German Motorcyclist Fined €17,000 for Speeding Spree
A motorcycle rider from Germany has been hit with a hefty €17,000 ($19,000) fine after going on a speeding spree over the summer, mistakenly believing he would never be caught.
Speeding Violations and Penalties
- The rider from Rüsselsheim accumulated 15 speeding violations in a six-week period during June and July.
- He was caught traveling at speeds of up to 131 km/h (81 mph) in a 50 km/h (31 mph) zone and 61 km/h (38 mph) in a 30 km/h (19 km/h) limit.
- The rider received a 31-month driving ban and 22 points on his license.
Belief in Avoiding Detection
The rider mistakenly believed that he could avoid detection because the speed traps only captured vehicles from the front, and motorcycles do not have front-mounted license plates.
Game Over for the Speed-Obsessed Rider
Despite taunting the police by posing while speeding past the traps, the rider was eventually tracked down. Local officials carefully compared him and his bike with the images captured by the speed traps, leading to his identification.
Consequences of Speeding
Eleven of the rider’s 15 offenses have been processed, resulting in a €17,000 fine, a 31-month driving ban, and 22 points on his license. To regain his license, the rider will need to prove that he is fit to drive.
Comparison to Other Fines
While the €17,000 fine may seem substantial, it pales in comparison to the $128,000 fine a BMW driver recently received for tailgating in Switzerland, where driver penalties are means-tested.
