False Speeding Fine

pj39 · #1 (**permalink**) 4th January 2008, 01:24 PM

Hi,

I've got a fine in the post today when I know I was not where they have said the car was (Pysically impossible that day ) I am 100% certain it is wrong. I was at work that day, at that time, and my wife was at home all day (I spoke to her during the day ), it would some 4 hours round trip to get to where the alledged incident took place and our car is new with few Kms on the clock, given that we have driven it for short trips there is NO way we could have been where they reckon we were as our Kms would be alot higher !!!!

Sounds like another example of the police being under budget so they are trying to stitch up innocent motorists !!

Any ideas how to challenge this successfully ?

Thanks

Bevdeforges · #2 (**permalink**) 4th January 2008, 02:34 PM

Is the fine based on one of those speeding cameras? If so, you may have the right to ask to see the photo - which should have the plate number clearly visible and you can tell if it's your plate or not. (Or see if the number is blurred or indistinct.)

If it's based on a written citation, there should be some indication of the plate number and possibly a description of the car (make, model, color). It's possible the police took down the plate number incorrectly, and you can usually contest it by providing a copy of your carte grise that indicates the make, model and whatever of your car, and that it doesn't match what is on the written citation. But most traffic fines are handled on the spot in France.

Take it one step at a time. Write a simple, polite note to whoever sent you the fine notice, stating that there may be a problem (don't use the word "erreur" - it just makes 'em mad) and asking for either a copy of the photo or the document supporting the violation notice. (It's probably a speed camera, as fines are generally collected on the spot.)

If they notice their mistake, you may simply never hear back from them. But if they send you the photo, it should be easy to spot what happened and provide adequate proof that it wasn't you or your car.

pj39 · #3 (**permalink**) 4th January 2008, 05:56 PM

Difficult to say the origin, it is part hand written/part printed, whatever I seriously doubt the validity as my car could not have been there, its just proving their error so that they accept it that I am thinking about. Ive asked for the photo and will be interested to see what they come back with (They have the make/model of the car correct somehow, perhaps they have noted something wrong and just inflicted the fine on the first nearly correct details that they found !!!!! )......

giantpanda · #4 (**permalink**) 5th January 2008, 07:52 AM

Hi!

Here the basics ( in French )

Contester PV vitesse - Radars automatiques - Contravention amende radar

or:

Radars automatiques : des conseils pour payer ou contester son PV en ligne

Please note that you have to pay first the 135 Euros.

Yours,

giantpanda

Stravinsky · #5 (**permalink**) 5th January 2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj39

Difficult to say the origin, it is part hand written/part printed, whatever I seriously doubt the validity as my car could not have been there, its just proving their error so that they accept it that I am thinking about. Ive asked for the photo and will be interested to see what they come back with (They have the make/model of the car correct somehow, perhaps they have noted something wrong and just inflicted the fine on the first nearly correct details that they found !!!!! )......

Can you prove where you were?
I remember in the UK I was in my office and two Police officers arrived to arrest me for driving off from a petrol station in Newport the previos day without paying. I had been sitting in my office in Birmingham at the time, and this was enough for them to drop the matter immediately.

TGC · #6 (**permalink**) 2nd November 2008, 04:21 PM

On N147 to Poitiers yesterday, I was travelling at 89/90, being VERY carefull as I approached notorious speed trap, to stay under limit. Was pulled by the boys in blue for what I thought was going to be a document check. Shocked to be told was getting done for doing av. 110 with 117 as top speed!!! Not in hell was I speeding! Apart from fact I'm not that stupid, had my children in the car, I am always very conscious of speed as I was in accident some years ago. What can I do to contest this? It's not the money or even the points on my clean liscence, it's the principal. Officers polite but insistant. I am fuming!

Stravinsky · #7 (**permalink**) 2nd November 2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGC

On N147 to Poitiers yesterday, I was travelling at 89/90, being VERY carefull as I approached notorious speed trap, to stay under limit. Was pulled by the boys in blue for what I thought was going to be a document check. Shocked to be told was getting done for doing av. 110 with 117 as top speed!!! Not in hell was I speeding! Apart from fact I'm not that stupid, had my children in the car, I am always very conscious of speed as I was in accident some years ago. What can I do to contest this? It's not the money or even the points on my clean liscence, it's the principal. Officers polite but insistant. I am fuming!

In the UK you can dispute and ask when the machine was last calibrated, and if it was not done within a reasonable period then you can get away with it