I drive fast at home as well, I was not driving any differently than I would here in the US. I was driving in a manner that I considered safe, and I was usually not the fastest person on the road either.
My main concern with this thread was to figure out my chances of getting a fine in the mail from a speeding camera and what the possible ramifications of that would be for me.
think in most cases, "I" is a safe driver, regardless of speed. "I" am a safe driver also. never worried about speed, never slowed down, that was until "I"took that little ferrari down the A6(?) at over 200kps.
Programs: AC S100K, SPG Gold, HH Diamond, Hertz 5* Gold
Posts: 2,216
Quote:
Originally Posted by slawecki
think in most cases, "I" is a safe driver, regardless of speed. "I" am a safe driver also. never worried about speed, never slowed down, that was until "I"took that little ferrari down the A6(?) at over 200kps.
...and then "I" realized that at 220 Km/h there are two more gears to shift up to...
Well, it seems that I did get at least one speeding infraction. I got a letter in the mail from the rental agency today stating that they have been obligated to turn over my information to the authorities in Switzerland due to a speeding infraction. The date and time of the infraction was listed but nothing else. The notice stated that I would need to wait up to 4 months to receive communication from the Swiss regarding the payment that I actually owe.
The infringement was supposedly only 2 days before I flew back to the US and was from Switzerland. Conjecture here, but any guesses as to whether I (or the rental agency) will not be receiving any notices from Germany or Austria or indeed any additional notices from Switzerland regarding speeding infractions?
I have not received any infraction yet, only a notice that I will receive one from the rental car agency, however any information on the ramifications of not paying the ticket(s) when I receive it?
I have not received any infraction yet, only a notice that I will receive one from the rental car agency, however any information on the ramifications of not paying the ticket(s) when I receive it?
Thanks!
Well, you could have a warrant issued for your arrest in your home country, for starters.
Senior Moderator; Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 20,843
Now the swiss know who was driving fast, what they do with the info is up to them. You will certainly hear from them. Germans take 3-4 weeks, you would get a similar notification from the rental company.
A few years ago, I drove the west autobahn in Austria. Inconveniently, there are no speed limits posted: The authorities just assume you know it's 130 Km/h unless posted otherwise. So didn't know and had speeds up to 160 or more Km/h (our rental car was substituted last-minute for my wife's cousin's 10 y.o. Audi 4 diesel with no a/c (hot hot April)). Seems the worst part for speed traps was near Linz (emission reasons). As far as we know, the cousin did not get any tickets. It's mostly photo radar there (the Austrians know where they are) with the very occasional manned radar trap.
The infringement was supposedly only 2 days before I flew back to the US and was from Switzerland. Conjecture here, but any guesses as to whether I (or the rental agency) will not be receiving any notices from Germany or Austria or indeed any additional notices from Switzerland regarding speeding infractions?
I have not received any infraction yet, only a notice that I will receive one from the rental car agency, however any information on the ramifications of not paying the ticket(s) when I receive it?
Thanks!
No one can really tell you that. Not sure how it is in Switzerland, but in Germany usually infractions are sent from the Cities or "Landkreise" (some kind of counties). Can be that one City take 2 weeks to notify, some others 1 week. Every infraction will take a different time period for notify your car rental company. Maybe the swiss people were just very fast and some more are coming (no matter if Switzerland, too, or other countries), could be that's the only one (I hope).
However with Switzerland you got probably by far the most expensive one in the 3 countries you drove. Speeding fines in Switzerland are outrageous.
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 17,149
Quote:
Originally Posted by sd1024
...I have not received any infraction yet, only a notice that I will receive one from the rental car agency, however any information on the ramifications of not paying the ticket(s) when I receive it?
I know someone who recently had to pay a year+ old fine when leaving Switzerland. They do track them and it is a lucrative business (it was for over $1000 with the fees added to it, and had to be paid in cash before being allowed to leave the country). Enforcement does seem to be much stricter than a few years ago, perhaps because fine collection has been outsourced and is a profitable business.
I know someone who recently had to pay a year+ old fine when leaving Switzerland. They do track them and it is a lucrative business (it was for over $1000 with the fees added to it, and had to be paid in cash before being allowed to leave the country). Enforcement does seem to be much stricter than a few years ago, perhaps because fine collection has been outsourced and is a profitable business.
Shame about it having to be cash. Using a credit card could have got them some extra miles. This being FT and all....
I too know of folk who have not paid their Swiss speeding fines .... and found that they were required to make a forced detour to an ATM in the company of the airport police before they were given their boarding pass back at the security control.
Fess up, pay up. Avoid any interest charges and know that you can return to Switzerland with a clear conscience and where you will be welcomed with your slate wiped clean.
Just want to share my recent experiences regarding a speeding ticket in Germany:
I was caught in one of those photo speed traps on a recent trip to Germany driving a rental car. Clearly noticed the flash from the camera as I was entering the city of Sassnitz . About a month later I recieved a letter at my home address in Denmark with a fine of 25€ for doing 65km in a 50 km zone. In addition to that , the rental company (Sixt) asked for 18.50 € in administration fees and the banks charged about 30€ in between them to handle the payment transaction.
So in the end, a fairly modest 25€ fine turned out to cost a little over 70€.
