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Sometimes heavy fines for traffic offenses in popular holiday destinations, new EU directive on cross-border prosecution
The traffic regulations and the costs for traffic offenses abroad can differ from those at home. ‘Before setting off on holiday, you should learn about local traffic regulations. In principle, what is taboo at home should also be taboo abroad,’ says ÖAMTC lawyer Verena Pronebner.
Anyone who drives too fast in popular holiday destinations or parks incorrectly or is under the influence of alcohol can face heavy fines, vehicle confiscation, or even imprisonment.
Drinking and driving: ‘Driving under the influence of alcohol can have drastic consequences,’ warns the mobility club’s legal expert. In Italy, driving under the influence of alcohol of at least 1.5 per mille even results in the vehicle being confiscated – provided the driver and owner are the same person.
In Spain, anyone driving with a blood alcohol level of 1.2 per mille faces a three-month prison sentence. Generally speaking, drivers who exceed the (usually 0.5) blood alcohol limit are subject to high fines of up to 500 euros in Germany, Italy, and Spain.
Excessive speed: You must also dig deep into your pockets for speeding offenses. Speeding is costly in Scandinavia; if you exceed the speed limit by 20 km/h, you must pay at least 620 euros in Norway, 215 euros in Sweden, and at least 200 euros in Finland. In Italy, such speeding offenses cost at least 175 euros and even a third more at night.
Parking offenses: ‘If you don’t park your car properly, you don’t get off cheaply in some countries. In Spain, you can be fined up to 200 euros for parking illegally,’ explains the ÖAMTC expert. ‘Not only parking in an unauthorized place, but also without a ticket, can be expensive: Club members still receive claims for around 200 euros because they parked without a ticket in Croatia years ago. Therefore, be sure to inform yourself on-site.’
‘If you now get a fine abroad, it is generally most efficient and cheapest to pay it on the spot,’ recommends the ÖAMTC lawyer. In some countries, considerable discounts are also granted if you pay quickly: in Spain, for example, only half the amount is due if the fine is paid within 20 days. In Italy, a discount of 30 percent is possible if the fine is paid within five days of being served; however, if the fine is not paid within 60 days, the fine amount is doubled.
Unpaid fines from other EU countries can be enforced in Austria. Therefore, foreign traffic tickets should not be ignored under any circumstances. It is also possible to claim the fine when re-entering your holiday destination.
EU countries are working closely together on vehicle and owner data exchange to improve safety on European roads and punish traffic offenses across borders. Revising the corresponding EU directive will make it easier to automatically query vehicle owners for other offenses, such as hit-and-run or dangerous overtaking, starting in 2026.
‘One positive aspect of this new EU directive is that from 2028, private (debt collection) companies will be completely prohibited from helping EU countries collect fines. We often receive inquiries from members who receive late payment toll claims from Italy from debt collection agencies. With the new directive, the toll must be paid in arrears, but the sometimes high processing fees charged by the collection agencies will no longer apply,’ concludes Pronebner.
Club members who receive a foreign speeding ticket can contact the ÖAMTC legal advice center free of charge: www.oeamtc.at/rechtsberatung.
- sources: heute.at/oeamtc.at/picture: pixabay.com
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