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weird fine for speaking on the phone while driving
Hello all,
Few month ago I received a fine for speaking on the phone while driving. The problem is it wasn't me. I have never been at the address mentioned in the fine letter and during that time I was at work (can be physically confirmed by building access logs and so on).
I replied to the letter (unfortunately, non-recommended - it worked well before) describing the situation above and the next day came the fine itself. I did not pay it. After 2 weeks came the reminder. This time, I sent a recommended letter with copies my initial reply, a copy of the access logs and so on. This was almost one month ago. And there was no update since then.
What is the procedure in this case? Should I worry? Should I go and talk with someone (police agent who sent the fine/lawyer)? Should I be worried about my car being cloned (and also source for future fake-fines) or is it just a recognition error in their system?
I'm no expert, but I don't think you should even think of asking that question here. You should be chasing up the police. The procedure is to pay the fine and argue later.
And they make mistakes. Some time ago I received a call from the Belgian police (I was in Prague at the time) to ask for more details regarding my red Honda motorcycle registration xyz123 that had been recently seen parked illegally in Brussels with no insurance.
Trouble was the number plate had been surrendered 9 months previous and I had never owned a red Honda. Never heard from them again.
Your situation is very different though, you need to get on to the police.
'The procedure is to pay the fine and argue later.'
I discovered this when, after ignoring a fine for a non-existent 'offence', the bailiffs arrived!
I agreed to pay up within 24 hours and, within 24 hours, a bill arrived for the 'services' of the aforementioned bailiffs.
It took time but I did eventually get both the fine and the bailiffs bill refunded.
Wait and see if they respond to your letter.
> after ignoring a fine for a non-existent 'offence'
By ignoring it, you effectively admit guild by default. If you had replied, and could prove to the bailiffs that you'd replied, they would have gone back to the fine issuer.
i had the same situation years ago where they apparently misread the license plate of the offender and sent me a letter saying i had blown past a traffic cop without stopping as he was indicating. The form told me to come to court on a certain day or respond in writing, which I did and included pics of my car, as they had the colour wrong.
In the end, i had to go to my local police office, where an officer looked at the car, and that was the end of it. I never heard another thing about it. I also responded in English after getting some advice from an ex-cop i knew. English makes the whole thing more complicated for them.
so I wouldn't pay the fine either if you have irreputable proof that you did not commit the crime.
I wouldn't pay either. However I am so upset with this crazy belgian system, in which you need to prove that you are innocent, instead of policeman showing you the proof that you are guilty.
In what other country in Europe policeman word (without any additional proof) is more valid than your word.
It should be enough for you just to state it was not you, and if he disagree to prove to you otherwise (with a concrete evidence).
Someone has to finally challenge this crazy approach of police here. This is completely lawless...:/
