Italian Speeding ticket

iainscomputer

Hi, I have received a speeding ticket for 7kmh over a 70kmh limit, the offence occurred whilst driving an Italian registered hire car.
I am asking if anyone knows if I could be chased for this through the English court system? Or is it safe to ignore similar to Scottish residents ignoring private parking tickets?

I'm not interested in people saying I won't be able to hire cars in Italy again or I will be stopped at the airport after landing in Italy & arrested.

I know about a new EU directive allowing EU countries to chase foreign offenders, but I'm positive this doesn't apply as the car was Italian registered.

The fine is being collected by a private company.

System

iainscomputer wrote: »

I know about a new EU directive allowing EU countries to chase foreign offenders, but I'm positive this doesn't apply as the car was Italian registered.
.

Of course it applies as it applies to the driver, not the vehicle. What the hell makes you think it doesn't apply just because the car is Italian registered? There would literally be no point in such a directive if that was the case.

Mercdriver

The Italians chase it as a civil debt through the civil courts. It won't add points to your licence. How much is the fine? Some say ignore it, but it can lead to issues if/when you return. I'd only limit where I go if the amount was silly expensive. For 10% over, I doubt it will be much.

iainscomputer

Tarambor wrote: »

Of course it applies as it applies to the driver, not the vehicle. What the hell makes you think it doesn't apply just because the car is Italian registered? There would literally be no point in such a directive if that was the case.

The directive refers to cars registered in another EU state. You didn't understand my query.

iainscomputer

Mercdriver wrote: »

The Italians chase it as a civil debt through the civil courts. It won't add points to your licence. How much is the fine? Some say ignore it, but it can lead to issues if/when you return. I'd only limit where I go if the amount was silly expensive. For 10% over, I doubt it will be much.

Hi, Thanks, I know it could go to an Italian court, but is it transferable to a UK court? Or is it outside jurisdiction?
Are there any case history of these?

AdrianC

If you ignore it, you may well find the hire car company paying it for you, then recharging the card you used for the car.

And, yes, you did agree to that in the rental Ts & Cs.

iainscomputer

AdrianC wrote: »

If you ignore it, you may well find the hire car company paying it for you, then recharging the card you used for the car.

And, yes, you did agree to that in the rental Ts & Cs.

Hi, I think if that was possible they would already have taken the money, the hire car company have already charged me for passing my details to the authorities.

My question is can this be chased up in the UK? Or will it just be more letters?

pogofish

By private company, do you mean a UK one? Who does it actually say to pay to?

Because there is one firm of debt collectors here that specialises in buying-up otherwise unenforceable EU tickets and chasing people for them - and sometimes very quickly as foreign authorities tend to offload the cases they know won't be taking further very quickly.

So if it is them, the advice in Post 4 of the Newbies Sticky in the Parking Tickets Subform applies to them too.

iainscomputer

pogofish wrote: »

By private company, do you mean a UK one? Who does it actually say to pay to?

Because there is one firm of debt collectors here that specialises in buying-up otherwise unenforceable EU tickets and chasing people for them - and sometimes very quickly as foreign authorities tend to offload the cases they know won't be taking further very quickly.

So if it is them, the advice in Post 4 of the Newbies Sticky in the Parking Tickets Subform applies to them too.

Hi, the private company is nivi.it, they operate a company called EMO, European Municipality Outsourcing, they collect payments for traffic offences etc.
I was thinking they were similar to Euro Parking collection who were chasing toll charges owed by UK drivers using the M50 in Dublin & the Hungarian toll roads.

Has anyone successfully ignored one of these or has everyone given in?

Mercdriver

iainscomputer wrote: »

Hi, Thanks, I know it could go to an Italian court, but is it transferable to a UK court? Or is it outside jurisdiction?
Are there any case history of these?

They usually engage a firm of UK solicitors/debt collectors to chase the debt, and the UK solicitors/debt collectors add on their fees. Why so coy about the fine amount? There is a possibility that if you return they may have the fine registered in your name and it may cause you difficulties. They hold the infirngement against you for 5 years, and the fine doubles if not paid within 60 days. I can't see the fine being a big one.

It won't go through the criminal courts but may go through the county courts where the debt could be registered against you.

Personally if it is not a big fine, I would just pay it and get it out of the way.

iainscomputer

Mercdriver wrote: »

They usually engage a firm of UK solicitors/debt collectors to chase the debt, and the UK solicitors/debt collectors add on their fees. Why so coy about the fine amount? There is a possibility that if you return they may have the fine registered in your name and it may cause you difficulties. They hold the infirngement against you for 5 years, and the fine doubles if not paid within 60 days. I can't see the fine being a big one.

It won't go through the criminal courts but may go through the county courts where the debt could be registered against you.

Personally if it is not a big fine, I would just pay it and get it out of the way.

Hi, thanks for your reply. The fine is €70, but it would be better in my pocket! I had another speeding offence in Germany as the hire company charged my card for supplying my details but they never bothered sending anything & our authorities don't bother either.