last trip from UK to Poland I appear to have got a speeding fine - based on the letter I have recieved today in German with a picture of me driving a car. It has all the details on for my car and a time and date and location of the alleged offence. However I can't find anywhere any description of my overspeed or more importantly my fine value. It appears I just need to confirm I was the driver at the time - is this normal or have I gone too fast for the normal fines to be applied and have fallen foul of the somewhat stringent German speeding policy. Looking on google maps I was on the autobahn so if there was a 130 limit I never noticed and I would have been probably 40-50 over that. 2008 TDV8

Oh dear!

That's what a hidden speed camera detector is for  

They probably want to figure out first, who the real driver was. If its you or somebody else.
We usually have either 80, 100 or 120 km/h limits if limits apply. 130 is not very common.
I am not sure they will follow it up at all if you do not reply. I still have one from switzerland 25 years ago....
But if you travel frequently through germany you might end up witha seized car one da if you don't pay.
So might be worth checking where it was and how fast you' ve been.

Regards
heppsen 2017 MB V-Class
2016 Q7 (gone)
2012 FFRR TDV8
2012 Smart Pulse Turbo
1986 MB W126
1965 LR Series 2A
1961 LR Series 2

Last edited by heppsen on 24th Jan 2017 8:07am. Edited 1 time in total

I may be wrong but AFAIK you can just bin it, there's no way of chasing you for it. 2011 (MY12) 4.4 TDV8 Vogue
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Thanks for the replies.

After some extensive google translatation it is just a letter asking to confirm who the driver was. Discovered a user name and password in thr letter that allows you to log on and provide all the infomation and then they will decide what steps to take next.

I also thought it was possible to ignore them (as I have with ones from France and Spain in the past) however the laws changed last year which allows all European countries to exchange infomation regarding driving offences and collect fines from non resisdents. The law also has the provision for points relating to the offence to be transferred to your licence so German points can be applied via DVLA to your UK licence. Also from my research if I do choose to ignore it and then drive back through Germany in the same car and pass a Police car with ANPR I will probably have a mostly unpleasent experience potentially involving a siezed car and a tempory arrest until the fine is paid plus any interest etc. 2008 TDV8

Oh and it was 161 in a 120 zone - no infomation of fine amount in letter but the internet seems to suggest around 160€ and a 1 month ban from driving in Germany but we will wait and see what the next letter brings. 2008 TDV8

I would suggest that you pay the fine if want to drive in Germany, without getting some trouble, again..............  All my spelling errorz are belong to me!

2023 FFRR L460
2021 AM new Vantage

pretty much spot on for the fine to be expected.
Not sure they would envoke the 4 weeks of ban from driving, as you are not a german resident.
We would have to pass over our license from 4 weeks then. (from 26km/h too fast upwards, 1 month no driving, from 61 km/h its 2 months and above 70 its 3)
All this only applies to "outside cities" zones, so motorway/freeway/country roads.

As said, pay the fine if you pan to travel through germany anytime soon, as I am sure you
would be kept from traveling on without paying the fine once caught...
They won't probably arrest you, but keep you from driving on with your car, whereever they have made contact with you - so in the most unpleasant moment of pouring rain on a lonely stretch of remote motorway - where the taxi to the cash machine and back could be more than the fine...

Good luck!

regards
heppsen 2017 MB V-Class
2016 Q7 (gone)
2012 FFRR TDV8
2012 Smart Pulse Turbo
1986 MB W126
1965 LR Series 2A
1961 LR Series 2

Last edited by heppsen on 24th Jan 2017 11:57am. Edited 1 time in total

RJH wrote:

I may be wrong but AFAIK you can just bin it, there's no way of chasing you for it.

There isn't in the UK because no reciprocal arrangement exists, but that may not be the case between Poland & Germany...... they got the address from somewhere.

Does the fine go up if you don't pay it ?

Did you need to sign for the letter ? (Do they have proof you received it) ?

Another alternative is to always ensure you have enough cash in the car to pay a roadside fine.

When travelling through France, I always make sure I have 90 EUR just in case I accidentally exceed the speed limit

<--- Agrees with Alistair - and France got an agreement with Germany for the fines - i once paid for a 2 km speeding 45 Euros ( ils sont fous les francais) All my spelling errorz are belong to me!

2023 FFRR L460
2021 AM new Vantage

Reminds me of this:

"It is impossible to drive. You have no licence."

Thank you again for all the responses.

Further question if i don't pay the fine will there be interest incurred on it or would I be safe to, as Alistair suggested, carry 160Eur in the car for when I drive through Germany in case I get stopped so I can pay the outstanding fine and carry on without too much delay or I should just wait for the inevitable bank details and pay it and drive without constantly looking in the mirrors for blue lights.

Alistair - seems like the UK is also joining this particular party from 2017 - http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/ar...fines.html 2008 TDV8

Pretend you are a Frank (XXXAngelXX). They must have him on their records so much by now they might let you/him off it (sort of BOGOF - buy one get one free!)

"PUBLISHED: 12:28 GMT, 12 February 2015
---continent will no longer be able to dodge fines after a new EU directive was unanimously approved."

But after BREXIT?, would the EU directive still be valid?....

apologies, didn't realise things had changed.
Got flashed in France last October & never heard anything further, mate also had several flashes heard nothing.
Guess I'll need to be a bit Joe careful next trip  2011 (MY12) 4.4 TDV8 Vogue
2016 Golf GTI PP

Gone
Audi A4
VW Passat
VW Corrado G60
VW Golf GTI
BMW E30
Mini
Vauxhall Chvette