Foreign Traffic Fines

mully10

Good afternoon,

Every year we go to Europe and hire a car, and every year we come back to a couple of traffic fines usually through lack of knowledge of local laws.

This year we have received two parking fines whilst in Holland in July. I am a little unhappy because we were displaying a UK blue badge and the associated Dutch page which informs them that it is valid.

My issue here is that everything we have received is in Dutch, and I am struggling to fully understand the proceedure, and how to clarify wether the fines have taken this into consideration, or wether it isnt relevant.

I understand that you must receive notifications of criminal proceedings in your language, but would imagine that doesnt relate to civil matters like parking.

I have written and posted a letter in English (the online appeal system is totally Dutch) asking for clarity, does anybody have any thoughts on this?

BTW, if we were in the wrong I will pay, this is more about clarity and notification.

The_Unready

Can Google Translate help you?

Umkomaas

Who has sent the 'fine' to you?  Is the car hire company involved in the correspondence?

mully10

The care hire company have passed it on to me. I did ask them for clarity but they havent responded. I have tried to use google translate, but as you know it can be quite clunky and not always provide an understandable translation.

Umkomaas

mully10 said:

The care hire company have passed it on to me. I did ask them for clarity but they havent responded. I have tried to use google translate, but as you know it can be quite clunky and not always provide an understandable translation.

Are they going to charge you admin fees for doing so?  That's probably your biggest risk.  Are the parking 'fines' from a local council or a private parking company?

Coupon-mad

You don't have to pay.  The only issue is if the hire firm pay it and then charge your card.

mully10

The hire firm have passed them on and charged an admin fee for doing so. I read somewhere if you dont pay the issuing local authority will push them back to the hire firm and they will then chase and/or blackball you.
Ukomaas, it was council parking sites.

Umkomaas

mully10 said:

The hire firm have passed them on and charged an admin fee for doing so. I read somewhere if you dont pay the issuing local authority will push them back to the hire firm and they will then chase and/or blackball you.
Ukomaas, it was council parking sites.

Don't know how it works in Holland, but you might be right about the council reverting to the hire company with the original parking charges. Sorry I can't help further.