Speeding fine from Norway?

Guys,

Not sure if any of you can help me with this one, but here goes.

I got a speeding ticket back at the start of the year when we were on the WRC in Norway.

I knew that I should not have been speeding whilst driving in Norway and had no excuse other than we were running late to get back to Oslo for our flight back to the UK, so that's why I was over the very low Norwegian National Speed Limit.

The ticket I was given at the time asked me to pay via Giro, and even though I tried I could not make the payment to them in Norwegian kronor.

Then I was told by several people that Norway not being a member of the EU could not enforce fines imposed on non Norwegians.

So I just left it and had no communication from them for almost 5 months.

Now I have got a letter from a Norwegian debt collection agency saying that they are chasing the payment, and if I don't pay the fine will double.

The fine is a large sum, so I don't want to pay it if I don't have too, or of course the double amount if it comes to that.

Does any one here know where I stand on this, can the debt collection agency do what they say they are going to do?

Thanks in advance for and advice or opinions.

Cheers,

Nige.

If the answer to either of the above is no then 'file' and don't answer any correspondence.

Ignore it, unenforcable unless they apply for extradition. The issuing authority would have sold the fines on at a pound a piece to get something out of them and now this "debt collection" agency is chancing it's arm, hoping that you pay up.

I had it from Eurosomething company based in London, they will bullst you with all sorts of pseudo legal nonsense but you don't have to pay it.

Guys, thanks for the feedback so far.

I should just say that when I was caught speeding, I was in a rental car from a well known car rental company.

Also we were stopped and cautioned by the Norwegian policeman, he was on his own, but I believe he was using a Vascar style timing system.

I was issued with the ticket on the spot and told to pay the fine later.

As was pointed out it seems a long time since we were stopped since I received this follow up, so I presume the Norwegian Police gave up and handed it over the the debt agency.

Does anyone know if they can chase this outside of Norway and pursue the fine legally?

Thanks in advance.

Nige.

Havn't lived in Norway for a long time, but the data base was set off by the Car Registration, I know several people pulled up, leaving the country or re-entering, for unpaid fines, but in all case the trigger was the car not the passport number.
THe legal advice I had some years ago, (I lived in Norway and was owed money) was it is not practicall to chase a Norwegian debt in the UK.

Guys,

Thanks for all of the feedback so far.

The company who is chasing the fine is this one:

http://www.sismo.no/

They are the National Collection Agency working on behalf of the Norwegian police.

I have now spoken to a Norwegian friend of mine and it does not look good.

Apparently they have the power to get the British police and or DVLA to suspend my driving license on their behalf if I do not pay the fine.

Also he has told me that there is no evidence to support people being arrested upon returning to Norway following not paying a fine.

However I have one question, how do they know that I have received the fine, as they have not sent the letter for payment via recorded or registered delivery, so they have no proof I have received it.

In fact it was a miracle that the letter got to me as the address only contained two line of my address and no postcode whatsoever.

It does look like I will be forced to pay it though.

Damn it!!

Nige.

I think they'll get the money off you. They're not in the EU, but they are in the EEA.

Cheers,

FT.

Hi NWtony,

Thanks for the advice, but this is the Government Agency of Norway and has lots more power of jurisdiction that most people realize.

The problem comes later for me as they will share the non payment of the fine with all the other Schengen countries, and I don't want to have any problems doing business there in he future.

Cheers for adding another fine to me by the way!! I am having a great day now!!

Nige.

Only courts can convict.

Where did you send your licence and money?