You may have noticed as you drive around Iceland, especially outside of Reykjavik, there are not a lot of police. Definitely 100% in the wrong. That is the question. Your main question might be "do I need to pay the fine?". One of the things that you need to be extremely careful with is Iceland's population of over 800,000 wandering sheep. In both instances, your options are limited - see below. As an aside, a guide at the Tourist information in Hofn suggested i take the OXI road to Egilstaddir to shave 60km off my trip. $720 AUD are you kidding me?! For parking tickets left on the windshield, you can simply walk into any bank, wait your turn, and pay your ticket. Ripped off? The roads can be narrow, winding and sometimes unpaved; so drivers must be careful not to speed or drive too fast for the conditions. The #2 is parking fines that are imposed on vehicles that are illegally parked that violate the traffic regulatory law.Here are the fees to expect when you break any of the parking laws in the country: These parking fines are also referred to as the `parking meter citation`. Most likely when you receive your ticket in the mail from an Iceland speed camera,they offer a 25% discount if you pay within a certain amount of time. I cant wait for you to go! $500 is a pretty hefty fee.? Thank you in advance By using the website you agree on our policy on cookies.Close. In those cases cameras understandably cannot record the license plate number of a speeding car. Fines are automatically processed and delivered to the owner of the offending vehicle. Take your time and enjoy the ride! Scandinavian Travel Services ehf. Iceland has strict driving laws and huge fines. - pay later once you get the ticket in the mail with no discount, - dont pay, dispute and face repercussions, - pay (paying within a given time limit grants a discount). According to online statistics, road accidents by foreigners with rental cars is about 157 fatalities from 2007-2017. They can range anywhere from $200 to $700. As a general guide the fine is usually between $195- $460 USD, however, if you are driving very fast, such as 41+km/h faster than legal top speed in 80-90km zones, then you may get fined $615-$690. I had a friend who was ticketed in Germany! Hopefully, it wasnt too difficult to figure out. Totally freaked me out, girl! Isafjordur, a fishing town in northwest Iceland, has experimented with a new method of traffic safety and speed control. By law, the rental company must provide the police with your information. ???? Option 1: Pay the fine. However, if you refuse to pay your fine, you should also never think of returning to Iceland because if you do and the police stop you the next time you visit, you will go to jail. Afterward, they gave me a copy of the ticket and receipt, wished me well, and warned me about the many speed cameras along the way towards Reykjavik. If you intend to drive in Iceland, its important you know the Iceland speed limits. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-95594839', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Iceland a rip off for speeding fines! Would have never expected a full blown article on speeding ticket but this sure is helpful. Im going to Iceland in November 2019, so will be extremely careful driving there. Samuel Hogarth Speeding fines in Iceland are very expensive. IMHO your best bet is to send an e-mail to the address on the fines you got saying that you were just receiving the fines and if they would be willing to extend the discount-grace period. And not knowing the posted speedlimit isn't either Im guessing this was on the road between (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? These are internationally acceptable signs just like you have in any European country. Wait to receive your ticket in the post and pay the fine with no discount. The biggest challenge with tunnels is quickly adapting to the darkness when entering the tunnel and with the brightness when leaving. I thought that was very very high. Iceland is totally a dream and should be at the top of everyones bucket list like yours! Also, many tks for info about how they control tickets in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Of course you can appeal. The police, however, have in many cases had found it difficult to track down the correct addresses of the travelers in question. Pl us, a lthough the roads might seem empty at times, common sense applies. Speeding is a common offence that people visiting Iceland get fined for, and the fines are costly. While driving inside the tunnel you need to pull over to dedicated parking zones on your right-hand side whenever you see traffic coming from the other side. in an hour for speeding, if you were speeding 3 times (or more!) Got a speeding ticket in Iceland? Keflavik office If you get pulled over by the police, you have two options: Pay the fine upfront and receive a 25% discount off the fine. The biggest concern for those who receive tickets and dont want to pay is if they return to Iceland in the future, would they be turned away, arrested, or stopped at customs and forced to pay a steep fine? Don't worry, it might sound more stressful than it really is. I heard some can even go as high as $1700! How nice of them! Driving in Iceland is no different. In Finland, speeding fines are linked to salary. Iceland Speeding Ticket fines 5 years ago Save Good evening. Where were you driving? They want(ed) me to pay 50650 ISK. These are bridges where only one car will fit at a time. If you are pulled over, you could be issued with a ticket immediately but if you are caught on a speed camera then the fine will come in the mail - this could take a number of weeks. Discounted to ISK 86000 if I pay on the spot which of course I did. Such as time and place and the number plate, the staff finds out who was renting the car at the time and is then by law, required to send this information back to the police. Its definitely nerve-racking getting in trouble with the law, even if its something like a speeding ticket or up-to-date inspections haha. Parking and camping outside of designated camping zones in Iceland are illegal. I am planning on going to Iceland next year, so this is a very important thing to note! The location of speed cameras in Iceland vary, as they may often be mounted in a parked patrol vehicle on the side of the road. (80-90km zones). You do not indicate when you enter the roundabout, instead, you need to indicate when you are leaving it. The Ministry of Transport is working on new laws which will facilitate collecting fines for driving infractions, especially from foreign tourists, RV reports. Police in Iceland manages to collect only 45% of speeding tickets given to foreign travelers. All of these rules are in place for the safety of citizens and tourists. Parking works differently in Akureyri. And most of these accidents are caused by speeding. Thats definitely the risk of not paying immediately. This from todays Daily News from Iceland: In the last two days, police in the vicinity of Blndus in Northern Iceland have fined 15 drivers for speeding, 13 of whom were foreign tourists. could easily be sourced from the fine - so it could be easier for the Iceland government to continue to provide excellent service to its people and visitors when such fines are paid. If you see an emergency vehicle approaching from behind, indicate to the side of the road if possible and allow them to pass. You shouldnt have to pay your fine if they do not have any substantial, visible proof. Perfect to reiterate to my boyfriend with a heavy foot lol If you are unable to avoid getting a fine, then it may be possible for you to dispute it. Don't worry, we won't spam you. Each and every rental service demands you sign a contract where you agree to adhere to the traffic law. The main reason for high fines in Iceland is that us locals can be driving fiends, and often pay little attention to road conditions. It would haunt me if I didnt. Option 2: Wait to receive your ticket in the mail and pay the fine with no discount. I got a ticket in Iceland for for 16 km/h above the speed limit (90). The different speed limits in towns and out on the countryside are always well marked and needs to be followed. There are new traffic signs to learn, different driving styles, avarietyof different road types and situations, speed limits and different laws. Re: Iceland Speeding Ticket fines 4 years ago Save Relative to the subject: On may 1st 2018 the regulation of traffic enforcement, including traffic fines, will be updated. If you go off the road in a remote area it would cost the rescue services a lot of money to save you. If you get pulled over by the police (like me), you have three options. One thing to consider when you are driving in Iceland is the weather factor. No matter the speed limit, there are plenty of signs that keep you updated. The speed limit in Iceland can basically be divided into three general speed limits: Speed limit for paved/tarred roads away from towns & cities: 90km/h (55mph) Dirt or gravel road speed limit: 80 km/h (50mph) Speed limit in towns & cities: 50 km/h (30mph) A lot of car rental companies also charge a handling fee if you get a speeding ticket. And Im SO glad they let you off with a warning! They believe that if you dont pay the fine, then dont return. I'm going to Iceland later this summer which is a beautiful county and I'm very excited about it. Get answers to your questions about Reykjavik, Taxi/Bus Costs from KEF Airport to Reykjavik. News from Iceland, What to do and see, local travel tips and expertise. You may get a ticket in the mail; often it will be perhaps the week after the alleged crime. Slow down, and the bigger, the safer is the car! If you decided not to pay, the Icelandic police will probably not do much as contacting an international booking agency to force you to pay (when you must have returned to your home country) because of the high cost that might likely be involved in persecuting such an offense. Driving in Iceland can indeed be an exhilarating experience. You will be heavily fined for spending a night at private parking lots or other areas outside of the campsites. From speeding 20 miles over the limit, to passing a stopped school bus, to failure to yield right of way, to having faulty brakes etc. Fine $300-390. Even in remote, rural parts of Iceland, you will find speed cameras. If you're wearing sunglasses then remove these before entering the tunnel. Emergency services with flashing lights always have right of way. Im Angie, an American photographer, travel blogger, and adventure seeker. Girl I know the feeling!! If you get a speeding ticket in Iceland, you have a few options when it comes to paying. Don't break the law and you won't have to pay fines. The police vans have card readers so pay with either your Debit or Credit card. Animals should be taken into consideration. On open roads the speed limit varies too; on gravel roads the speed limit is 80km/h, on asphalt roads the speed limit is 90km/h. The police officer came up to my window and asked me to get out of the car. Even if you arent told you have a fine when you return your rental car, it does not mean you are in the clear. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-8240339', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Iceland. SSN: 680513-1550 / VAT: 114128 And I said well I dont have enough $ on my CC now and leaving Iceland tomorrow. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Speed limits are very much present and driving under the influence is a strict no-go. Funny, I asked well why dont you just give me a ticket now and tell me how to pay online? Does anyone know how the speeding fines are collected? One thing making Iceland stand out to many countries are the swift weather changes one has to be prepared for, especially driving around Iceland off season, like low sun, snow blizzards coming from no where, slippery roads and so on. There are a few roundabouts found around the country, many of them are when entering Reykjavik or other larger towns, like Akureyri. Driving 41km/h or faster over allowed top speed . ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-95594770', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car as it was 20,000k more to go to the station to pay. The hire company will have your credit card details and you will have agreed to pay fines when you took the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Fines for off-road driving are significant, a group of four French tourists was given an ISK 400,000 fine for off-road driving. The rental company may get hit with the charge and will be able to pass it onto you and potentially even charge your credit card. With insufficient resources police relies on people's good conscience. As of February, foreign tourists owed over ISK 27 million ($255 000/216 000) in fines. They will then charge your credit card and pay it off for you, adding an administration fee. By going over the speed limit, of course. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88001538', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Iceland and most of Europe. They can range anywhere from $200 to $700. If its unpaid after 14 days, the fee goes up to 3750ISK (29USD). Parking is free but you need to get a parking clock at a gas station, tourist information and there are shops that carries them too. Considering it was 11pm, it may have been one of the most frightening experiences of my life, especially when it started to rain near the top. The Finns run a "day fine" system that is calculated on the basis of an offender's daily disposable income - generally their daily salary divided by two. Some of the basic rules for Iceland include: Traffic coming from the right always has the right of way, unless a sign, traffic warden, or lights state otherwise. 2023 by Reykjavk Cars Booking Office. If there's one thin, Top 5 Bars In Istanbul, Turkey | The Old City of Sultanahmet, The Best Day Trips From Nice | What To Do & How To Get There, An Epic 7-Day Scotland Road Trip Itinerary | Highland & Castles Edition, 5 Reasons Why You Should NOT Visit Santorini, What To See In Medieval Rhodes | Old Town Walking Tour, Staying At The Funky Loft In Brooklyn, NY, 12 Best Things To Do In Rio De Janeiro Brazil, Nour El Nil: Malouka | Nile Cruise Review, Hi, you wrote about Chichime, where the Kuna run a hostel for, Thanks for this information very useful but also proves what an increasingly, Please, utter rubbish. In hindsight, it was terrible advice to have given. I was going g 117kmh. Hiring a car is a great way to travel around Iceland independently; it gives you the freedom to explore on your own terms. In March 2018, I went on a 7-day road trip around Icelands Ring Road where I drove a total of 967.7 miles. These fines make Iceland's at about $800 actually look cheap. The floating crosswalk is not the usual method of tackling speeding in Iceland, but its definitely the most inventive! Speed limits in Iceland vary according to the type of road you are on, and if its urban or rural, so it is important you check signs when driving and keep within speed limits. Step by Step Guide to Renting A Car In Iceland, For a Guide to Campervan Travel in Iceland click here. Our major roads are getting filled with little signs the authorities are putting up at the spot of fatalities, I recently counted 19 of these signs, all within ten minutes of my home. Verified Expert. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Also, both officers were confused and initially said they dont know what other option I have. A weekly update of the most important issues driving the global agenda. I lived in Iceland for a while and got one for $500 :/ made sure to not speed again after that one!! It can be difficult to determine at times as to where you are allowed or not allowed to part but there always are traffic signs informing the driver of the rules and obligations surrounding parking. Below are common legal defences for speeding fines: How long will a speeding fine take to arrive? If you mustdrive in Iceland, you need to acquaint yourself with the right information about their driving laws else, you might be forced to cough out more fines than you ever expected. Icelandic Traffic Laws: Everything You Need to Know. (50-60km zones), Driving 41km/h or faster over allowed top speed. Mobile radar detects your speed and you are intercepted by the police in such cases, you are asked to pay immediately and might likely get a discount (25% discount if you pay it within two weeks) OR. The speeding ticket is then charged to your credit card by the booking agent. heavy blizzard) then it's your responsibility to adjust your speed accordingly. How are speed limits controlled in Iceland? Enroll immediately online or by calling toll free 1-888-334-5565: Defensive Driving Schools Information for Arizona (Online Registration) Complete the class at least seven business days prior to the court date written above your signature on the complaint. I would like to think positively about it that perhaps this lesson actually helped saved my life by stopping me speeding . A vehicle over 3.5000 kg is driving over the legal limits 3. All of these rules are in place for the safety of citizens and tourists. There are a lot of rules on the road, most of them are obvious; such as, in Iceland you drive on the right, overtake on the left, seat belts are mandatory for drivers and all passengers, headlights are also mandatory, dont drink and drive and dont go over the speed limit. Understanding the speed limit is about as basic as knowing if to drive on the right side of the lane or the left. Of those whose addresses we find, only about 45% pay.. 50/1987Here are the fees associated with these offenses: You will have different options depending on the type of ticket. All speeding fines are also updated and raised significantly. The state of Virginia, faced with a similar situation has taken drastic measures, as of July 1, 2007, in an attempt to control the problem. http://www.sjova.is/files/2007_8_1_messageFromThePolice.jpg. World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use. Here are some other reasons why you need to pay your speed fine: The cost of speeding damage on roads, traffic delays caused by accidents, medical costs or the SAR helicopters for rescue missions, etc. In fact, this is the reason they give you a 25% discount to encourage you to pay the fine. Although it is unlikely, errors can occur, so if you get fined, remember to check all the details before paying. If a speed camera snaps a shot of you, the Icelandic police trace the car back to the proper rental car company. If you are unable to avoid getting a fine, then it may be possible for you to dispute it. We are quite sure you likely have a few questions that need answered. The standard toll for normal passenger vehicles is ISK 1,500, (approx. It seems the question itself angered a few Icelandic citizens who dont appreciate this mindset of I dont live there, so why should I deal with the consequences. Vehicles pulling a trailer that is over 750kg (1,650 lb) and without brakes are not allowed to drive any faster than 90km/h (56 mph). The more a driver is over the speed limit, the greater the number of fines they receive. Extra caution should be taken on gravel roads as the uneven, loose surface can mean your tires have less traction. $400 max, $700+ now that is the real crime!! Fines for everything will be raised a lot. In case you got caught on camera, chances are that the traffic authorities will issue the fine to your car rental company. We will be in touch. Although somecar hiring services could be blamed for not doing enough to spreading the word - That said, many car rental companies in Reykjavik go out of their way to make speed limits and road limitations known to their clients. As they were reviewing my license and the rental cars registration, they gave me the option to pay on the spot or receive the ticket later in the mail. If an accident occurs farmers in Iceland do appreciate if the local law enforcement are informed so they will be able to attend the wounded animal. One-lane bridges are indicated with a bright orange sign and a label of a car with a narrow bridge. Second/Subsequent Extreme DUI Offenses: No less than $3,250. Promise! Speed cameras are all over Iceland to catch drivers breaking the speed limit. One sets the time upon arrival and then, depending on the parking zone, one can park for free for 15 minutes up to several hours. Don't forget, Iceland is an island and if you ever want to leave, pay your fine and the next time obey the law. This was back in august, Today (December 7th). 70km/h zone. There are many speed bumps in Iceland. The first thing drivers should know is that Iceland speed limits, On open roads the speed limit varies too; on, These Iceland speed limits are the legal maximum, but depending on driving conditions, you may wish to. The first one is the ordinary parking fine when a driver has not paid for the full time or not paid at all to park on an ordinary parking space. What would a Marshall Plan for Ukraine look like? If you were speeding consistently that is possible since the times line up. Usually there is a discount if you pay quickly, but it should say that on the ticket. I hope everyone is keeping safe with the current happenings in our world. Car rental companies are required by law to give the authorities your details if you receive a speeding ticket whilst driving their cars. It always sucks getting tickets, especially when its international.