Traffic Tickets/Fines Around the World, Any Differences? (homes, school) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

chielgirl · 10-02-2011, 04:49 AM

I completely understand what you're saying.
I was talking more about speeding tickets. I also believe in enforcement of laws to protect the innocent.

Rob702 · 10-02-2011, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chielgirl

I'll disagree with you.
I don't know when you were in Germany but they're ticketing a lot for speeding; I don't see it a lot on the autobahn, but certainly when off the highway. They've got cameras camouflaged in many ingenious ways.
A lot of villages have radar set up "at" the name sign.

Really? Hmm, then I guess I am just a very careful driver. The last time I drove through a radar trap (geblitzt

) I was 30 km/h too fast and had to pay around 30 Euros for that... close to my parents' place there is an autobahn bridge where you are supposed to drive 100, but the radar doesn't kick in unless you drive 120+. Seems to be way more tolerant than in other countries...

Even if there are more cameras now, I still prefer that to being pulled over by the cops.

chielgirl · 10-02-2011, 05:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob702

Really? Hmm, then I guess I am just a very careful driver. The last time I drove through a radar trap (geblitzt

) I was 30 km/h too fast and had to pay around 30 Euros for that... close to my parents' place there is an autobahn bridge where you are supposed to drive 100, but the radar doesn't kick in unless you drive 120+. Seems to be way more tolerant than in other countries...

Even if there are more camperas now, I still prefer that to being pulled over by the cops.

Oh, I agree about the cameras, each ticket now includes your photo.
They started cracking down about 6 months ago. At the office, I have a list of the different type of camouflaged cameras they've implemented.

One day, in Sachicher Schweiss, I got tickets going both ways on a stretch that went from 50 to 30 to ticket in less than 50 meters. The return ticket was for 33 in a 30.

vamos · 10-02-2011, 07:35 AM

I spend roughly two to three month a year in Germany. Obviously, I do drive quite a bit during that time.

While it is true that many towns have cameras installed, I don't find that they are omnipresent. I also don't find mobile cameras to be overly employed by police although I saw one on a Bundesstrasse and one on the Autobahn this year.

Still, my wife and I have noticed for years that we are virtually the only ones who adhere to the speed limit. Certainly, on the Autobahn and Bundesstrasse, people have absolutely no qualms going 30 kph over the speed limit. However, we noticed this year that people were also not slowing to the 50 kph limit when going through towns - they would just keep going at 80, having slowed down from the 130 they were going on the Bundesstrasse leading to town. This included trucks.

Perhaps there are regional differences - this was mostly in Hessen and Rheinland-Pfalz.

I asked one of my friends (who also always speeds) why nobody adhered to the speed limit. His response was that the chances of getting a ticket were pretty slim and that even if you got one, the fine would be rather negligible (something like 30 Euro) unless you were WAY too fast.

TheFix · 10-02-2011, 08:09 AM

Here in Germany, it only costs anywhere from 5 to 15 euros for parking illegally. If I remember correctly in the states, they would charge you something insane like a $50 fine, coupled with a $100 "administrative fee", or some other such nonsense. It's nothing like that here in Germany.

dazzleman · 10-02-2011, 08:55 AM

In Finland, fines are based upon your income. I've seen speeding fines of hundreds of thousands of dollars for guys who really make a lot of money.

elnina · 10-03-2011, 01:17 AM

In Europe speed tickets are enforced by fixed infrared speed cameras. Even on pitch dark road, in a small village middle in the night if you drive over a speed limit all you see is a flash and.... a bill to pay the fine few weeks later. They installed over 25,000 fixes cams in 26 countries. Great money makers!
While details are limited, the EU has set aside €8.2 million ($11.6) to develop a camera system that will not only catch speeders but also tailgaters, polluters, unbelted occupants, and drivers traveling too fast for current road conditions. If everything goes according to plan, the cameras could be showing up across Europe in 2013.

Those beasts look like this:

European Union testing 'Super Speed Cameras'

New types of speed cameras, including mobile cameras mounted into the sides of unmarked vans, or high performance Audi cars, are being tested by Police forces in Western Europe. Additionally, German authorities have been testing cameras hidden in wheelie bins in residential areas (!) with Australian Police also testing the bin cameras.

New speed camera technology being used in Europe « MCi Tours Blog

European countries are increasingly pegging speeding fines to income as a way to punish wealthy scofflaws who would otherwise ignore tickets.
Advocates say a $290,000 speeding ticket

slapped on a millionaire Ferrari driver in Switzerland was a fair and well-deserved example of the trend.
Germany, France, Austria and the Nordic countries also issue punishments based on a person's wealth. In Germany the maximum fine can be as much as $16 million compared to only $1 million in Switzerland.

Traffic fines:
How Much are Traffic Fines in European Countries | A Thing for Cars
In many countries police will charge traffic fines on the spot, so be sure to carry ample cash or a credit card or you could face impoundment.

However there is a great database of those fixed cameras drivers can download to their computers, GPS and phones. Very accurate and efficient with many functions and alerts. Something what is not existing here in the US.

Tiger Beer · 10-03-2011, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tijlover

It increasingly appears, in the U.S., from purusing the threads on traffic tickets, that any number of local/state governments, knowing it's so difficult to raise taxes, have turned to traffic tickets as an alternate source of revenue for the government.

Curious, what's it like in other parts of the world? With the multitude of new car owners in China how are they dealing with traffic infractions over there, or India, Europe, Latin America, wherever?

Yeah, I notice the U.S. has a slew of traffic officers and a ton of cameras to capture people who go over the speed limits.

I doubt if China does anything like that. Unless it's changed recently, they have a system where the bigger vehicle gets the right of way, and everyone works around it.

The majority of Asia, you just have a ton more freedoms than the U.S. when it comes to driving.

Japan is the only one I know that seems to have a system similar to the U.S. with making it a big priority. I also noticed parts of Europe is really strict about that stuff too..Switzerland comes to mind.

chielgirl · 10-03-2011, 01:47 AM

I have a power point of the new radars in Germany if anyone wants a copy.

abpat2203 · 10-03-2011, 10:14 AM

India is very lax when it comes to implementing traffic rules. There is virtually no lane-discipline. Red signals are continuously flouted. Speed limits are non-existent in places.

Unless you do not get into an accident or get hauled over by a cop, you can virtually do anything on the Indian roads and get away with it. Major cities are stepping up on enforcing these rules but the inherent corruption in the traffic police department hinders everything.

Even if caught by a cop, you can get away by paying a bribe to the cop. They will openly tell you that the ticket will cost you Rs.400 ($10) or you can just pay me Rs.100 ($2) and be on your way.