Norwegians jail French tourist for speeding

Tabnabs

Caught by a speed check driving 160kph. The speed limit in the area is 90kph and police had followed him over a distance of seven kilometers before pulling him over.

The French tourist had admitted he was driving fast because he wanted to “test out” his rental car, a Volkswagen Passat CC.

The local court sentenced him to 18 days in prison, revoked his driver’s license for 16 months and ordered him to take a new driving test in order to get it back.

Now he faces time in a Norwegian prison, while authorities in France would be alerted to the revocation of his driver’s license.

http://www.newsinenglish.no/2012/08/21/french-tourist-jailed-for-speeding/#.UDNjlpV4mXI.twitter

Ouch...

blackwhite

Unless there's some agreement between Norway and France then I don't see how the "revocation" of his licence really means anything, unless he plans going back to drive in Norway again (unless of course he has a Norwegian licence - which is unlikely when he is described as a French tourist).

cadaliac

A good reason not to visit that country.
That is ridiculous to be fair. Take his licence and stop him from driving (in that country) but jail - wtf?

JohnMarston

Showing the world they arent a soft touch

glynf

I knew before reading there would be a hire car involved, fastest cars in the world and all...:)

totaly ott in fairness, and in before the 'speef is bad mmm-kay?' lot.

glynf

double post

jenizzle

cadaliac wrote: »

A good reason not to visit that country.
That is ridiculous to be fair. Take his licence and stop him from driving (in that country) but jail - wtf?

It's a lovely country and I highly recommend anyone visit there, but the speed limit everywhere is 80 or 90 kmph, unless you're lucky enough to get onto the motorway on the E6 into Oslo which is 110 kmph (I think!). Don't go to Norway thinking you can speed your way through mountain roads - go to Germany or Switzerland for that. Once you let go of the fact you'll be driving a bit slower, it's quite enjoyable as you can stick the cruise control on at 80 and not really have to stop (unlike here, brake - speed - brake hard - speed...)

I'm actually surprised he managed to keep that speed up for so long, as the Norwegians are sticklers for the speed limit so it's very hard to get any faster than that unless you're driving in the middle of the night. They also have speed cameras everywhere, and they're well sign-posted.

cadaliac

jenizzle wrote: »

It's a lovely country and I highly recommend anyone visit there, but the speed limit everywhere is 80 or 90 kmph, unless you're lucky enough to get onto the motorway on the E6 into Oslo which is 110 kmph (I think!). Don't go to Norway thinking you can speed your way through mountain roads - go to Germany or Switzerland for that. Once you let go of the fact you'll be driving a bit slower, it's quite enjoyable as you can stick the cruise control on at 80 and not really have to stop (unlike here, brake - speed - brake hard - speed...)

I'm actually surprised he managed to keep that speed up for so long, as the Norwegians are sticklers for the speed limit so it's very hard to get any faster than that unless you're driving in the middle of the night. They also have speed cameras everywhere, and they're well sign-posted.

So do you think it is right or wrong to put him in jail?

Bohrio

cadaliac wrote: »

A good reason not to visit that country.
That is ridiculous to be fair. Take his licence and stop him from driving (in that country) but jail - wtf?

Spain is the same... exceed the speed limit but more than 50% (if I remember correctly) and you will be doing jail time. Same as driving under the influence...

Bandara

Oh them Passats, they're the modern day GLANZAS

neil_hosey

tbh honest, if you are going to go to an relatevily unknown country and drive 160 on a probably unknown road, putting other lives at risk, its probably deserved.

altho id probably be singing a different tune if it was me.

Have respect for the foreign country you are in, by not breaking their laws

JustinDee

cadaliac wrote: »

So do you think it is right or wrong to put him in jail?

Nothing wrong with it. The law is there to deter and to facilitate punishment if broken. Irish folk might find it strange as it is actually enforced unlike every idiot on these roads who makes up their own speed limit, uses the phone while driving, cannot figure out what the outside lane is actually there for, have no idea which lane to take for second exit of a roundabout, have no clue as to which way to enter a service station or behave in a car park.

Bra gjort norsk politiet (jeg bodde der fem aar).

dharn

the importance of obeying speed limits seems to be inversely connected to the chances of getting caught:D

Bohrio

JustinDee wrote: »

...have no clue as to which way to enter a service station or behave in a car park.

Lol

That annoys me soooo much... I mean, is it really that hard! Specially annoying in petrol stations when you are trying to leave and car comes in the wrong direction blocking your way out...

Dave0301

People saying it was harsh putting him in jail?

He went to another country and broke their laws, it wasn't like he was 5 Km/h over the limit either!

megafan

Tabnabs wrote: »

Caught by a speed check driving 160kph. The speed limit in the area is 90kph and police had followed him over a distance of seven kilometers before pulling him over.

The French tourist had admitted he was driving fast because he wanted to “test out” his rental car, a Volkswagen Passat CC.

The local court sentenced him to 18 days in prison, revoked his driver’s license for 16 months and ordered him to take a new driving test in order to get it back.

Now he faces time in a Norwegian prison, while authorities in France would be alerted to the revocation of his driver’s license.

http://www.newsinenglish.no/2012/08/21/french-tourist-jailed-for-speeding/#.UDNjlpV4mXI.twitter

Ouch...

French police fairly demanding also when looking for "on the spot fines" in some cases bringing you to banks & threating jail if not paid immediately.... maybe judge in local court caught speeding in France & returning favor?...

Tabnabs

JustinDee wrote: »

Nothing wrong with it. The law is there to deter and to facilitate punishment if broken. Irish folk might find it strange as it is actually enforced unlike every idiot on these roads who makes up their own speed limit, uses the phone while driving, cannot figure out what the outside lane is actually there for, have no idea which lane to take for second exit of a roundabout, have no clue as to which way to enter a service station or behave in a car park.

Bra gjort norsk politiet (jeg bodde der fem aar).

Norwegian driving rules can be incredibly draconian, I know of a junction where you get a €250 on the spot fine if you cross the white line before stopping. The problem is, the road is angled in such a way that you cannot see if the junction is clear without crossing the white line. So for the sake of being lawful everyone comes to a complete stop and then edges forward...

or behave in a car park.

But come, come, your five years must have been slightly rose tinted

http://www.ba.no/motormagasinet/article4047739.ece

In memory of the Obnoxious Parking thread (RIP), keep clicking Neste under he photo.

Stallingrad

Some Norwegian prisons are comparable to our 3 star hotels, if you are going to be jailed for speeding Norway is the place.

cadaliac

JustinDee wrote: »

Nothing wrong with it. .

That is all I asked (you??), and not the rest of your opinionated, assuming post thanks.

Reg'stoy

cadaliac wrote: »

That is all I asked (you??), and not the rest of your opinionated, assuming post thanks.

keithclancy

Dave0301 wrote: »

People saying it was harsh putting him in jail?

He went to another country and broke their laws, it wasn't like he was 5 Km/h over the limit either!

Well seeing as you only get 21 years with the possibility of weekend parole in 7 years for systematically murdering a load of kids on an island and setting off a bomb at Government buildings.

Jail time for driving too fast seems a bit harsh.

Saying that I believe the fines in Finland are worse than Norway.

I think a hefty fine or seizing his car would have been sufficient.

AFAIK they cannot ban him from Driving in France, only in Norway (EEA not EU)

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/driving/faq/index_en.htm#c080126248316e7d0

I recently received a driving ban while on holiday in Spain. I live in Belgium, where my licence was issued - can I still use my licence there?

YES — A driving ban issued by the country you were visiting, only applies to this country. When you leave, the authorities must return your licence to you.

Even if the Norwegians keep the license, you can just apply for a new one as lost/stolen when you get back.

Marlow

cadaliac wrote: »

A good reason not to visit that country.
That is ridiculous to be fair. Take his licence and stop him from driving (in that country) but jail - wtf?

Jail in Norway is very civilized. They don't believe in punishment. They just try to keep offenders away from the public.

As for the disqualification, in Sweden for example the coppers will take your license of you, if you're 30 km/h over the speedlimit, they'll issue you with an on the spot fine and a temporary 48 hour piece of paper as a license replacement to get you home. They then send your license and the police report back to the country, where you are from and let them deal with that. Doesn't matter if you're from China or Ireland.

In Finland your speeding fine is based on your salary.

Scandinavia is no joke for any sort of motoring offence.

/M

blingrhino

JustinDee wrote: »

Nothing wrong with it. The law is there to deter and to facilitate punishment if broken. Irish folk might find it strange as it is actually enforced unlike every idiot on these roads who makes up their own speed limit, uses the phone while driving, cannot figure out what the outside lane is actually there for, have no idea which lane to take for second exit of a roundabout, have no clue as to which way to enter a service station or behave in a car park.

Bra gjort norsk politiet (jeg bodde der fem aar).

i couldnt have put it better`.

JustinDee

Tabnabs wrote: »

Norwegian driving rules can be incredibly draconian, I know of a junction where you get a €250 on the spot fine if you cross the white line before stopping. The problem is, the road is angled in such a way that you cannot see if the junction is clear without crossing the white line. So for the sake of being lawful everyone comes to a complete stop and then edges forward...

Do you not see what this appears to be trying to do? A blind spot junction and tjhey're trying to get drivers to actually stop first before tackling it as opposed to just whizzing arrogantly and stupidly through while hoping for the best.

Tabnabs wrote: »

But come, come, your five years must have been slightly rose tinted

Just pointing out that rules of the road tend to be adhered to in a better manner in Norway, particularly in comparison to here.

Paddy doesn't like being told what to do. Unfortunately (but luckily for the many woeful, selfish and dangerous drivers here) the enforcement just isn't as widespread as it should be. I've seen wallies driving entire bus lanes with indicators on being ignored by patrolling police on the Dublin quays as well as speeders and dickheads doing a Franz Klammer from lane to lane being tolerated to the same degree.

haminka

It's actually really fun to see how some Irish are wondering how come laws are actually enforced in other countries. Let's invite him to Donegal, he can test the car and we'll give him a nice enough funeral when he ends up in a ditch, plus some tearful photos of his grieving family and invite his priest to tell us about what a decent lad he was.

jhegarty

JustinDee wrote: »

Nothing wrong with it. The law is there to deter and to facilitate punishment if broken. Irish folk might find it strange as it is actually enforced unlike every idiot on these roads who makes up their own speed limit, uses the phone while driving, cannot figure out what the outside lane is actually there for, have no idea which lane to take for second exit of a roundabout, have no clue as to which way to enter a service station or behave in a car park.

Bra gjort norsk politiet (jeg bodde der fem aar).

And yet we have a lower road death rate then Norway.

Marlow

jhegarty wrote: »

And yet we have a lower road death rate then Norway.

The majority of road deaths in Norway are caused by deer. Nothing traffic rule enforcement can do about.

/M

cadaliac

haminka wrote: »

It's actually really fun to see how some Irish are wondering how come laws are actually enforced in other countries. Let's invite him to Donegal, he can test the car and we'll give him a nice enough funeral when he ends up in a ditch, plus some tearful photos of his grieving family and invite his priest to tell us about what a decent lad he was.

Sorry, I just can't let this one go.

Jesus what a post.

The Donegal statement is simply beyond words.....

dharn

Marlow wrote: »

The majority of road deaths in Norway are caused by deer. Nothing traffic rule enforcement can do about.

/M

ya, those deer are terrible drivers

JustinDee

jhegarty wrote: »

And yet we have a lower road death rate then Norway.

Thats quite a subjective conclusion you come up with. Try going a little deeper and compare motorway and urban roads.

Tabnabs

Marlow wrote: »

The majority of road deaths in Norway are caused by deer. Nothing traffic rule enforcement can do about.

/M

I'd be interested in your source on that?

From reading Norwegian newspaper websites daily, alcohol, treacherous road conditions and difficult/winding/narrow roads are the cause in the majority of cases.

anncoates

Drove at nearly double the speed limit so happy enough to see him do time.