How do we pay a traffic ticket from Germany
May 7th, 2011, 01:50 PM
#82
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,016
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
http://www.gpsinforad.com/prodinfo_en.php?pn=K1
USB Stick, will cost you about $50, works in Europe and North America
USB Stick, will cost you about $50, works in Europe and North America
May 7th, 2011, 02:02 PM
#84
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Logos thanks so much for the link. I guess that the USB sticks work better than my valentine1 detector! http://www.valentine1.com/
May 7th, 2011, 02:10 PM
#85
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,016
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This K1 doesn't detect radar guns, but has internet updates every day with all the locations of fixed and temp. traffic cameras. It's just a little bigger than a stick for storing data, same size as a bic lighter. It makes an infernal noise. 
I take it with me whenever I rent a car anywhere.
Sold in France at any "Carrefour" and of course on the internt.
I take it with me whenever I rent a car anywhere.Sold in France at any "Carrefour" and of course on the internt.
May 7th, 2011, 04:23 PM
#86
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,271
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How does one know a ticket isn't bogus. Here in New York City 3/4 of the summonses the pigs hand out are bogus and are not designed to improve safety but rather to enhance revenue but at least you can go to a kangeroo court to contest it (of course in NY, the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt doesn't exit, the instant the pig writes the summons, you are considered gui8lty. Why the word of one of these pigs is worth more than yur word is not comprehensible; both of you have a reason to lie. You to avoid the fine and the consequences on your driver's license and insurance and the pig to meet his quota. If you read what's been gong on in NYC with tickets, you'll see that the vast majority aree bogus.
May 7th, 2011, 04:34 PM
#87
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,016
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
xyz123, I know quite a few stories about Austrian traffic cops. Everybody in Munich has one . It's like a city dweller is on their turf. Northern German cars a treated like "aliens" from outer space who cares, but with a Munich license plate, you need to go realllly slow on the secondary roads. The thing is that in Austria, it's sufficient for two policemen to say that you were speeding for it to be counted as valid evidence. Even if you only go at a little bit above the allowed speed they just claim you were speeding. Think Alabama (I do like Alabama).
So "we" tend to be very careful on those roads. However it IS nice just to be considerd city ..., instead of aliens, or even foreigners, isn't it? ;-)
. It's like a city dweller is on their turf. Northern German cars a treated like "aliens" from outer space who cares, but with a Munich license plate, you need to go realllly slow on the secondary roads. The thing is that in Austria, it's sufficient for two policemen to say that you were speeding for it to be counted as valid evidence. Even if you only go at a little bit above the allowed speed they just claim you were speeding. Think Alabama (I do like Alabama).So "we" tend to be very careful on those roads. However it IS nice just to be considerd city ..., instead of aliens, or even foreigners, isn't it? ;-)
Jul 22nd, 2013, 06:20 PM
#90
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello, I was hoping HSV, markrosy, or someone with expertise in this matter help me out on my case as well.
My parents travelled in Austria and Germany recently and they came back to see a letter from "Bayer. Polizeiverwaltungsamt". Apparently the fine is for "running a red light and causing dangers to pedestrians", which my father (the driver does not recall doing). The only thing he recalls is that he got some jay-walkers upset when he was driving around in that area.
HSV commented that speeding is labeled as a "minor dismeanor" and therefore is put into the civil file and not a criminal case. I'm unsure if this is true for my father's case. The fine is a whooping 343.50 EUR.
We are Canadians so we know we won't be penalized if we stay in Canada. But we don't want to rule out the possibility of ever travelling to EU again. My father genuinely believes that he committed no such wrong and would appeal if he could, but he can't.
Would you advise us to ignore this "fee" and move on and travel back to EU/Germany in the future with no worry?
Please let me know. Thanks!
My parents travelled in Austria and Germany recently and they came back to see a letter from "Bayer. Polizeiverwaltungsamt". Apparently the fine is for "running a red light and causing dangers to pedestrians", which my father (the driver does not recall doing). The only thing he recalls is that he got some jay-walkers upset when he was driving around in that area.
HSV commented that speeding is labeled as a "minor dismeanor" and therefore is put into the civil file and not a criminal case. I'm unsure if this is true for my father's case. The fine is a whooping 343.50 EUR.
We are Canadians so we know we won't be penalized if we stay in Canada. But we don't want to rule out the possibility of ever travelling to EU again. My father genuinely believes that he committed no such wrong and would appeal if he could, but he can't.
Would you advise us to ignore this "fee" and move on and travel back to EU/Germany in the future with no worry?
Please let me know. Thanks!
Jul 22nd, 2013, 10:36 PM
#91
The Germans have a high civic expectation; I don't seem them just ignoring the fine. Should you not pay the fine and then some day return to Germany it 1)might show up at passport control 2)if you got stopped and it showed up on record...my guess is the fine would be pretty stiff.>>
I hope that doesn't apply in the US. I'm still sat on [note use of incorrect vernacular] a speeding ticket from the Mass. police for U$100 from 25 years ago.
I dread to think what the interest must be!
I hope that doesn't apply in the US. I'm still sat on [note use of incorrect vernacular] a speeding ticket from the Mass. police for U$100 from 25 years ago.
I dread to think what the interest must be!
Jul 22nd, 2013, 11:14 PM
#93
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,373
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Tonychen87,
Yes, I agree -- pay the ticket just to avoid any possible dangers in the future. It's Germany, and it's the German police and government that says you need to pay it.
Also, I have to say that Germans don't really think in terms of "jay-walkers." Pedestrians have the right of way. When I was getting my drivers license here in Germany, the instructor and I discussed that difference at some length. In the US (and I guess in North America), it is a car culture, and pedestrians have rules when they infringe on the road. Not so in Germany. Pedestrians rule. (Well, I mean, in built-up areas) Your father may even have been in a pedestrian zone where cars aren't allowed.
s
Yes, I agree -- pay the ticket just to avoid any possible dangers in the future. It's Germany, and it's the German police and government that says you need to pay it.
Also, I have to say that Germans don't really think in terms of "jay-walkers." Pedestrians have the right of way. When I was getting my drivers license here in Germany, the instructor and I discussed that difference at some length. In the US (and I guess in North America), it is a car culture, and pedestrians have rules when they infringe on the road. Not so in Germany. Pedestrians rule. (Well, I mean, in built-up areas) Your father may even have been in a pedestrian zone where cars aren't allowed.
s
Jul 23rd, 2013, 02:05 AM
#97
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 8,247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If the rental car company's fee for forwarding your address is not included in the fine, it can be assumed that your father ran a red light (more than one second after it turned red, which is an extra severe issue) plus causing danger (to pedestrian in crossroads, usually) which comes with a "price tag" of 320 euros PLUS 4 penalty points (if he had a German DL) PLUS 1 month loss of driving privileges.
So this is a pretty serious matter which will not vanish from the files like a little bit of speeding or not paying the parking meter.
If you can make out from the letter where and when this incident is said to have happened and if you are 100pct sure that your dad did NOT run a red light (if only accidentely) you should answer the letter and make that statement.
Maybe there has been a mix up in dates and someone who rented the car before or after you did it.
Re. jay-walking.. it is neither illegal nor uncommon to cross the streets not at lights or zebra crossings. But you do not have to yield to anyone jay-walking (you should also not run them over). Pedestrians do only have priority at zebra crossings (where you must stop) or if they walk straight on at intersections where you want to turn.
So this is a pretty serious matter which will not vanish from the files like a little bit of speeding or not paying the parking meter.
If you can make out from the letter where and when this incident is said to have happened and if you are 100pct sure that your dad did NOT run a red light (if only accidentely) you should answer the letter and make that statement.
Maybe there has been a mix up in dates and someone who rented the car before or after you did it.
Re. jay-walking.. it is neither illegal nor uncommon to cross the streets not at lights or zebra crossings. But you do not have to yield to anyone jay-walking (you should also not run them over). Pedestrians do only have priority at zebra crossings (where you must stop) or if they walk straight on at intersections where you want to turn.
Jul 28th, 2013, 09:03 AM
#98
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just a follow-up for those who are interested.
The car rental company was Sixt. I contacted the customer service center about this matter, and they forwarded this issue to a department that deals with traffic violations (I think). The department is called 'owi' if it means anything.
Anyways, we gave them our reservation information and everything, and they told us that no traffic offence was found during our rental period. In addition, while looking at the photos we took, we looked at the "time taken" detail and noticed that we were visiting a touring attraction and taking photos at the time which the letter stated that we committed the violation.
TL;DR - We believe that the traffic ticket was a hoax ticket, and someone with relevant information (such as a Sixt insider) sends these letters out to con the tourists.
The car rental company was Sixt. I contacted the customer service center about this matter, and they forwarded this issue to a department that deals with traffic violations (I think). The department is called 'owi' if it means anything.
Anyways, we gave them our reservation information and everything, and they told us that no traffic offence was found during our rental period. In addition, while looking at the photos we took, we looked at the "time taken" detail and noticed that we were visiting a touring attraction and taking photos at the time which the letter stated that we committed the violation.
TL;DR - We believe that the traffic ticket was a hoax ticket, and someone with relevant information (such as a Sixt insider) sends these letters out to con the tourists.
Jul 28th, 2013, 02:14 PM
#99
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 938
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm surprised about such a scam since impersonating the police for a fraud really, really annoys the German police and judicial system. It normally results in a much more determined reaction and considerably higher penalties than a normal scam. If someone uses this scam and isn't using a bank account outside of Germany, I doubt he'll be successfull very long.
If the letter is real, I think there should be a bank account mentioned for transferring the money. I looked up the site of the Bavarian police and found the following which I suppose should also be on the letter.
Bankverbindung:
Sparkasse Regen-Viechtach
BLZ: 741 514 50
Kontonummer: 240 000 414
Bei Zahlungen aus Staaten des SEPA (Single EURO Payments Area):
Sparkasse Regen-Viechtach
IBAN: DE 25 741 514 50 0 240 000 414
BIC: BYLADEM1REG
Kontoinhaber: Zentrale Bußgeldstelle Viechtach
Bei Zahlungen aus sonstigen Staaten:
Bayerische Landesbank Girozentrale München
BIC: BYLADEMM
für unser Konto bei
Sparkasse Regen-Viechtach
Konto-Nr. 240 000 414 (IBAN: DE 25 741 514 50 0 240 000 414)
Kontoinhaber: Zentrale Bußgeldstelle Viechtach
If the letter is real, I think there should be a bank account mentioned for transferring the money. I looked up the site of the Bavarian police and found the following which I suppose should also be on the letter.
Bankverbindung:
Sparkasse Regen-Viechtach
BLZ: 741 514 50
Kontonummer: 240 000 414
Bei Zahlungen aus Staaten des SEPA (Single EURO Payments Area):
Sparkasse Regen-Viechtach
IBAN: DE 25 741 514 50 0 240 000 414
BIC: BYLADEM1REG
Kontoinhaber: Zentrale Bußgeldstelle Viechtach
Bei Zahlungen aus sonstigen Staaten:
Bayerische Landesbank Girozentrale München
BIC: BYLADEMM
für unser Konto bei
Sparkasse Regen-Viechtach
Konto-Nr. 240 000 414 (IBAN: DE 25 741 514 50 0 240 000 414)
Kontoinhaber: Zentrale Bußgeldstelle Viechtach
Jul 28th, 2013, 04:20 PM
#100
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We were "flashed" in Germany in June (speeding about 10 miles over the limit) but haven't yet received a notice from the car rental company nor from Germany.
Some years ago we were flashed, got a notice but didn't pay, and have had no problem re-entering Germany (several times). With that experience, we probably won't pay this one either.
If it were a simple matter of pony-ing up the fine via check or credit card or PayPal, we would pay; however, bank transfers make it ridiculously expensive.
Some years ago we were flashed, got a notice but didn't pay, and have had no problem re-entering Germany (several times). With that experience, we probably won't pay this one either.
If it were a simple matter of pony-ing up the fine via check or credit card or PayPal, we would pay; however, bank transfers make it ridiculously expensive.
