On Oct 14, we returned from our wonderful 18 day vacation to Germany where we took in Oktoberfest and the Passion Play in Oberammergau. Highly recommend Oktoberfest, even for non beer drinkers and of course the Passion Play was a once in a lifetime experience. Now that we are home and settled back into our daily grind, we get a notice from Avis (we rented our car through AutoEurope) that we will be receiving a traffic ticket from Heidelburg. At this point we don't know what the ticket is forwe literally were only in the town about 6 hours. We parked in a garage that was "manned" so no problem parking. I know I have seen other posts on this helpline about others who have gotten tickets sent to them after their return and was wondering what would happen if we just didn't respond to it? BTW Lee, thank you for your help with the trains from the Munich airport into town and around. Found the S-Bahn without a problem with your help. Thanks to Russ, for his hints on seeing the Marksburg castle. We took the K-d up the Rhine and got off at Brubach and then up to the castle. Actually took at taxi up but walked down. Then train/ferry back to Oberwesel.
The trip was made so much more enjoyable because of all the help I received here on the helpline. So to all you regular postersand to you Paul of NJRamsau is not to be missedI say Thank you! Now just awaiting our "summons" in the mail!
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
I know the likely reason why you received the ticket. If you drove into town along A656 (the autobahn linking Heidelberg to Mannheim), the speed limit suddenly drops from autobahn to city speeds. There's little warning other than the city limit sign (which in Germany and some other countries in Europe, also indicates that the speed limit changes to 50 km/hr). It's easy to miss because for all appearances, the road at this point still looks like a regular autobahn. And of course, there's a camera sitting right there to catch all the people who missed the sign! Your ticket will include the picture of whoever was driving at the time and instructions on how to pay... in German. You can pay by mailing the cash (they don't accept checks, or by wire transfer. As to what will happen if you don't pay? There will be an arrest warrant issued through INTERPOL and you can expect an agent to pick you up within 48 hours.... OK, not really. Honestly, I don't know what the consequences would be if you don't pay.
Posted by
Ottawa
1446 posts
I'm not sure about this... but my understanding is that in many European countries, the rental car company is responsible for the fines on its cars; which they in turn charge back to you on your credit card.
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
Yes, most likely you got caught by the speed cam at the end of the freeway in Heidelberg. Most likely, though, you weren't going at supersonic speed at that time, rather just 5 or 10 km/h above the suprisingly low limit of 50 at that location (Heidelberg is a "green-party" town, they love their chicanery). The ticket is likely going to be €15 plus whatever Avis will add as handling fee. If you don't pay the ticket while it's at such a low level it pretty much doubles every 6 weeks - and they do check on those when entering Germany and countries that handle German traffic tickets as well, like France and Austria.