Motoring offences abroad
I read this in a recent FICC news sheet and thought it worth passing on.
Everyone knows that not all countries have the same highway codes nor do they operate the
same system of fines and penalties.
So a driver in Italy who is caught with a blood alcohol level of over 1.5 mg per ml should not be
surprised to find that his vehicle is seized and sold off in a compulsory auction, unless of course
the driver is not the owner.
In Denmark the state can impound, expropriate and auction off a vehicle together with a towed
caravan in the event of a blood alcohol level that exceeds 2.0 mg per ml.
If you do not want to end your holidays in jail in Switzerland, just keep within the speed limit. If
you are caught driving at 70 km/h in a 30 zone or are 80 km/h over the speed limit on the
motorway, you run the risk of being jailed for at least a year.
One must call the police in Croatia if a vehicle’s bodywork is damaged in an accident. They will
draw up the necessary damage report because a vehicle is not allowed to leave the country with
more bumps than were declared when it entered.
In Slovenia you can be fined if you go through a yellow traffic light. If you are unable or unwilling
to pay for this or any other traffic fine on the spot, the police are empowered to seize your vehicle
and documents and take you into custody.
This is but a selection because a good many other countries have drastic measures up their
sleeve for drivers who violate their traffic regulations.
As ever the following holds true: it is best to abide by traffic regulations, even when travelling
abroad.
Be warned!
peedee