10,000 Euro fine from Germany - 'Illegal Street Racing'
Discussion
Hi All,
Looking for some advice. Last June, a group of us went to Germany on a road trip. We were participating in some spirited, but within the limits of driving through the Black forest. There were 7 GT3's so obviously attracted some attention.
As we came out of the Black forest, we were commandeered by a group of Police cars who pulled us all over, breathalised us (all negative obviously) and held us at road side for 3 hours before taking us to a local police station. They took our details and asked us all to sign forms and fined us each 600 euros on the spot for 'Illegal Street racing.' They then escorted us to the boarder and we went on our way. We initially thought the fine was a little dodgy as all had to be given in cash, but we thought - 'well if it gets us off the hook.' It was obvious they had insufficient evidence to hold us or take further action aside from one witness. We guessed that they held us for so long in an attempt to find sufficient evidence of wrong doing but failed. We weren't surprised as we genuinely weren't 'racing' or driving like pillocks.
So we paid and carried on with our now over budget trip but thought nothing more.
Fast forward to today and three of the parties have have had an approach from the Met Police saying they have received correspondence from Germany stating that we each need to pay a 10,000 euro fine!! As new evidence has materialised in the form of 7 witnesses?!
I've yet to have an approach from the police over here, but I'm sure it's coming. My question really is can they actually do this? We've not had any court summons or correspondence prior. What was the $600 euro fine for in the first place? If I do hear and opt not to pay or go to ground, what would be the outcome now we're out the EU? If I pay it, what's to stop them taking it even further and racking up additional fines?
I'd love to know if anyone else has had a similar experience to this and what the conclusion was.
Thanks all.
Looking for some advice. Last June, a group of us went to Germany on a road trip. We were participating in some spirited, but within the limits of driving through the Black forest. There were 7 GT3's so obviously attracted some attention.
As we came out of the Black forest, we were commandeered by a group of Police cars who pulled us all over, breathalised us (all negative obviously) and held us at road side for 3 hours before taking us to a local police station. They took our details and asked us all to sign forms and fined us each 600 euros on the spot for 'Illegal Street racing.' They then escorted us to the boarder and we went on our way. We initially thought the fine was a little dodgy as all had to be given in cash, but we thought - 'well if it gets us off the hook.' It was obvious they had insufficient evidence to hold us or take further action aside from one witness. We guessed that they held us for so long in an attempt to find sufficient evidence of wrong doing but failed. We weren't surprised as we genuinely weren't 'racing' or driving like pillocks.
So we paid and carried on with our now over budget trip but thought nothing more.
Fast forward to today and three of the parties have have had an approach from the Met Police saying they have received correspondence from Germany stating that we each need to pay a 10,000 euro fine!! As new evidence has materialised in the form of 7 witnesses?!
I've yet to have an approach from the police over here, but I'm sure it's coming. My question really is can they actually do this? We've not had any court summons or correspondence prior. What was the $600 euro fine for in the first place? If I do hear and opt not to pay or go to ground, what would be the outcome now we're out the EU? If I pay it, what's to stop them taking it even further and racking up additional fines?
I'd love to know if anyone else has had a similar experience to this and what the conclusion was.
Thanks all.
Wardie1984 said:
Hi All,
Looking for some advice. Last June, a group of us went to Germany on a road trip. We were participating in some spirited, but within the limits of driving through the Black forest. There were 7 GT3's so obviously attracted some attention.
As we came out of the Black forest, we were commandeered by a group of Police cars who pulled us all over, breathalised us (all negative obviously) and held us at road side for 3 hours before taking us to a local police station. They took our details and asked us all to sign forms and fined us each 600 euros on the spot for 'Illegal Street racing.' They then escorted us to the boarder and we went on our way. We initially thought the fine was a little dodgy as all had to be given in cash, but we thought - 'well if it gets us off the hook.' It was obvious they had insufficient evidence to hold us or take further action aside from one witness. We guessed that they held us for so long in an attempt to find sufficient evidence of wrong doing but failed. We weren't surprised as we genuinely weren't 'racing' or driving like pillocks.
So we paid and carried on with our now over budget trip but thought nothing more.
Fast forward to today and three of the parties have have had an approach from the Met Police saying they have received correspondence from Germany stating that we each need to pay a 10,000 euro fine!! As new evidence has materialised in the form of 7 witnesses?!
I've yet to have an approach from the police over here, but I'm sure it's coming. My question really is can they actually do this? We've not had any court summons or correspondence prior. What was the $600 euro fine for in the first place? If I do hear and opt not to pay or go to ground, what would be the outcome now we're out the EU? If I pay it, what's to stop them taking it even further and racking up additional fines?
I'd love to know if anyone else has had a similar experience to this and what the conclusion was.
Thanks all.
Uh huh.Looking for some advice. Last June, a group of us went to Germany on a road trip. We were participating in some spirited, but within the limits of driving through the Black forest. There were 7 GT3's so obviously attracted some attention.
As we came out of the Black forest, we were commandeered by a group of Police cars who pulled us all over, breathalised us (all negative obviously) and held us at road side for 3 hours before taking us to a local police station. They took our details and asked us all to sign forms and fined us each 600 euros on the spot for 'Illegal Street racing.' They then escorted us to the boarder and we went on our way. We initially thought the fine was a little dodgy as all had to be given in cash, but we thought - 'well if it gets us off the hook.' It was obvious they had insufficient evidence to hold us or take further action aside from one witness. We guessed that they held us for so long in an attempt to find sufficient evidence of wrong doing but failed. We weren't surprised as we genuinely weren't 'racing' or driving like pillocks.
So we paid and carried on with our now over budget trip but thought nothing more.
Fast forward to today and three of the parties have have had an approach from the Met Police saying they have received correspondence from Germany stating that we each need to pay a 10,000 euro fine!! As new evidence has materialised in the form of 7 witnesses?!
I've yet to have an approach from the police over here, but I'm sure it's coming. My question really is can they actually do this? We've not had any court summons or correspondence prior. What was the $600 euro fine for in the first place? If I do hear and opt not to pay or go to ground, what would be the outcome now we're out the EU? If I pay it, what's to stop them taking it even further and racking up additional fines?
I'd love to know if anyone else has had a similar experience to this and what the conclusion was.
Thanks all.
Wardie1984 said:
Hi All,
Looking for some advice. Last June, a group of us went to Germany on a road trip. We were participating in some spirited, but within the limits of driving through the Black forest. There were 7 GT3's so obviously attracted some attention.
As we came out of the Black forest, we were commandeered by a group of Police cars who pulled us all over, breathalised us (all negative obviously) and held us at road side for 3 hours before taking us to a local police station. They took our details and asked us all to sign forms and fined us each 600 euros on the spot for 'Illegal Street racing.' They then escorted us to the boarder and we went on our way. We initially thought the fine was a little dodgy as all had to be given in cash, but we thought - 'well if it gets us off the hook.' It was obvious they had insufficient evidence to hold us or take further action aside from one witness. We guessed that they held us for so long in an attempt to find sufficient evidence of wrong doing but failed. We weren't surprised as we genuinely weren't 'racing' or driving like pillocks.
So we paid and carried on with our now over budget trip but thought nothing more.
Fast forward to today and three of the parties have have had an approach from the Met Police saying they have received correspondence from Germany stating that we each need to pay a 10,000 euro fine!! As new evidence has materialised in the form of 7 witnesses?!
I've yet to have an approach from the police over here, but I'm sure it's coming. My question really is can they actually do this? We've not had any court summons or correspondence prior. What was the $600 euro fine for in the first place? If I do hear and opt not to pay or go to ground, what would be the outcome now we're out the EU? If I pay it, what's to stop them taking it even further and racking up additional fines?
I'd love to know if anyone else has had a similar experience to this and what the conclusion was.
Thanks all.
Tell Ma the nasty man took your sweeties young nippy…Looking for some advice. Last June, a group of us went to Germany on a road trip. We were participating in some spirited, but within the limits of driving through the Black forest. There were 7 GT3's so obviously attracted some attention.
As we came out of the Black forest, we were commandeered by a group of Police cars who pulled us all over, breathalised us (all negative obviously) and held us at road side for 3 hours before taking us to a local police station. They took our details and asked us all to sign forms and fined us each 600 euros on the spot for 'Illegal Street racing.' They then escorted us to the boarder and we went on our way. We initially thought the fine was a little dodgy as all had to be given in cash, but we thought - 'well if it gets us off the hook.' It was obvious they had insufficient evidence to hold us or take further action aside from one witness. We guessed that they held us for so long in an attempt to find sufficient evidence of wrong doing but failed. We weren't surprised as we genuinely weren't 'racing' or driving like pillocks.
So we paid and carried on with our now over budget trip but thought nothing more.
Fast forward to today and three of the parties have have had an approach from the Met Police saying they have received correspondence from Germany stating that we each need to pay a 10,000 euro fine!! As new evidence has materialised in the form of 7 witnesses?!
I've yet to have an approach from the police over here, but I'm sure it's coming. My question really is can they actually do this? We've not had any court summons or correspondence prior. What was the $600 euro fine for in the first place? If I do hear and opt not to pay or go to ground, what would be the outcome now we're out the EU? If I pay it, what's to stop them taking it even further and racking up additional fines?
I'd love to know if anyone else has had a similar experience to this and what the conclusion was.
Thanks all.
I think you should ease up on the OP…
This one time, I picked up a hitchhiker in my green Lamborghini, heading south through Germany. Stopped for the night in the Rhur valley, near Krupp steel works, and was rudely awakened by some Arabs with knives.
Right at the foot of the bed!
The German Police weren’t very helpful then.
Ultimately I got divorced many years later, but that’s another story.
This one time, I picked up a hitchhiker in my green Lamborghini, heading south through Germany. Stopped for the night in the Rhur valley, near Krupp steel works, and was rudely awakened by some Arabs with knives.
Right at the foot of the bed!
The German Police weren’t very helpful then.
Ultimately I got divorced many years later, but that’s another story.
Could this actually happen? Well, the top end fine for illegal racing in Germany looks like EUR 20K ( link, under Strafgesetzbuch section 31 ); that requires filling one of three conditions ( link ):
- Organising a competitive race
- Participating in a race
- Reaching VMax as an individual driver
Stick Legs said:
I think you should ease up on the OP…
This one time, I picked up a hitchhiker in my green Lamborghini, heading south through Germany. Stopped for the night in the Rhur valley, near Krupp steel works, and was rudely awakened by some Arabs with knives.
Right at the foot of the bed!
The German Police weren’t very helpful then.
Ultimately I got divorced many years later, but that’s another story.
Very subtle.....I love that album.This one time, I picked up a hitchhiker in my green Lamborghini, heading south through Germany. Stopped for the night in the Rhur valley, near Krupp steel works, and was rudely awakened by some Arabs with knives.
Right at the foot of the bed!
The German Police weren’t very helpful then.
Ultimately I got divorced many years later, but that’s another story.
OP's story has more holes in it than a colander. Says he lives in Surrey yet gets correspondence from the Met. Surely any letters would have come from the DVLA? Says driving Porsche yet has an Audi. The Black Forest covers more than 2000 square miles yet the police just so happen to be at the point you emerge from?
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