Cultural Learnings Of… European Traffic Violations, Part 2

So whats all this about European traffic violations then? See, between most counties, if you get nabbed for something then they cant follow it up. Unless the copper actually stops you and makes you pay on the spot, which I have heard happens in France (but watch out for in Lithuania). Just because they are happy EU countries doesnt mean the traffic computer systems are linked, thats in the pipeline. Some countries already have individual agreements, like if your a krauty and you get pinged in Austria then your fine will follow you home but if you are say… an Estonian in…. ANY OTHER COUNTRY then you are totally fine.

We first learnt this trick on Eurotrip2006 when much to our surprise, parking fines didnt make it back to Sweden, where the car was registered. This perplexed us and we investigated a bit further. Think about it in this way. In 3 months through Europe I DID NOT SEE ONE OTHER ESTONIAN CAR. Do you think the flood of fines from this Eastern European country calls for the expense of such a computer hookup?

I like to think I uphold the rules where possible, I keep to the limit and I enjoy driving on the Autobahns in Germany where I am even allowed to go as fast as I want. Going above 150 is AWESOME. Still, after driving 9000KM, one can fauter sometimes and I am sure on occasion I stepped over the legal limit. I cant imagine where however.

Same goes with parking fines, I try to buy tickets where possible, even though I know they cant track me down. That makes me a good person right? Still even a saint like myself forgets sometimes and on this trip I got 4 parking fines

My conscience is clear, I TRIED. Trying is enough under the law right? If it means some poor parking enforcer gets another mark for his quota then I am happy, its WIN-WIN.

By Louis Zezeran

Louis Zezeran is an Australian Stand Up comedian and comedy promoter based in Tallinn, Estonia. He was the co-founder of Comedy Estonia, Comedy Finland and Comedy Latvia. Louis writes, does gigs and performs at private events through the Baltics and Finland

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