In Europe ,the driver pays a deposit to the court on the roadside if stopped for an offence.
The fine structure can be a small or large amount depending on the gravity of the offence,it may be up to 30,000 Euros or more.
How can a fine in the UK be a low amount but in Europe much more or vice versa ?
I thought all countries had to sing from the same hymn sheet ?
Caught with a magnet in the UK, a few hundred quid fine,in Europe,the driver in the jail or the truck locked up in the compound and a telephone number sized fine.
Many members on here will remember the days of “coffee money” bribes to the law in Euroland,or the offer of ■■■■, then you would be on your merry way with no hold up.
In France,it was normal to book off at the end of shift, drop the trailer , and drive the unit to the nearest supermarket or restaurant.Writing on the back of the disc tacho :“Cherchez une douche et pour mangez”.Looking for a shower/hot meal.Stopped by the Gendarmes ,they see missing mileage, see the tacho,and agree that the driver must eat,no fine.
toby1234abc:
In Europe ,the driver pays a deposit to the court on the roadside if stopped for an offence.
The fine structure can be a small or large amount depending on the gravity of the offence,it may be up to 30,000 Euros or more.
How can a fine in the UK be a low amount but in Europe much more or vice versa ?
I thought all countries had to sing from the same hymn sheet ?
Toby,
People often start reading regulations by skipping the intro and the definitions, which will almost always lead to confusion.
If you read the preamble to Regulation 561/2006, you’ll find the answers to your questions at paragraph 26:
(26) The Member States should lay down rules on penalties applicable to infringements of this Regulation and ensure that they are implemented. Those penalties must be effective, proportionate, dissuasive and non-discriminatory. The possibility of immobilising the vehicle where serious infringements are detected should also be included within the common range of measures open to Member States.
As you can see, it pretty much leaves it up to the Member States to interpret “effective, proportionate, dissuasive and non-discriminatory” in any way that they see fit.
In the same paragraph, you can also see that due to the way a Member State might interpret the word “serious,” it’s perfectly possible to have a truck impounded in one country, but not in another country, even for the same offence.
Thanks Dave, a long time ago I was pulled over by the GuardaiaCivil in Sunbilla
The first thing he asked was if I had a credit or debit card.
I smelt a rat and assumed he was after a big fine for some trumped up offence.
I said I had no cards, he asks how do I buy fuel and pay for breakdowns or tyre call outs.
I am then fined for vagrancy,which was an offence in Spain.
He had my cash off me.
Walks to the bar, stands by the door laughing at me with his mates.
I did have bank cards.
I appealed the fine to their government,the reply was that they have received the money and that was it.