Traffic Ticket in Germany
Jan 8th, 2011, 08:53 AM
#21
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Question for logos999:
Would you please explain what the Schengen info system is? I know sort of a moot point as you have said 'it doesn't'! Just curious.
For hsv:
Thanks for the info on the whole collection agency topic.
Thanks again!!!
Would you please explain what the Schengen info system is? I know sort of a moot point as you have said 'it doesn't'! Just curious.
For hsv:
Thanks for the info on the whole collection agency topic.
Thanks again!!!
Jan 8th, 2011, 09:02 AM
#22
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Jan 8th, 2011, 10:44 AM
#23
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If your husband is going back to Germany shortly and will want to rent a car I would think it is a good idea to get this settled - before he gets there and finds out they won;t rent him a car (since he is a scofflaw). I can;t imagine he will be stopped at Passport control - but it may make a mess trying to rent a car.
Jan 8th, 2011, 10:46 AM
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Actually the rental was in my name as I was the one doing the driving! And after the 'search' I had at the Munich airport...people in the US want to complain?!?!? They should have had the fun I experienced! Well, I can't even consider (even if I wanted to) paying the ticket if I don't know what it is!
Jan 8th, 2011, 01:43 PM
#26
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I had to go through 6 different 'searches' on my check-in through the Munich airport. Supposedly I was 'chosen randomly' and they searched everything....even went through all the pics on my camera!!! It was humiliating to say the least and invasive. And it doesn't happen just in the US!!!
Jan 8th, 2011, 01:51 PM
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I knew what you meant, dobes3kh. And if you think that's bad you should see Israeli security. About half of my Israel trip report is about security, it goes beyond anything I've ever seen and far beyond what you mentioned in Germany.
But we'll save that for another thread. Back to the subject at hand, I'm glad you received more info and this has been an interesting thread. I had no idea tickets in Germany were so high. My only brush with the law was a citation in Greece but it was very cheap so I paid it. That was many years ago, no telling what it costs now. Good luck in resolving your situation.
But we'll save that for another thread. Back to the subject at hand, I'm glad you received more info and this has been an interesting thread. I had no idea tickets in Germany were so high. My only brush with the law was a citation in Greece but it was very cheap so I paid it. That was many years ago, no telling what it costs now. Good luck in resolving your situation.
Jan 8th, 2011, 02:02 PM
#28
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I have heard about security in Israel...and something recently in the news about Germany wanting to adopt similar 'profiling' measures. But you're right...save it for another thread...probably another forum altogether!!!
I received a 5 pound British fine a long time ago...paid it as I was working there and that was that! But you're right! The fines in Germany are high...something about them recently being raised to be more in line with neighbouring countries?
The information on here has been invaluable! Thanks to all that have taken the time to contribute!
And I absolutely love Germany!!! Despite the ticket!!!
I received a 5 pound British fine a long time ago...paid it as I was working there and that was that! But you're right! The fines in Germany are high...something about them recently being raised to be more in line with neighbouring countries?
The information on here has been invaluable! Thanks to all that have taken the time to contribute!
And I absolutely love Germany!!! Despite the ticket!!!
Jan 8th, 2011, 05:12 PM
#29
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The fines in Germany are still quite low, especially if compared with many other European countries. People in Germany normally aren't scared about the fines but the main threat is losing the driving license for some time.
Here's link to the fines http://www.bussgeldkataloge.de/
("innerhalb geschlossener Ortschaften" means within a city, "außerhalb geschlossener Ortschaften" means highway etc.)
You only end up paying the 600/680 Euro fine if you go more than 70 km/h above speed limit, for example when you go 120 km/h in a city where 50 km/h is allowed. I very much doubt that you did that.
If you went with the traffic, you were probably within the 10-30 km/h range above speed limit, so probably a maximum of 100 Euro or so.
I don't know how Germany handles this but I very much doubt that a hundred Euro fine puts you close to the top of the most wanted list. So I'd go with hsv's advice to do nothing, especially if your concerns are about your husband who wasn't driving.
Here's link to the fines http://www.bussgeldkataloge.de/
("innerhalb geschlossener Ortschaften" means within a city, "außerhalb geschlossener Ortschaften" means highway etc.)
You only end up paying the 600/680 Euro fine if you go more than 70 km/h above speed limit, for example when you go 120 km/h in a city where 50 km/h is allowed. I very much doubt that you did that.
If you went with the traffic, you were probably within the 10-30 km/h range above speed limit, so probably a maximum of 100 Euro or so.
I don't know how Germany handles this but I very much doubt that a hundred Euro fine puts you close to the top of the most wanted list. So I'd go with hsv's advice to do nothing, especially if your concerns are about your husband who wasn't driving.
Jan 8th, 2011, 05:28 PM
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"If your husband is going back to Germany shortly and will want to rent a car I would think it is a good idea to get this settled - before he gets there and finds out they won;t rent him a car (since he is a scofflaw)"
- Rubbish. For all the reasons outlined before. No car rental company will be informed about a simple speeding violation - and even if he uses the same again they would not care as they were not liable for the previous offence.
"I had no idea tickets in Germany were so high."
- What gave anyone the idea to think traffic fines are high in Germany? They absolutely aren't. The maximum fine of between EUR 600 and 680 would be applicable only in cases where one travels at around 2x - 3x the speed allowed at that time (which frankly would be an accomplishment in itself and will hardly happen. One would have to race at Autobahn speed through a town - or exceed the applicable speed limit on the Autobahn extremely significantly (go at 100 mph where there is a 50 mph speed limit). If one follows the general flow of traffic this is highly unlikely.
For most cases, fines will realistically be in the range of around EUR 30.00 (exceeding the speed limit by about 6 mph - 12 mph.
For comparison a speeding violation of around 12 mph that will cost you around EUR 30.00 in Germany will roughly set you back as follows in other European countries (ref. to Die Welt):
- Denmark: EUR 70.00 - EUR 270.00
- Belgium: EUR 100.00
- France: more than EUR 90.00.
- U.K.: more than EUR 75.00
- Italy: more than EUR 155.00
- Holland: more than EUR 100.00
- Norway: EUR 360.00
- Switzerland: more than EUR 110.00
- Spain: EUR 90.00
- Turkey: EUR 60.00
Re the off-topic security search at Munich airport: I am not surprised. Munich's security in my regular experience is the worst in Germany as it appears to defy common sense and officers seem to exercise authority with pleasure. I wholeheartedly support thorough security, but in Munich security can easily border harassment (once they would not allow the transparent bag for carry-on liquids that had been handed out to me at LHR and which I had used with no complaint at countless other European airports. Turned out they sold a comparable bag there and I presume wanted to increase their business. An appalling practice worthy of some banana republic, but a disgrace for a presumably civilised nation like Germany).
- Rubbish. For all the reasons outlined before. No car rental company will be informed about a simple speeding violation - and even if he uses the same again they would not care as they were not liable for the previous offence.
"I had no idea tickets in Germany were so high."
- What gave anyone the idea to think traffic fines are high in Germany? They absolutely aren't. The maximum fine of between EUR 600 and 680 would be applicable only in cases where one travels at around 2x - 3x the speed allowed at that time (which frankly would be an accomplishment in itself and will hardly happen. One would have to race at Autobahn speed through a town - or exceed the applicable speed limit on the Autobahn extremely significantly (go at 100 mph where there is a 50 mph speed limit). If one follows the general flow of traffic this is highly unlikely.
For most cases, fines will realistically be in the range of around EUR 30.00 (exceeding the speed limit by about 6 mph - 12 mph.
For comparison a speeding violation of around 12 mph that will cost you around EUR 30.00 in Germany will roughly set you back as follows in other European countries (ref. to Die Welt):
- Denmark: EUR 70.00 - EUR 270.00
- Belgium: EUR 100.00
- France: more than EUR 90.00.
- U.K.: more than EUR 75.00
- Italy: more than EUR 155.00
- Holland: more than EUR 100.00
- Norway: EUR 360.00
- Switzerland: more than EUR 110.00
- Spain: EUR 90.00
- Turkey: EUR 60.00
Re the off-topic security search at Munich airport: I am not surprised. Munich's security in my regular experience is the worst in Germany as it appears to defy common sense and officers seem to exercise authority with pleasure. I wholeheartedly support thorough security, but in Munich security can easily border harassment (once they would not allow the transparent bag for carry-on liquids that had been handed out to me at LHR and which I had used with no complaint at countless other European airports. Turned out they sold a comparable bag there and I presume wanted to increase their business. An appalling practice worthy of some banana republic, but a disgrace for a presumably civilised nation like Germany).
Apr 5th, 2011, 01:09 PM
#31
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I rented an Avis car in Sept-Oct 2010, traveled thru 12 countries over 35 days, finishing up with 10,000 KM driven. Germany to Sweden to Italy and back. Got 3 seperate notices and fees from Avis after I got home for 3 traffic violations. Avis said they had provided my mailing info to each authority and these would contact me for further details, and charged me about $15 for each notification.
I know I got a parking ticket I forgot to pay in Lubec, Germany, a speed flash on a german autobahn, and a speed flash in a Switz toll road tunnel. But going up to 140 MPH on the Autobahn was worth the occasional fines!
I only received mail from a Switzerland local town/authority. I had to do some digging online to find a valid email address to communicate with them (not on the notice), using a Google email translater. Ended up paying 40 Euros (or 60CFH) for about a 10-15 KMH over limit offense, and paid by credit card, with a very nice clerk helping me make it happen.
I have not received any mail from Germany on the other 2 violations, so I assume they did not want to bother, and with what HSV and others have said in this thread, i will ignore and feel safe about re-entering Germany some day. I was worried about being stopped at the border and being thrown in the slammer as a scofflaw... but no fears now.
I also am 99% certain I sped in Netherlands, in daylight, thru many speed cameras - as I was racing to meet a deadline there and not paying attention to cameras. I did not realize they were everywhere until the 2nd day we were there, but i heard from friends in Belgium they do not export speed camera violations from Netherlands or Belgium, to Germany where the rental car was registered. So never heard of any coming to AVIS.
I downloaded a speed camera app (Cyclops) to my Garmin GPS halfway thru my trip which alerted me to many French and other speed cameras, which I know saved me lots of violation $$. Highly recommended app as cameras are everywhere in Europe.
I know I got a parking ticket I forgot to pay in Lubec, Germany, a speed flash on a german autobahn, and a speed flash in a Switz toll road tunnel. But going up to 140 MPH on the Autobahn was worth the occasional fines!
I only received mail from a Switzerland local town/authority. I had to do some digging online to find a valid email address to communicate with them (not on the notice), using a Google email translater. Ended up paying 40 Euros (or 60CFH) for about a 10-15 KMH over limit offense, and paid by credit card, with a very nice clerk helping me make it happen.
I have not received any mail from Germany on the other 2 violations, so I assume they did not want to bother, and with what HSV and others have said in this thread, i will ignore and feel safe about re-entering Germany some day. I was worried about being stopped at the border and being thrown in the slammer as a scofflaw... but no fears now.
I also am 99% certain I sped in Netherlands, in daylight, thru many speed cameras - as I was racing to meet a deadline there and not paying attention to cameras. I did not realize they were everywhere until the 2nd day we were there, but i heard from friends in Belgium they do not export speed camera violations from Netherlands or Belgium, to Germany where the rental car was registered. So never heard of any coming to AVIS.
I downloaded a speed camera app (Cyclops) to my Garmin GPS halfway thru my trip which alerted me to many French and other speed cameras, which I know saved me lots of violation $$. Highly recommended app as cameras are everywhere in Europe.
Apr 5th, 2011, 01:24 PM
#32
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Austrian note - I also got pulled over in Austria last Sept, high in Alps, in a manned Radar speed trap, doing 140 KPH in a 100 KMH zone. Cost me 55 euros on the spot as the officers, with machine guns by the way, gave me the choice to pay cash now, or ride with them to talk to the local judge to fight it. Luckily I had my last 60 euros in my wallet to pay with. Not sure what they or I would have done with just a credit card. Note to self: carry more cash for these and other emergencies.
Don't think this Austria violation or my Switz camera speed ticket ever got reported to my Washington State drivers license bureau to go on my record. Think they are like our local ones, simple revenue generators, not reported as license points to me. My insurance has not been raised at any rate.
Good luck out there on the roads.
PS: I used AutoEurope online (they are a broker) to rent my newer Avis Mercedes 200 diesel. Got 35 days for about $1,000 US$, so a great price. Diesel gas was $6.50 gal, versus over $8 for unleaded, and we got 37 mpg, so highly recommend renting a diesel stick shift, though the constant shifting-clutching was tiresome at times.
Cheers.
Don't think this Austria violation or my Switz camera speed ticket ever got reported to my Washington State drivers license bureau to go on my record. Think they are like our local ones, simple revenue generators, not reported as license points to me. My insurance has not been raised at any rate.
Good luck out there on the roads.
PS: I used AutoEurope online (they are a broker) to rent my newer Avis Mercedes 200 diesel. Got 35 days for about $1,000 US$, so a great price. Diesel gas was $6.50 gal, versus over $8 for unleaded, and we got 37 mpg, so highly recommend renting a diesel stick shift, though the constant shifting-clutching was tiresome at times.
Cheers.
Jul 21st, 2012, 12:36 PM
#33
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I found this thread while searching because we just got a notice in the mail that on May 22 at 14:23 my husband committed a traffic violation. That was the day we drove from Fussen to Berchtesgaden through Austria. As we only parked in a parking garage in Innsbruck, I'm guessing my husband was speeding somewhere along our route---I'm sure he never reached excessive speeds on any "A" roads so I'm wondering where the violation occured.
After reading the above posts I notice several comments about Avis---our rental was with Avis. Our notice letter came from Avis, Traffic Offense Team. This is our first traffic violation in all the times we've been driving in Europe or even here in the US for that matter.
In the letter after Details of authority is says Komm.Verk.uberwachung Toging a.Inn---imagine an umlaut over the first "u" and second "o"
The letter states the authorities will contact us within 3 months---we are invited to contact the "competent authority" if we have questions but I can't tell who that might be.
With the information I've provided can you tell where we were when this happened? Thanks, Deborah
After reading the above posts I notice several comments about Avis---our rental was with Avis. Our notice letter came from Avis, Traffic Offense Team. This is our first traffic violation in all the times we've been driving in Europe or even here in the US for that matter.
In the letter after Details of authority is says Komm.Verk.uberwachung Toging a.Inn---imagine an umlaut over the first "u" and second "o"
The letter states the authorities will contact us within 3 months---we are invited to contact the "competent authority" if we have questions but I can't tell who that might be.
With the information I've provided can you tell where we were when this happened? Thanks, Deborah
Jul 21st, 2012, 12:53 PM
#34
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Hmm.. There is only one Töging am Inn you can find on Google maps, and that is in SE Bavaria.. along the A94 between Munich and Passau. Far away from where you said you were on that day.
It could be that something got mixed up. Maybe Avis allocated the ticket to a wrong date and then to you.
When that ticket gets mailed to you, you may want to come back here to get a free translation ;-)
It could be that something got mixed up. Maybe Avis allocated the ticket to a wrong date and then to you.
When that ticket gets mailed to you, you may want to come back here to get a free translation ;-)
Jul 21st, 2012, 01:31 PM
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Thanks Cowboy--our gps did bring us somewhat near Munich at exit 102 on the A8 south of Rosenheim from the E-45/A-12 in Austria and then we approached Berchtesgaden from Salzburg.I don't think our small rental car ever reached excessive speeds on the autoroute!! You can believe I'll be hoping for a translation when the official letter arrives Deborah
Deborah
Aug 7th, 2013, 02:17 PM
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I had visited Germany in June this year and I had rented out a car from Avis during my stay. The rental company recently charged my credit card for 15 Euros and 30 Euros for providing my information to the Traffic Authorities in Germany for 2 separate speeding violations committed the same day at 2 different places. I was driving from Munich to Paderborn.
So far I've only received one letter from the traffic authorities with a fine of 120 Euros + Misc fee of 23.50 = 143.50 euros. The letter mentioned that the offence was for speeding at 119 kmph in a 80 kmph zone off-city limits.
I don't know what the other offence/fine might be.
Now my concern is: Can I ignore these tickets? Its very unlikely me visiting Germany again. If I can't ignore, does the current system allow me to make payments easily online? Paying through banks is a nightmare!
Any sound advice is really appreciated!
So far I've only received one letter from the traffic authorities with a fine of 120 Euros + Misc fee of 23.50 = 143.50 euros. The letter mentioned that the offence was for speeding at 119 kmph in a 80 kmph zone off-city limits.
I don't know what the other offence/fine might be.
Now my concern is: Can I ignore these tickets? Its very unlikely me visiting Germany again. If I can't ignore, does the current system allow me to make payments easily online? Paying through banks is a nightmare!
Any sound advice is really appreciated!
