“Excessive fine” – Expensive aftermath due to faulty brake lights

“Do you know why we stopped you?” When asked by the police officer, the 40-year-old, who had been arrested in his father’s car in Vienna, had no answer. He didn’t know. “The left and right brake lights don’t work,” the officer explained. The driver was surprised, he was convinced that they would still glow during the descent. “You can always see that in the rear-view mirror on the garage wall,” he explained.

The car’s number plates were removed at the scene and the 40-year-old was told he would get them back once the damage was repaired. That was the case with the ÖAMTC on the same day. It was a defect that could very well have arisen while driving, he was told. He got the bar back for a payment of 22.90 euros.

Days later, the sentence fluttered into the house
But a few days later he received an order subject to a penalty of 80 euros. As the owner of the license plate, his father was hit even harder. Because the car did not comply with the motor vehicle law and he acted negligently, 600 euros was demanded.

To the chagrin of the pensioner: “I have covered hundreds of thousands of kilometers without accidents and with impunity. But our statements and arguments were not taken seriously in this case and dismissed. This is pure arbitrariness on the part of the police.” Although he initially objected, he still paid the amount, which had already risen to 660 euros, on the advice of the lawyer.

Police declined to comment on the case for data protection reasons at the request of “Krone”. “Moreover, we do not comment on individual cases. Each person is free to use his or her legal remedies in the course of the proceedings.