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#Post#: 91097--------------------------------------------------
I've been caught!
By: roythebus Date: September 23, 2025, 9:28 am
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Yes, I had a hire car in Belgium for a few weeks while my trusty
Range Rover was being repaired, the hire company sent me a
letter in French (rather than a French letter) which apparently
equated to a s172 in the UK, they named me as the driver for
exceeding the 50 limit by doing 59 (km/h). The usual €25 admin
charge and now a waiting another French letter from the local
plod. the thing is, they don't have my address as the hire car
office copied some gibberish address from my passport and
driving licence that was nothing like my home address in the UK.
I wonder if the DVLA in their wisdom will reveal my details to
the Belgian police? I don't have a problem, hands up, guilty
m'lud, just wondering.
#Post#: 91176--------------------------------------------------
Re: I've been caught!
By: 666 Date: September 23, 2025, 1:48 pm
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Does your passport really have an address?
If your licence address is up to date (gibberish or not), then
presumably that is also what the DVLA would provide.
#Post#: 91687--------------------------------------------------
Re: I've been caught!
By: roythebus Date: September 26, 2025, 5:09 pm
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TBH I don't know, I've not really looked properly at it for
ages! But hey ho, in the email today another Belgian s172
letter, seems like a road I used several times during my 5 weeks
there has a working camera!
#Post#: 93689--------------------------------------------------
Re: I've been caught!
By: RT601-303 Date: October 11, 2025, 8:50 am
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Just wondering how often the words "trusty" and "Range Rover"
have been used in the same sentence! ;D
(Don't get me wrong, I drive one too, wouldn't have anything
else now).
#Post#: 93974--------------------------------------------------
Re: I've been caught!
By: Weasel Date: October 14, 2025, 2:54 am
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This is my experience from 25 years ago in The Netherlands:
I was caught by a Gatso camera by Schipol airport as I was
rushing to make my flight on a Friday afternoon. A few weeks
later, I received a letter from the Ducth courts indicating a
fine of around €50 IIRC. I ignored this letter and over the
course of the next few months, I received a couple more letters,
each escalating the fine. I also ignored these letters and
thought no more of it.
3 years later, I next visited The Netherlands (for a stag do)
and upon presenting my passport at the immigration desk, I was
taken aside and very politely interrogated about the events of
3-years previously. I denied all knowledge, but reluctantly
accepted that unless I paid the €99 owning, I would continue to
be detained. Everything was handled politely and in a friendly
tone, so I was not traumatised at all, but I learned a lesson.
The hire company had my passport details as well as my driving
licence details and passed these on to the courts. The courts
were able to flag my passport and hence I was prevented from
entering the country until the matter was resolved.
For peace of mind, I would pay at the earliest opportunity. I
suspect it is possibly nowadays to pay online rather than trying
to send a money-order etc
#Post#: 93996--------------------------------------------------
Re: I've been caught!
By: baroudeur Date: October 14, 2025, 5:56 am
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[quote author=roythebus link=topic=8149.msg91097#msg91097
date=1758637716]
Yes, I had a hire car in Belgium for a few weeks while my trusty
Range Rover was being repaired, the hire company sent me a
letter in French (rather than a French letter) which apparently
equated to a s172 in the UK, they named me as the driver for
exceeding the 50 limit by doing 59 (km/h). The usual €25 admin
charge and now a waiting another French letter from the local
plod. the thing is, they don't have my address as the hire car
office copied some gibberish address from my passport and
driving licence that was nothing like my home address in the UK.
I wonder if the DVLA in their wisdom will reveal my details to
the Belgian police? I don't have a problem, hands up, guilty
m'lud, just wondering.
[/quote]
Perhaps, more to the point is whether the Belgian authorities
will ask DVLA to supply RK details? Since January 2020 the
exchange of details was withdrawn.
There are no reports of EU authorities pursuing penalties
through the UK courts.
Speeding in Belgium has a 6 km/h tolerance which suggests you
were recorded at 65 km/h
#Post#: 94006--------------------------------------------------
Re: I've been caught!
By: Weasel Date: October 14, 2025, 7:06 am
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[quote author=baroudeur link=topic=8149.msg93996#msg93996
date=1760439374]
Perhaps, more to the point is whether the Belgian authorities
will ask DVLA to supply RK details? Since January 2020 the
exchange of details was withdrawn.
There are no reports of EU authorities pursuing penalties
through the UK courts.
Speeding in Belgium has a 6 km/h tolerance which suggests you
were recorded at 65 km/h
[/quote]
Will the DVLA be involved at all? The hire company will surely
have the driving licence details of all authorised drivers of
the hire-car and I am pretty certain that one of the clauses in
the hire contract will be that the hirer permits the passing on
of the licence details to the relevant legal authorities upon
request.
#Post#: 94115--------------------------------------------------
Re: I've been caught!
By: roythebus Date: October 14, 2025, 10:35 pm
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The DVLA cannot reveal details to foreign authorities from what
I understand.
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