Anyone else had an overseas speeding fine arrive in the mail?

[SYD]

Reading through this thread of multiple tickets, what struck me is that almost all of them are from Europe and (surprisingly?) none of them have come from the USA.

They probably give you an on the spot fine - rather than a fixed speed camera and surprise in the mail arrangement.

In Europe, they string speed cameras like Christmas lights....

I got done by a Canadian Mountie with a hairdryer waiting down hill from one of those avalanche tunnels. It was the 1st day with a new rental car and I couldn't find the headlight switch, so couldn't see what speed I was doing in the tunnel. Based on where he was waiting, I suspect he was exceeding is daily quota... At least I could pay it in Vancouver before leaving (it was a long time ago and it was a bit of a run around trying to pay it however...).

 

[jastel]

Just got a Parking Fine from the car park gestapo at a Services type hotel in UK. Apparently I would rather sleep in a Vauxhall for 16 hours than the hotel I had paid for 20 feet away. The hotel obviously did not add my rego to the system.
Hertz paid the fine, 60 pounds for early payment along with a 42pound admin fee...as the fine is "paid" I cant appeal it...but did anyway.
IF they refund the fine I bet they will give it back to hertz who will charge me another admin fee to pay me back....

The fine was MORE than the hotel room as well.

 

[clifford]

Just got a Parking Fine from the car park gestapo at a Services type hotel in UK. Apparently I would rather sleep in a Vauxhall for 16 hours than the hotel I had paid for 20 feet away. The hotel obviously did not add my rego to the system.
Hertz paid the fine, 60 pounds for early payment along with a 42pound admin fee...as the fine is "paid" I cant appeal it...but did anyway.
IF they refund the fine I bet they will give it back to hertz who will charge me another admin fee to pay me back....

The fine was MORE than the hotel room as well.

That's one of the reasons I try not to rent a car in Europe any longer. Parking in the cities is just crazy.

A few years back I rented a car in Barcelona and drove to France, where I got pinged by a fixed speed camera. I don't know how much over the limit I was, as I assumed the limit was 100, but it had been reduced to 80. I had driven that road near Perpignan many times before, so didn't notice the new camera.

Anyway, I'd resigned myself to receiving a hefty fine, but nothing ever eventuated.

 

[SYD]

That's one of the reasons I try not to rent a car in Europe any longer. Parking in the cities is just crazy.

A few years back I rented a car in Barcelona and drove to France, where I got pinged by a fixed speed camera. I don't know how much over the limit I was, as I assumed the limit was 100, but it had been reduced to 80. I had driven that road near Perpignan many times before, so didn't notice the new camera.

Anyway, I'd resigned myself to receiving a hefty fine, but nothing ever eventuated.

The various free map apps are pretty good with warnings for fixed speed cameras (around the world).

But yes, parking everywhere can be a hassle and Euro car parks are always tiny spaces and cramp turns. NEVER accept the comp upgrade to a huge SUV!

 

[Forg]

NEVER accept the comp upgrade to huge SUV!

This! They tried to “upgrade” us to a VW Caravelle in Nice … we rejected, waited ‘til the next day to get a Golf … which was so tight in the parking space I had to crawl out the tailgate after parking. No way the 8-seater van would have fit!!

 

[SYD]

This! They tried to “upgrade” us to a VW Caravelle in Nice … we rejected, waited ‘til the next day to get a Golf … which was so tight in the parking space I had to crawl out the tailgate after parking. No way the 8-seater van would have fit!!

OT, but I was given a massive armoured personnel carrier in the US last year (the alternative was a Mustang like 2 door convertible with luggage space for a toothbrush and a carefully folded pair of socks).

At the time I thought, oh well it’s the US not Europe. Well, I discovered Seattle AVIS downtown has the tightest car park in the US!

I was already running late to get there before closing only to then panic get the truck into the carpark let alone parking the ef’ing thing….