56. EURO SPEEDING PENALTIES: What are the Speeding Penalties in Germany, Spain and Sweden?

Speeding Fines and Penalties In Germany

The Germans have a staggered scale for fines related to speeding:

Excess speed (3km/h tolerance) Fine Penalty points

Up to 10 km/h 20,- EUR None
11 - 15 €30,- None
16 - 20 €50,- 1
21 - 25 €60,- 1
26 - 30 €90,- 3
31 - 40 €125,- 3 plus automatic one month ban IN GERMANY

Penalties are sharper where visibility is less than 50 metres due to fog, heavy rain or snow. Penalties for repeat offenders are also heavier.

More draconian are the rules regarding proximity to the vehicle in front. Special mobile units use a fixed camera in the central reservation together with a second fixed camera and a mobile camera mounted nearby, usually on a bridge. The warning sign is if you see a van on a bridge together with a camera in the central reservation. Then it's time to back off from the guy in front.

Under German law they need a photo of the distance between cars, a photo of the reg
number and driver of the offending vehicle (done with one camera unit) and a video
of the events beforehand in order to prosecute someone for tailgating.

As a rule of thumb, you must maintain the following minimum distance to the vehicle in front:

Half of speed (km/h) / 2

EG Speed 130km/h (80mph) on the Autobahn. Minimum "safe" distance = (130/2) / 2 = 32,5 mtrs, roughly 100 feet.

These fines are more severe than speeding, as a guideline:

Less than 50% of half of the speedo < 32,5 metres €60 1 point
Less than 40% -"- < 26 metres €100 2 points
Less than 30% -"- < 19,5 metres €150 3 pts + 1 month ban
Less than 20% -"- < 13 metres € 200 3 pts + 2 month ban

It is very easy to get caught by this.

Thanks to Jason Wilshaw, Balingen, Germany.

Speeding Fines and Penalties In Spain

60 in a 50 zone, 100 in a 90 zone, 110 in a 100 zone and 132 in a 120 zone: No penalty

61-80 in a 50, 121-130 in a 90, 111-130 in a 100, 133-152 in a 120: €100 fine, no points.

81-90 in a 50, 121-130 in a 90, 131-140 in a 100, 153-162 in a 120: €140 fine, 2 points.

131-140 in a 90, 141-150 in a 100, 163-172 in a 120: €200 fine, 3 points.

141-150 in a 90, 151-165 in a 100, 173-198 in a 120: €300 fine, 4 points.

91-97 in a 50, 151-158 in a 90, 166-174 in a 100, 199-208 in a 120: €380 fine, 6 points.

98-104 in a 50, 159-166 in a 90, 175-183 in a 100, 219 to 218 in a 120: €450 fine, 6 points.

105+ in a 50, 167+ in a 90, 184+ in a 100, 219+ in a 120: €520 fine, 6 points.


Some links to driving rules in Spain (though the rule about not using satnav cannot be true).

www.idealspain.com/Pages/Information/DrivingSpain.htm

gospain.about.com/od/safetyissuesinspain/a/drivingspain.htm

From the local press in Spain -

"THE DGT traffic department will be issuing Guardia Civil traffic officers with new technology in October 2007 so that they can report traffic violations immediately to a central computing system. PRIDE units will allow Guardia Civil officers to report traffic offences on the spot and motorists who are fined can pay using a credit card thanks to the units’ magnetic band reader....the new system allows officers to register a traffic offence and send the details directly to the central computing system for action without the need to fill out forms. Officers will also have immediate access to the driver and vehicles details and records on the PRIDE unit screen, information which is currently only available by radio contact with head offices. The units will be connected to the central computer system via a global positioning system operated by a major mobile phone company"

Please also note that permitted blood alcohol levels dropped as from December 2007.
The alcohol limit per litre of air expelled is now 0.6 milligrams. If you fail a breath test you could be imprisoned for up to6 months. One young driver was caught with a reading of 0.67mg and the prosecutor asked for a two-year jail sentence, a six year pan-European driving ban and a £2,000 fine.

Radar/Laser Traps in France at fixed locations

www2.securiteroutiere.gouv.fr/data/radars/index.html

Speeding Penalties in Sweden

For speed limits 50 kmh & under
(20. 30, 40 & 50)

Over the speed limit by:
1-10 km 2000 kronor
11-15 km 2400 kronor
16-20 km 2800 kronor
21-25 km 3200 kronor
26-30 km 3600 kronor
31-40 km 4000 kronor
Over 40 km Reported to the prosecutor

For speed limits 60 km & over
(With the new limits in force: 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 & 120)

Over the speed limit by:
1-10 km 1500 kronor
11-15 km 2000 kronor
16-20 km 2400 kronor
21-25 km 2500 kronor
26-30 km 3200 kronor
31-25 km 3600 kronor
36-40 km 4000 kronor
41-50 km 4000 kronor
Over 50 km Reported to the prosecutor.

As of today, 24 Dec 2008, the exchange rate is hovering around 11.80 SEK/£