12 days in Austrian Prison

I have been offered 12 days in prison in Austria. Seriously.
The nice lady at the Tirol traffic department in Imst wrote to me to inform me that 7 months ago, thats SEVEN months ago, I was driving a rental car with a German number plate, down the whateverbahn at 7 km/h over the speed limit. Yes, thats 7km/h. They sent me three photos of the car to prove it, and the nice people at Avis gave them my details to contact me.

So, they wrote to me offering me 12 days in prison, or a 35 euro fine.

This is the third letter I have received, the first 2 were in German and full of really long words, and the very first one I presumed was a marketing letter as it was headed TIROL so I binned it!

I think I'll pay the fine.

Blimey. J2Ski gets its own international master criminal!

Tony_H wrote:So, they wrote to me offering me 12 days in prison, or a 35 euro fine.

Hmm, tough choice.

Shall I change your username to Tony_Cell_Block_H ?

7 months on the run and it looks like the (very) long arm of the law has finally caught up with you; time to pay your dues to (Austrian) society. 8)

If I were you, I'd offer to do community service ---(On the slopes!!)

From another pending convict.....I had similar demand, via Innsbruck Europcar, for speeding up the Brenner Pass en route to the Dolomites. Didn't pay. Another letter again in German - didn't pay. Then after about six months another letter that was special delivery and had to be signed for. Decided to translate it with Mr Google. Bottom line was pay up or we register your name with Passport Control and you will be arrested.next time you come to Austria! Your name will also be given to all car hire companies in Austria and they won't rent you a car. I thought about this - no option but to pay up. Sending money by IBAN is expensive as well.

I got fined in France last year. Ignored the first couple of reminders, but paid in the end (online, so no IBAN hassles). Seeing your comment on letting the passport authorities know makes me think I did the right thing.

Having said that, I had three speeding fines from the same late night Zurich to Engelberg journey a few years ago - totalled £350 - I ignored them and have flown into Switzerland since (although I was slightly nervous the first time!)

Looks like we need a confessional forum!

Anyone else? :lol:

If you do decide to take up their offer we'll look forward to the review.
You know some people like to knock Austria.

Ignoring these letters is a bad idea, in case of non payment the fines can be automatically commuted into prison sentences that remain on file for several years. TonyH, it looks like your jail sentence for non payment will be 12 days. When you pay the fine it's very important to make sure that you quote the identification number otherwise you might be in for a nasty surprise when they tell you that they have no record of your payment when you next visit. I would also take proof of payment as well, just in case.

Iainm, if you were to be caught speeding again whilst driving in Switzerland, and didn't pay the fine you could be jailed if you re-entered the country within three years.

"How are foreign motorists who do not pay their fine punished on re-entering Switzerland?"

"Under federal legislation, the details of the person are entered into the RIPOL database if the fine has not been paid and has subsequently been commuted into a prison sentence. This measure encourages people who wish to re-enter to pay their fine. Fines imposed by the Swiss authorities can be enforced on Swiss territory for a period of three years."

https://www.fedpol.admin.ch/fedpol/en/home/aktuell/uebertretungen_vonstrassenverkehrsvorschriften/bussen.html (scroll down to the bottom of the page)

You would also be fined a lot more than £350, the fines for speeding have increased dramatically lately. If you are deemed to have been driving at an excessive speed the police can take your licence off you on the spot and even confiscate the car.

At the moment this probably only effects hire car drivers but, when the EU Cross-Border Enforcement Directive comes into force in the UK in 2017 it will affect the owners of UK registered cars as well. http://etsc.eu/faq-eu-cross-border-enforcement-directive/