Nabbed by radar in Europe
Discussion
Today I received a letter in English from the hire car company I rented a car from in Belgium saying that I have been nabbed for traffic offence 
The hire company have forwarded my name and address to the police and the last sentance says that "For any further information about this fine or how to fill in the police form(s), please contact the relevant police office"
The problem is that the Police forms they enclosed are in Flemish language (which I do not understand) and they appear to be the Belgian equivalent of our NIP for a speeding offence near Antwerp.
Has anyone else had one of these and if so what did you do?
Did you wait to see if the police contacted you directly?
TJ
The hire company have forwarded my name and address to the police and the last sentance says that "For any further information about this fine or how to fill in the police form(s), please contact the relevant police office"
The problem is that the Police forms they enclosed are in Flemish language (which I do not understand) and they appear to be the Belgian equivalent of our NIP for a speeding offence near Antwerp.
Has anyone else had one of these and if so what did you do?
Did you wait to see if the police contacted you directly?
TJ
It has the amount of the fine written on it, right? If you wanted to clear it up, you'd just pay the fine. They don't have points in Belgium, and they don't assign points cross-border, yet.
If you wanted to ignore it, the chances are that the car-hire company would have to pay it, and then they'd just charge it against the credit card number that you probably had to post when you hired the car.
If you wanted to ignore it, the chances are that the car-hire company would have to pay it, and then they'd just charge it against the credit card number that you probably had to post when you hired the car.
chris_tivver said:
Don't know about Belgium but I believe the Dutch have a list of outstanding traffic offences by foreigners, and if you go through immigration they check
I don't think so, I've two outstanding parking tickets in Holland and have been there half a dozen times since - and when/where do you go through immigration into Holland?Vipers said:
On one hand I have to say, serves you right for exceeding speed limis, but on the other hand I would suggest you deny all knoweldge of ever receiving the letter.
Sure, I got nabbed, no issue with that. The documenation I have received has come from the hire company where they have informed the Police of my indiscretion and enclosed a copy of what looks like the Belgian equivalent of our NIP. From what I can gather the fine is €50 and is to be paid from a bank account. I will have to wait and see if Belgian police will re-issue the documents directly to me in English with instructions on what to do.
If the hire company hadn't sent the letter I'd be none the wiser so I'm just going to see if the Belgian police will follow through for a €50 fine.
puffpuff said:
chris_tivver said:
Don't know about Belgium but I believe the Dutch have a list of outstanding traffic offences by foreigners, and if you go through immigration they check
I don't think so, I've two outstanding parking tickets in Holland and have been there half a dozen times since - and when/where do you go through immigration into Holland?993Targa said:
Today I received a letter in English from the hire car company I rented a car from in Belgium saying that I have been nabbed for traffic offence
The hire company have forwarded my name and address to the police and the last sentance says that "For any further information about this fine or how to fill in the police form(s), please contact the relevant police office"
The problem is that the Police forms they enclosed are in Flemish language (which I do not understand) and they appear to be the Belgian equivalent of our NIP for a speeding offence near Antwerp.
Has anyone else had one of these and if so what did you do?
Did you wait to see if the police contacted you directly?TJ
993 TargaThe hire company have forwarded my name and address to the police and the last sentance says that "For any further information about this fine or how to fill in the police form(s), please contact the relevant police office"
The problem is that the Police forms they enclosed are in Flemish language (which I do not understand) and they appear to be the Belgian equivalent of our NIP for a speeding offence near Antwerp.
Has anyone else had one of these and if so what did you do?
Did you wait to see if the police contacted you directly?TJ
Had one of these last summer to my private daily scrubber. First letter from the Belgie Police was in French: As I technically do not understand any French, I just returned the form stating in English to them that I did not understand the language or the form, and would they pease comply with EU law and write to me in MY language and gave them the choice of German or English...... end of....... No reply etc (The form was asking me to reply to their accusation of speeding, NOT a fine)
Have since been informed by friends that the Belgies choose the foreigners as they're more likely to fall over and pay, whereas the Belgies ALWAYS push it to the last, even to the day of a court hearing, then pay. In otherwords block a damned burocracy with their own paperwork and choke all profits away....
So if the hire car company pays it, refuse the charge against your CC, as you have had NO opportunity to see the evidence/state your POV, and if the Belgies write directly just return the form asking for it in a language you understand and 99% of the time....end-of
The Walloons do it to the others in Belgium and vice versa!!!!!!
JMGS4 said:
993 Targa
Had one of these last summer to my private daily scrubber. First letter from the Belgie Police was in French: As I technically do not understand any French, I just returned the form stating in English to them that I did not understand the language or the form, and would they pease comply with EU law and write to me in MY language and gave them the choice of German or English...... end of....... No reply etc (The form was asking me to reply to their accusation of speeding, NOT a fine)
Have since been informed by friends that the Belgies choose the foreigners as they're more likely to fall over and pay, whereas the Belgies ALWAYS push it to the last, even to the day of a court hearing, then pay. In otherwords block a damned burocracy with their own paperwork and choke all profits away....
So if the hire car company pays it, refuse the charge against your CC, as you have had NO opportunity to see the evidence/state your POV, and if the Belgies write directly just return the form asking for it in a language you understand and 99% of the time....end-of
The Walloons do it to the others in Belgium and vice versa!!!!!!
Thanks for this JMGS4. That was going to be my plan of action, wait to see if Police write to me and in what language. If it is in Flemish then I'll send it back saying I don't understand.Had one of these last summer to my private daily scrubber. First letter from the Belgie Police was in French: As I technically do not understand any French, I just returned the form stating in English to them that I did not understand the language or the form, and would they pease comply with EU law and write to me in MY language and gave them the choice of German or English...... end of....... No reply etc (The form was asking me to reply to their accusation of speeding, NOT a fine)
Have since been informed by friends that the Belgies choose the foreigners as they're more likely to fall over and pay, whereas the Belgies ALWAYS push it to the last, even to the day of a court hearing, then pay. In otherwords block a damned burocracy with their own paperwork and choke all profits away....
So if the hire car company pays it, refuse the charge against your CC, as you have had NO opportunity to see the evidence/state your POV, and if the Belgies write directly just return the form asking for it in a language you understand and 99% of the time....end-of
The Walloons do it to the others in Belgium and vice versa!!!!!!
As for the hire company, no debit on my card yet and definately will refuse the charge as they have no authority to do that.
TJ
puffpuff said:
chris_tivver said:
Don't know about Belgium but I believe the Dutch have a list of outstanding traffic offences by foreigners, and if you go through immigration they check
I don't think so, I've two outstanding parking tickets in Holland and have been there half a dozen times since - and when/where do you go through immigration into Holland?993Targa said:
JMGS4 said:
993 Targa
Had one of these last summer to my private daily scrubber. First letter from the Belgie Police was in French: As I technically do not understand any French, I just returned the form stating in English to them that I did not understand the language or the form, and would they pease comply with EU law and write to me in MY language and gave them the choice of German or English...... end of....... No reply etc (The form was asking me to reply to their accusation of speeding, NOT a fine)
Have since been informed by friends that the Belgies choose the foreigners as they're more likely to fall over and pay, whereas the Belgies ALWAYS push it to the last, even to the day of a court hearing, then pay. In otherwords block a damned burocracy with their own paperwork and choke all profits away....
So if the hire car company pays it, refuse the charge against your CC, as you have had NO opportunity to see the evidence/state your POV, and if the Belgies write directly just return the form asking for it in a language you understand and 99% of the time....end-of
The Walloons do it to the others in Belgium and vice versa!!!!!!
Thanks for this JMGS4. That was going to be my plan of action, wait to see if Police write to me and in what language. If it is in Flemish then I'll send it back saying I don't understand.Had one of these last summer to my private daily scrubber. First letter from the Belgie Police was in French: As I technically do not understand any French, I just returned the form stating in English to them that I did not understand the language or the form, and would they pease comply with EU law and write to me in MY language and gave them the choice of German or English...... end of....... No reply etc (The form was asking me to reply to their accusation of speeding, NOT a fine)
Have since been informed by friends that the Belgies choose the foreigners as they're more likely to fall over and pay, whereas the Belgies ALWAYS push it to the last, even to the day of a court hearing, then pay. In otherwords block a damned burocracy with their own paperwork and choke all profits away....
So if the hire car company pays it, refuse the charge against your CC, as you have had NO opportunity to see the evidence/state your POV, and if the Belgies write directly just return the form asking for it in a language you understand and 99% of the time....end-of
The Walloons do it to the others in Belgium and vice versa!!!!!!
As for the hire company, no debit on my card yet and definately will refuse the charge as they have no authority to do that.
TJ
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