Suggestion regarding speeding ticket

by **namu** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 9:21 am

Hi,
One and half week before I was caught by automatic camera. I was at 95 Kmh in a 80 Kmh road. I got a fine of 70 euros. There is an option to appeal against it. I have a reason for speeding. The Nokia navigator in the phone made the problem. It was showing the road speed limit is 100 Kmh, although it was 80 Kmh. Even after getting caught upto 5-10 Kmh the phone did not update to the right speed limilt. The navigation service made me confused whether the speed limit is 80 or 100.

I am wondering do you think this kind of explanation has any chance of being accepted? If it is not accepted, do you think that they can even increase my penalty? I heard loosing a case may cost more than just accepting it in some countries.

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by **Pursuivant** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 9:36 am

There are signs on the side of the road you're supposed to watch, not your phone.

Increased fine for using mobile while driving. :lol:

by **Upphew** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 9:41 am

namu wrote:One and half week before I was caught by automatic camera. I was at 95 Kmh in a 80 Kmh road. I got a fine of 70 euros. There is an option to appeal against it. I have a reason for speeding. The Nokia navigator in the phone made the problem. It was showing the road speed limit is 100 Kmh, although it was 80 Kmh. Even after getting caught upto 5-10 Kmh the phone did not update to the right speed limilt. The navigation service made me confused whether the speed limit is 80 or 100.

I am wondering do you think this kind of explanation has any chance of being accepted? If it is not accepted, do you think that they can even increase my penalty? I heard loosing a case may cost more than just accepting it in some countries.

No chance at all. Speed limits are indicated by signs by the road. If you don't see the sign it is your fault. If the sign is covered in snow, you go and clean it up. Hopefully you aren't one of those that drive to the lake if navigator says so.

Your fine can go up in court, but it is extremely unlikely. Of course it might end up costing you to appear there or have a lawyer to do so. And if Prosecution calls witnesses their expenses might end up on your table. Remember that this is not America so the expenses are not in thousands. Or hundreds. Iirc the lost income is capped at 70e and then there are the transportation expenses.

by **riku2** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 10:19 am

namu wrote: I have a reason for speeding. The Nokia navigator in the phone made the problem. It was showing the road speed limit is 100 Kmh, although it was 80 Kmh. Even after getting caught upto 5-10 Kmh the phone did not update to the right speed limilt. The navigation service made me confused whether the speed limit is 80 or 100.

I am wondering do you think this kind of explanation has any chance of being accepted? If it is not accepted, do you think that they can even increase my penalty? I heard loosing a case may cost more than just accepting it in some countries.

I don't know about increasing the penalty - certainly in the UK they have the kind of scheme where the fine is lower if you plead guilty or pay it quickly (they phrase this a discount for prompt payment, not a penalty for going to court).

You will certainly find some disclaimer in the navigation software saying that any speed limits it gives are suggestions and do not replace actual observations. You would be laughed out of court since your phone cannot know about roadworks or temporary limits so obviously cannot be relied on even in quite common situations. And it cannot cope with different speed limits for different lanes on the motorway -which do exist in Finland.

My car has navigation with speed limits in the database and also uses a camera to recognize speed limit signs and then shows the limit on the dashboard but even that system isn't always 100% correct, so I never rely on that system either but it is quite handy to have if you approach a speed camera. It does not brake if the speed limit goes down but it's not long before cars do that.

The only good thing about speed limits and GPS is that the GPS can show your correct speed and not what the speedometer in the car shows. Then you can drive at exactly the speed limit and not the 5% below that the speedometer might suggest.