Speed Cameras in Europe

[canfly44]

Now that I am back home from Europe it is time to think about all those flashes I got form speed cameras in Switzerland and Germany. Do they send out tickets? Do I need to pay them? what is the deal. And yes I did ignore everyone warnings about speeding in Switzerland.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by canfly44

Now that I am back home from Europe it is time to think about all those flashes I got form speed cameras in Switzerland and Germany. Do they send out tickets? Do I need to pay them? what is the deal. And yes I did ignore everyone warnings about speeding in Switzerland.

I used a speed camera detector (cheetah C50) which saved me from most tickets.

However I was running late to get to Neuschwanstein and so blew a camera in Switzerland.

Those guys have been militant. I ignored it and they have raised fine from CHF180 to 900 and are threatening to ask my local PD to arrest my dad (The ED car was in his name since you can't buy more than one car in a year).

Were arguing back that the photo doesn't match the description of the guy they are charging.

Will see where it ends....

[mstmng]

Originally Posted by canfly44

Now that I am back home from Europe it is time to think about all those flashes I got form speed cameras in Switzerland and Germany. Do they send out tickets? Do I need to pay them? what is the deal. And yes I did ignore everyone warnings about speeding in Switzerland.

swiss is the BIGGEST PAIN IN THE ASS about their tickets in europe, better pay them ASAP !!!

[pochesq]

So far I've ignored tickets from France, Spain and Italy. France was a little more diligent with follow up letters but after the initial barrage there have been no further communications. Caveat. I haven't been back to those countries since so who knows if I'll be black-listed at Customs.

[w5pwr]

I would not plan on going back to Switzerland if I were unless you pay the fine......

Most people who do Euro excursions avoid Switzerland or try to obey their speed limits, they are very tenacious at getting their money!

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

I used a speed camera detector (cheetah C50) which saved me from most tickets.

However I was running late to get to Neuschwanstein and so blew a camera in Switzerland.

Those guys have been militant. I ignored it and they have raised fine from CHF180 to 900 and are threatening to ask my local PD to arrest my dad (The ED car was in his name since you can't buy more than one car in a year).

Were arguing back that the photo doesn't match the description of the guy they are charging.

Will see where it ends....

Wow! That's crazy! Glad I avoided Switzerland then. Although I do have an unpaid Parking ticket that I got while in Munich. I haven't heard from anyone or anything about it.

[B-1Pilot]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

I used a speed camera detector (cheetah C50) which saved me from most tickets.

Wouldnt an iPhone app like Waze or Trapster or the like work just as well at doing this? Dont really want to have a third cigarette powered device with a cable in my car (after iphone and gopro)

[pochesq]

Originally Posted by RPiM5

Wow! That's crazy! Glad I avoided Switzerland then. Although I do have an unpaid Parking ticket that I got while in Munich. I haven't heard from anyone or anything about it.

You will eventually get a letter. It took France 7-8 months after my trip to get my ticket in the mail. Lol

[Lual]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

I used a speed camera detector (cheetah C50) which saved me from most tickets.

However I was running late to get to Neuschwanstein and so blew a camera in Switzerland.

Those guys have been militant. I ignored it and they have raised fine from CHF180 to 900 and are threatening to ask my local PD to arrest my dad (The ED car was in his name since you can't buy more than one car in a year).

Were arguing back that the photo doesn't match the description of the guy they are charging.

Will see where it ends....

Dont joke with them. They are really picky. They can block you / your car when entering the country. In some (crazy speeding) cases, they can even confiscate your car plus a ticket proportional to your wealth. Is not rare that they want to bring (foreign) people to court for speeding here. Whatever you decide, good luck.

[darkrabbit]

Is this really a concern? I am doing ED Sept 2, and I would assume sticking to the speed limit in Switzerland wouldn't be all that hard? And in Germany, isn't there the autobahns?

I dunno, seems to me one would just simply drive maybe 10-15kph over the limit tops...

And if you get a fine, why wouldn't you pay it? Why risk not being allowed back into these countries? What's a few hundred pounds to someone who just picked up a $100+k car? I mean it doesn't even count on your abstract.

Makes no sense to me, at all.

[B-1Pilot]

Originally Posted by jaym3smg

Is this really a concern? I am doing ED Sept 2, and I would assume sticking to the speed limit in Switzerland wouldn't be all that hard? And in Germany, isn't there the autobahns?

I dunno, seems to me one would just simply drive maybe 10-15kph over the limit tops...

Because the tickets come at 5kph over, not 10-15... it is very easy to go 5kph over if you aren't paying close attention. In fact, accidental speeding is very easy to do if you are not from the country you are in, or not used to European signage, etc. I'm not trying to justify it, but its easy to see how it happens without being a total leadfoot.

[EdM5]

Don't worry too much about it. Switzerland is tight, Netherlands and the Nordic countries as well. And yes they have speed cameras in every european country.
But unless you get stopped by a police officer, there's no problem really.
Just ignore any tickets they send out. Actually I don't think they'll send them to the US.

[Neil McRae]

just on switzerland. are you sure it was 160CHF? and not some multiplier?

During the Alpine run three of our gang got stopped for speeding. 1 was banned for three months from driving, all three received fines of roughly $1200.

The chap that was banned has had a nightmare since:

Hey guys - thanks for your concerns.

The tour was immense, no question about it. Shame about the fine of course, but im keeping them seperate in my head.

A little update for those that are interested. I have had the letter translated by a pal in Zurich who has also shown a lawyer. This is the update.

I got caught doing 126 km/h in an 80 km/h section. Yes, this is speeding, by some margin, fine, guilty, whatever. A nice straight section of mountain road in a convoy, but whatever, it's done.

Firstly, I was just 14 km/h away from having my car taken from me (!!) and recieving a minimum prison sentence of 1yr (but up to 4yrs). They call them "Speed Merchants".

I first recieved an administrative letter (as the crime and admin bit are done seperately). The first letter said, "naught naught you fecker, you drove 46 km/h too fast, and we have disallowed your driving license for 3 months. Final decision on your driving ban remains, you will hear from us"

Second letter was the "Order of Summary punishment" and it said:
1. You sir, are guilty
2. Your fine is 90 day rates at CHF 180 (16 grand!!!) which has been placed on probation for two years.
3. As we are nice people, we have suggested a total fine of CHF 3200 (plus like 500 in paper and pens costs) should be paid. If you don't pay within 30 days, prison for 10 days + fine above.
4. Having chip and pinned away CHF 1350 at the roadside, please send us CHF 2405 to cover the rest + costs.
5. send this to the local "police commando" lol
6. Appeal: You have 10 days since getting the letter to make an objection with the public attorney’s office, justified and in writings. Without that, the above penalty orders becomes absolute and enforceable.

So.. what about an appeal? well, the penalty order would actually go to a judge and he would review and maybe ammend it (my mate said, you appeal, they raise the fine, simple) before a BOARD of judges would evalulate the case. Also id have to hire a lawyer, and would be liable for the full fine amount (16k).

So basically, "pay it, or get ****ed."

Furthermore, although im yet to confirm 100%, most of the people I speak to think there is an agreement with UK and Switzerland that they can come at me through UK courts.

So.. today I am paying the fine."

[Neil McRae]

I should add that I was going _alot_ faster than my friends above and I was two cars ahead of them in the convoy. I was not stopped. I also video'ed the whole thing on two gopros' (i'll post the video later). I think I got away with it as I had German styled number plates and they were looking for british cars!

Switzerland was awesome and avoiding it would have meant missing some of the best roads in the world, actually you don't need to drive fast to enjoy it. I also must admit to being totally clueless about swiss law during the trip and had I known I would have never broken the speed limit.

[Spinny02]

C50 ordered =).

[Neil McRae]

just one problem with that - the swiss use video - and no detector will pick it up.

[B-1Pilot]

Where exactly did this occur? Are there cops on major passes (susten, st. Gotthard, etc). I should know via GPS where the fixed cameras are but can't accurately predict speed traps, roving cops, etc.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by B-1 Pilot

Where exactly did this occur? Are there cops on major passes (susten, st. Gotthard, etc). I should know via GPS where the fixed cameras are but can't accurately predict speed traps, roving cops, etc.

I've never seen a cop on a pass. In fact the only time I encountered a cop was on the German Autobahn and I was stopped just to check my papers for the Zoll Plate.

Most of the ticket risk is cameras.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by Spinny02

C50 ordered =).

Be sure to order it with the Euro database and not the North American database.

[Lual]

Almost no body in Switzerland tends to speed. Cops and radars are everywhere, and radars, differently to France, are not announced some hundred meters in advance.
Special attention to areas where speed is limited to 80 or mainly below 120 and also at the entrance of villages.
Police uses confiscated cars like RS, AMG or M3s to control the high ways, obviously unless you know would never expect them to light the internal blue signals and the "follow me" message (i have seen it a number of times).
Thankfully Germany in right beside. So enjoy the views and leave the speeding for the autobahn. No experience with the passes, but the risk will be certainly more limited.

[greentrbo95gst]

I got flashes in France and Switzerland back in May, but I haven't received anything in the mail yet. I hope I won't.

[EdM5]

Sending out tickets to other countries is a complete fail. I have received a few letters plus speeding tickets from several european countries including Belgium and Germany.
Apparently they expect me to understand their specific legal system and language. Well, I don't think so. The story about the guy having a letter from Switzerland translated and explained by his lawyer is pathetic.
I like to think that one government (i.e. my own) and their red tape is more than enough for me.
My advice:
- Get a local speedtrap app (when in Germany check radarfalle.de, Netherlands flitsmeister.nl etc.)
- Don't speed more than 30 miles/hour over the posted speed limit. Worst case you'll get a big fine but they won't take your car.
- If they do send out a ticket, pay it if that makes you feel better. Or don't.