Just received a speeding fine in the post from Spain!

Dave_TH

bin it and forget it

Iceweasel

Stroma wrote: »

Iceweasel they get the details from companies like Euro Parking Collection who deal with this kind of thing, they are in the aos and basically scam on behalf of police and local authorities abroad.



http://www.epcplc.com/

They cannot access passport or driving licence details, I'm sorry but that is utter garbage, they simply got RK details from someone like the above. Or if hired through the company involved. They are basically powerless and cannot enforce anything.

As you know we don't endorse anything illegal, but the situation is the same here with foreign car owners

I am extremely disappointed to read this from Euro Parking Collection - you really mean that they have gone beyond parking violations?

That is wrong.

But recommending ignoring /binning foreign fines for genuine traffic offences???

I understand that no-one on here is advocating doing anything illegal, either here or abroad, but if the message is to ignore speeding fines from National bodies such as the Catalonian/Spanish police then really what is being said is that one can freely ignore the consequences of breaking traffic laws outside the UK. This implies that although we are not above the law, we are beyond it.

As for foreign authorities accessing passport and driving licence details I can assure you they can.

Heading east from Austria through Germany I was pulled off the autobahn by a 'follow-me' Customs/Border Control vehicle and taken to a large holding area for a spot check. The opening words were "Are you Mr ..........?" They had all the info on a lap-top and I saw it - they were not hiding it at all.

OK, I can not confirm that they had my passport details before they asked me to check that - but they checked for a valid driving licence, and got a result on their screen which they then compared with my photocard licence.

They stop lots of UK registered vehicles in Germany near the borders with Austria and Poland - most/many of which are not being driven by British nationals.

They were very friendly once they had satisfied themselves we were not smuggling drugs, cigarettes, or other contraband and waved us on our way

At the EU Border coming from Bosnia & Hercegovina into Croatia they have all the kit to scan passports and often ask for our address in UK as British Passports don't show it in print -what other info may be contained in the hidden chip/strip concealed inside I don't know - but I have watched as they nod their heads and then hand the passport back.

I am very wary of the EU shared data-bases and I am very surprised that any legitimate foreign government department would need to work through ECP.

For parking yes - but for 'crimes' I am truly shocked.

bazster

Yeah, just ignore it. Then, next time you're in Spain, just keep your fingers crossed that you don't get pulled over for some other reason, that they don't then put two-and-two together about your outstanding fine, and that they don't impound your vehicle until you've paid.

That'll make for a relaxing driving experience in Spain, don't you think? Also, you might want to think twice about entering Spain from Portugal, 'cos the last time I did that it was as if the Schengen agreement doesn't exist: I was stopped at the border, politely but thoroughly interrogated about my plans and intentions in Spain, and all my paperwork was carefully checked. Fortunately I didn't have outstanding Spanish speeding fines.

Gotta be worth it to save forty quid.