No escape for drivers caught abroad
Discussion
No escape for drivers caught abroad
By David Millward, Transport Correspondent
Last Updated: 1:34am GMT 29/12/2006
Motorists face being pursued for driving offences committed abroad under new laws, it emerged yesterday.
British motorists could, in theory, be fined for an array of offences
Even routine parking fines will be chased up under the provisions of the Road Safety Act, giving foreign authorities the right to obtain information from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea.
The little-noticed change is due to take effect from March. It was described as a "wake up call" by a spokesman for the AA Motoring Trust.
"People have tried to get away with it, thinking this is in another country," he told The Daily Telegraph. "It is going to come as a massive shock for people when they come home and find fines waiting for them on their doormat."
An estimated five million motorists cross the Channel every year. They are most at risk from prosecution in France, where the government and police have pursued draconian initiatives to cut the number of road deaths.
Until now British motorists would be marched off to a cashpoint and ordered to pay a fine on the spot or let off with a warning. But things are changing and there will soon be no chance of keeping a clean licence after committing an offence on foreign soil.
A variety of options include expanding the use of agencies to collect fines and motorists being taken to court. Ultimately this could even result in bailiffs being used.
Car hire companies will pass on details of whoever signed the rental agreement and foreign authorities are certain to retain details of offenders, leading to difficulties on a later visit.
The precedent for enforcement has already been set in parking with some councils engaging British debt collection agencies to pursue fines.
Paul Watters, the head of roads policy at the trust, said details of how the scheme will work remain unclear, even though it is due to come into force within 12 weeks. "I think the DVLA will have to pass information to whoever requests it and it will be up to them to collect the money."
Many people will be pleased, however, to find that the changes will also make it easier to deal with foreign drivers committing offences in Britain.
It is not only speeding that poses a threat — British motorists could, in theory, be fined for an array of offences.
Using cruise control in Belgium is against the law. The same motorist would be breaking French rules as soon as they crossed the border and were found to be using a speed-trap detector. In Germany a Briton could be prosecuted for overtaking a school bus letting children off and in Austria for driving without dipped headlights.
"It is vital that people learn about foreign roads legislation," Mr Watters said.
The trust voiced concern about whether motorists could exercise their right to appeal against being convicted abroad.
Questions have also been raised about the accuracy of the DVLA database, which even the Government admitted was only 40 per cent accurate when tested last year.
Motorists will also be at risk if their number plates have been cloned and the different ways of writing down numbers abroad could lead to a miscarriage of justice.
"Things could be lost in translation," said Edmund King, of the RAC Foundation.
"Also their penalties are not the same as ours and there is the question of access to justice. It will hardly be worth lodging an appeal in Germany — it would be too expensive."
Insurers would expect to be told of any foreign motoring convictions.
A DVLA spokesman said the prime purpose of the changes was to ensure that cars arriving in Britain had not been stolen and that motorists were not using counterfeit licences.
He said the reciprocal rights would benefit road safety, with greater checks on foreign drivers and cars.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/29/ndriving29.xml&DCMP=EMC-new_29122006
By David Millward, Transport Correspondent
Last Updated: 1:34am GMT 29/12/2006
Motorists face being pursued for driving offences committed abroad under new laws, it emerged yesterday.
British motorists could, in theory, be fined for an array of offences
Even routine parking fines will be chased up under the provisions of the Road Safety Act, giving foreign authorities the right to obtain information from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea.
The little-noticed change is due to take effect from March. It was described as a "wake up call" by a spokesman for the AA Motoring Trust.
"People have tried to get away with it, thinking this is in another country," he told The Daily Telegraph. "It is going to come as a massive shock for people when they come home and find fines waiting for them on their doormat."
An estimated five million motorists cross the Channel every year. They are most at risk from prosecution in France, where the government and police have pursued draconian initiatives to cut the number of road deaths.
Until now British motorists would be marched off to a cashpoint and ordered to pay a fine on the spot or let off with a warning. But things are changing and there will soon be no chance of keeping a clean licence after committing an offence on foreign soil.
A variety of options include expanding the use of agencies to collect fines and motorists being taken to court. Ultimately this could even result in bailiffs being used.
Car hire companies will pass on details of whoever signed the rental agreement and foreign authorities are certain to retain details of offenders, leading to difficulties on a later visit.
The precedent for enforcement has already been set in parking with some councils engaging British debt collection agencies to pursue fines.
Paul Watters, the head of roads policy at the trust, said details of how the scheme will work remain unclear, even though it is due to come into force within 12 weeks. "I think the DVLA will have to pass information to whoever requests it and it will be up to them to collect the money."
Many people will be pleased, however, to find that the changes will also make it easier to deal with foreign drivers committing offences in Britain.
It is not only speeding that poses a threat — British motorists could, in theory, be fined for an array of offences.
Using cruise control in Belgium is against the law. The same motorist would be breaking French rules as soon as they crossed the border and were found to be using a speed-trap detector. In Germany a Briton could be prosecuted for overtaking a school bus letting children off and in Austria for driving without dipped headlights.
"It is vital that people learn about foreign roads legislation," Mr Watters said.
The trust voiced concern about whether motorists could exercise their right to appeal against being convicted abroad.
Questions have also been raised about the accuracy of the DVLA database, which even the Government admitted was only 40 per cent accurate when tested last year.
Motorists will also be at risk if their number plates have been cloned and the different ways of writing down numbers abroad could lead to a miscarriage of justice.
"Things could be lost in translation," said Edmund King, of the RAC Foundation.
"Also their penalties are not the same as ours and there is the question of access to justice. It will hardly be worth lodging an appeal in Germany — it would be too expensive."
Insurers would expect to be told of any foreign motoring convictions.
A DVLA spokesman said the prime purpose of the changes was to ensure that cars arriving in Britain had not been stolen and that motorists were not using counterfeit licences.
He said the reciprocal rights would benefit road safety, with greater checks on foreign drivers and cars.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/29/ndriving29.xml&DCMP=EMC-new_29122006
Mon Ami Mate said:
It was described as a "wake up call" by a spokesman for the AA Motoring Trust.
"People have tried to get away with it, thinking this is in another country," he told The Daily Telegraph. "It is going to come as a massive shock for people when they come home and find fines waiting for them on their doormat."
"People have tried to get away with it, thinking this is in another country," he told The Daily Telegraph. "It is going to come as a massive shock for people when they come home and find fines waiting for them on their doormat."
sorry but shouldnt these pr1cks be fighting FOR the motorist, not against ?
francisb said:
Mon Ami Mate said:
It was described as a "wake up call" by a spokesman for the AA Motoring Trust.
"People have tried to get away with it, thinking this is in another country," he told The Daily Telegraph. "It is going to come as a massive shock for people when they come home and find fines waiting for them on their doormat."
"People have tried to get away with it, thinking this is in another country," he told The Daily Telegraph. "It is going to come as a massive shock for people when they come home and find fines waiting for them on their doormat."
sorry but shouldnt these pr1cks be fighting FOR the motorist, not against ?
Mon Ami Mate said:
Paul Watters, the head of roads policy at the trust, said details of how the scheme will work remain unclear, even though it is due to come into force within 12 weeks. "I think the DVLA will have to pass information to whoever requests it and it will be up to them to collect the money."
So the DVLA will give away our details? No sh1t. 
chrispy porker said:
If it makes it easier to deal with foreign vehicles and drivers in the UK, that should be applauded, surely?
uh yeah great. the downside being you receive a fine from some dodgy french copper who claims you passed him at x mph with absolutely no realistic way or hope of defending yourself. if SCP's or police could issue fines directly would you trust them not to lie about your speed ? i'd trust a gendarm (sp) about as far...
francisb said:
chrispy porker said:
If it makes it easier to deal with foreign vehicles and drivers in the UK, that should be applauded, surely?
uh yeah great. the downside being you receive a fine from some dodgy french copper who claims you passed him at x mph with absolutely no realistic way or hope of defending yourself. if SCP's or police could issue fines directly would you trust them not to lie about your speed ? i'd trust a gendarm (sp) about as far...
That's the point here GB, what we're saying is a feather in the cap of the british bobby compared to Claude Le Corrupte and Hans the Moneyofer.
What chance we will get justice compared to johnny foreigner?
turbobloke said:
francisb said:
Mon Ami Mate said:
It was described as a "wake up call" by a spokesman for the AA Motoring Trust.
"People have tried to get away with it, thinking this is in another country," he told The Daily Telegraph. "It is going to come as a massive shock for people when they come home and find fines waiting for them on their doormat."
"People have tried to get away with it, thinking this is in another country," he told The Daily Telegraph. "It is going to come as a massive shock for people when they come home and find fines waiting for them on their doormat."
sorry but shouldnt these pr1cks be fighting FOR the motorist, not against ?
Yes, they're just a sales / marketing organisation now. I would suggest boycotting them.
chrispy porker said:
If it makes it easier to deal with foreign vehicles and drivers in the UK, that should be applauded, surely?
oh come on - dont be silly...
that'd be so much harder to do - when you can prey on poor innocent Brits who will gladly pay up once a NIP arrives on the doormat...
Its just another tax in this country that others can now take advantage of!
chrispy porker said:
Is that not the case now ? What difference will this make?
Not really.
Now, someone gets a ticket from Pierre Aime Le Plastique (amex accepted) and ignores it.
Nothing happens.
In future 5h1t will happen as the DVLA will sell out and our system will apply the vaseline.
Admittedly someone will say 'the law is the law' but what if - as suggestee - no law was broken? What chance of an appeal? Who will go to Germany or Bulgaria and pay a brief to fight this?
chrispy porker said:
What happens if you go back to France or wherever having ignored your fine, are you pursued for it? I'm not trying to make a point, I am curious as I visit France/Belgium regularly.
In future I guess if you were ID'd on entry or at a toll booth or by a ANPR computer link, you could be arrested and frogmarched to a cashpoint (as you are now only there will be added tax for the lack of initial donation) or to stand in front of Le Beak for more corrective therapy as Bertrand's Biatch. chrispy porker said:
What happens if you go back to France or wherever having ignored your fine, are you pursued for it? I'm not trying to make a point, I am curious as I visit France/Belgium regularly.
As they would be going by reg numbers to record alleged infractions on camera, not clear how they would connect that to a passport.
If you were to take the same car (actually, same plate) back into that country and were stopped, however...
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