USD 12.30) whereas larger transport vehicles and trucks are subject to an ISK 6,000 toll fee. Speeding cameras have been installed along the highways all over the country. Speeding fines in Iceland start at 30,000 ISK and can range up to 150,000 ISK or more. Boy was I royaly ripped off! To avoid speeding fines in Iceland, it is essential to know the speed limits. There are new traffic signs to learn, different driving styles, avarietyof different road types and situations, speed limits and different laws. When police have the correct addresses it can still be difficult to actually collect the fines, as people simply fail to pay. Even if you arent told you have a fine when you return your rental car, it does not mean you are in the clear. Oh no! Gurn says. The first thing drivers should know is that Iceland speed limits are much lower than they are in other countries. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88003033', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Reykjavik and Borgarnes. Ripped off? If you intend to drive in Iceland, its important you know the, However, driving in Iceland requires some more precautions compared to driving in other countries. The speed limit on unpaved roadsis 80 km/hror 49 mph. A bus is driving faster over the legal limits, 2. F.e. Don't forget, Iceland is an island and if you ever want to leave, pay your fine and the next time obey the law. Second/Subsequent Extreme DUI Offenses: No less than $3,250. If you see an emergency vehicle approaching from behind, indicate to the side of the road if possible and allow them to pass. ???? Learn more about the fines and penalties . These are internationally acceptable signs just like you have in any European country. Extreme DUI (BAC 0.15% or higher) First Offense: No less than $2,500. Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses. Great way to tick off the tourists spending big in your country. They can be found all along the ring road and they often wander, carelessly, onto the road, right in front of oncoming traffic. They believe that if you dont pay the fine, then dont return. When it comes to speeding fines if a police officer issued the fine on the spot, you can pay it immediately. Be especially aware at night, as to the sheep, your car is just a wandering flicker of light and the road is just part of their terrain. Image:REUTERS/Anton Vaganov. The police vans have card readers so pay with either your Debit or Credit card. Each and every rental service demands you sign a contract where you agree to adhere to the traffic law. And dont forget, the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? I wish the fines were at least double what they are. But, on the same page from Trip Advisor about Icelandic fines, there is an ad explaining how to beat "speeding fines". Speed limits in Iceland vary according to the type of road you are on, so it is important you check signs when driving and keep within speed limits. BTW I have always found local drivers in Iceland both private and professional to be extremely courteous. What do you do if you get a speeding ticket in Iceland? Driving in Iceland is no different. You may get a ticket in the mail; often it will be perhaps the week after the alleged crime. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-8224951', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Iceland. Extra caution should be taken on gravel roads as the uneven, loose surface can mean your tires have less traction. It always sucks getting tickets, especially when its international. The speed limit on the Highway 1 ring road is usually 90 km/h (56 mph). Based on my research, it seems that if you dont ever plan on driving in Iceland again, you dont have to pay. http://www.sjova.is/files/2007_8_1_messageFromThePolice.jpg. You'll fine the answers here! 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. 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. The police will send the speeding ticket to the registered driver. NOTE: In addition to paying these fines, expect to face jail time, community service, alcohol programs, ignition interlock systems, and/or license suspension or revocation. On may 1st 2018 the regulation of traffic enforcement, including traffic fines, will be updated. Paid a 500$ish tickets by a police cruiser that picked me up on radar. $500 is a pretty hefty fee.? Ill keep it short and simple. Option 2: Wait to receive your ticket in the mail and pay the fine with no discount. I can so relate to it. Iceland has some of the lowest speed limits in the world. 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. This is not true, however, as there is a 10,000 ISK fine (75 USD/68 EUR) for driving with only one license plate. 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. Other speeding limits that are important to note: If you rent a car in Iceland then you won't have to worry about tires, as your rental company should have you covered with what you need. The only concern the officer had was for me to pay the stupidly high 80,000. Apparently, all of Iceland has a max speed of 90kph - I had no idea. 3. Airport and border. The main reason for high fines in Iceland is that us locals can be driving fiends, and often pay little attention to road conditions. I too was brought to the back seat of the police car and asked to pay ISK115000..!! One woman lost $3,000 to a scammer who used the names of real police officers to rip her . Try Tilos, or Lipsi, they have not changed in. Im Angie, an American photographer, travel blogger, and adventure seeker. 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. In this post, we collected all the information and costs of violating the law. $720 AUD are you kidding me?! The maximum speed on most paved roads outside of towns and villages in Iceland is 90 km/hr, which is 56 mph. Speeding fines in Iceland are very expensive. What do you think? 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. Oh and thank you for this blog. If you receive the ticket after the discount has expired, you can always call and explain the situation to get an extension. Although it is unlikely, errors can occur, so if you get fined, remember to check all the details before paying. On the lookout Police in Iceland have trouble tracking down and fining foreign speeders. The speed cameras are of multi-national standard and are the same found all over Europe and the UK. If a speed camera snaps a shot of you, the Icelandic police trace the car back to the proper rental car company. In Iceland, there are two types of parking violation charges: The #1 parking violation charge is a fine meant for vehicles that failed to park at the right designated parking areas or for drivers who stays longer than necessary at the parking area. Definitely not gonna pay one in another countrylol, Iceland is wonderful for mountain lovers. Driving 26km/h or faster over allowed top speed. Keep your eyes peel at all times. Couple questions and concerns. Thx to the rental company for not giving us a heads up on a rediculous fee system. Thanks for the blog.. Too bad I saw it 2 days too late i was caught in almost a similar fashion travelling at 128km per hour in a 90 km zone..by a police car coming in the opposite direction armed with a mobile speed detector..which I sid not see at all. Use the outside lane if you are exiting the roundabout on the first exit only. Plus, there are signs that alert you when theres an upcoming speed camera (see photo). He never paid it and they tracked him down a year later. (80-90km zones). The authority of the judge to show lenience has been eliminated and you can expect to to fork over at least several thousand dollars and have have you license suspended for six months. 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. Do you take any authorization on my credit card? Also, there are no roundabouts in the whole of Iceland with more than two lanes. Many of our foreign tourists, very unfortunately, completely ignore tickets. in an hour. Iceland is a country with one of the highest rates of car accidents per capita. That way you will probably get a 2-week period where the fine lowers by 30% or so. 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. 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. Its also an easy way to access remote areas of the country that are inaccessible by public transportation. There are two main ways you get a speeding ticket; you either get pulled over on the road and given a ticket, or you get a ticket delivered to you by mail. 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. heavy blizzard) then it's your responsibility to adjust your speed accordingly. Car rental companies are required by law to give the authorities your details if you receive a speeding ticket whilst driving their cars. Even then the times (and the fee) indicate you were going quite a lot over the limit (+125 km/h). As in every country, Iceland also has speed limits to keep and there are police all around Iceland measuring the speed and not to be forgotten, the speed cameras. Im cu, I Istanbul Animals should be taken into consideration. In rural areas, gravel roads are 80km/h and paved roads 90km/h. Would have never expected a full blown article on speeding ticket but this sure is helpful. a fine for speaking on mobile while driving is raised from 25.000 to 40.000 ISK (from about 250 USD to 400 USD). I would love to hear your story! This is the ultimate goal for me to get to Iceland. The Icelandic road system is unique and drivers must be aware of both on-road and off-road conditions. Some car rentals seem to have told motorists that they do not need to have a license plate on the front of the car. You shouldnt have to pay your fine if they do not have any substantial, visible proof. I have a ticket in Maine from 2003not paid. Option 1: Pay the fine. Luckily, there are plenty of traffic signs around to remind you at which speed you should be driving. If you were a local (or European) you would be looking at 6 points on your license as well as the fine. The fines for speeding are absolutely ludicrous. Verified Expert. When you are visiting Iceland for the first time, it can be very exciting and tempting to jump behind the wheel and race up on the road with yourcar rentalbecause of the beautiful scenery and landscapes. Speed limits are very much present and driving under the influence is a strict no-go. $400 max, $700+ now that is the real crime!! peppinoss77 - US$ 200 = in round figures ISK 20.000 so that doesn't compute for 3kph over the speed limit - try entering a limit of 30kph and you'll find the lowest fine is ISK 5.000 at 36kph. I was mostly concerned with the cameras. If they dont have any visible proof of your speeding (short video segment or two photos taken in rapid succession), ask for it. It is indeed a good idea to first understand the traffic law of any country you are visiting if you intend to drive around. Definitely 100% in the wrong. By law, the rental company must provide the police with your information. The general speed limits are as follows: 50 km/h or less in urban/residential areas; 80 km/h on gravel roads (we recommend slower speeds) For many years Hvalfjrur Tunnel was subject to a fee, however, as of 2018, this tunnel is now toll-free. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-8225084', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Iceland! Fine $460. The World Bank: How the development bank confronts today's crises. I would love to travel to ???????? Earlier this year penalties for speeding were stiffened. These Iceland speed limits are the legal maximum, but depending on driving conditions, you may wish to drive slower. If you get a speeding ticket in Iceland, you have a few options when it comes to paying. Its definitely nerve-racking getting in trouble with the law, even if its something like a speeding ticket or up-to-date inspections haha. This is totally your choice to make. Just about everything now is considered "reckless driving". The best way to avoid getting a speeding ticket in Iceland is always to drive safely and according to driving laws and posted signs along your route. Luckily the fee wasnt too steep even with the late charges, but it would have been better if he paid on the spot! In Finland, speeding fines are linked to salary. Basically, when encountering another car, whoever has the parking space on their right needs to use it to let the other pass. The general speed limit is 30-50 km/hour in populated areas, 80 km/hour on gravel roads in rural areas and 90 km/hour on paved roads. The hire company will have your credit card details and you will have agreed to pay fines when you took the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Like nearly $500 for 11 km/h (6.7 mph) over on a road like that. Copy of the complaint. If there is no marked road or track then you are not allowed to drive there. S o no stopping in the middle of the road for pictures! Of course Iceland does not have autobahn or ultra modern freeways. 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. You can find several tunnels throughout Iceland. Their advice should be taken seriously when driving there, as you can read below. What do you do if you get a speeding ticket? I would be so freaked out being pulled over in a country where I didnt speak the language!! Use our "Jump to Chapter" if you want to get to some of the info quickly. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. If the road you were caught speeding on was absent of signs notifying you of speed limits. It is important to note that the automatic speed surveillance cameras are not always correct; therefore, it would be wise to ask for proof before you pay your ticket. The car hire agency is required by law to send this information back to the police. They said I had to pay. The police, however, have in many cases had found it difficult to track down the correct addresses of the travelers in question. Also, many tks for info about how they control tickets in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Slow down, and the bigger, the safer is the car! Some are known to just tear up the citation as soon as the officer is out of sight. Also, both officers were confused and initially said they dont know what other option I have. Here is a short list of of speeding fines in Iceland and how they increase with the offence: 1. Wow this is really informative ! A study done by the University of Iceland found that there is an average of one speed bump every 20 meters in the country. The most common rental car in Iceland is Toyota yaris and Suzuki jimmy, both small vehicles with short wheelbase, and provide very little protection in an accident. Icelandic Traffic Laws: Everything You Need to Know. Also, please remember that the speed limit is only an indicator of the maximum speed and so if road conditions change (i.e. Speeding is a common offence that people visiting Iceland get fined for, and the fines are costly. Use the inside line if you plan to exit on the second, third, or fourth exist. How would you spend your time in a self-driving car. 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. They in turn transferred it to the offender himself. We simply dont have the necessary number of people Gurn tells RV. more. This new breed of crosswalk appears to be floating up and off the road, which. Just remember that speed limits are there for your protection. Naturally, I thought it was an ambulance so I pulled over. Overall, not a terrible experience. The Iceland speed limit varies depending on the road type; in built-up areas, the speed limit is 50km/h. What do speed cameras in Iceland look like? Speeding fines in Iceland are very expensive. 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. Hi. Police have trouble read Cyrillic and non-Latin alphabets They also hope to reduce air pollution and be more ecologically aware. The tourist driver ended up paying 150,000 ISK in total after his detected misdemeanor and paid both fines on the spot. Off-roading in Iceland is strictly forbidden. Others seemed more understanding and admitted that Icelanders know where these fast-moving cameras are and slow down when they see them. But overall, most Icelanders agreed that it was only fair those who received these speeding tickets pay the fine. A man from the Czech Republic whom Erlingsson caught on Sunday complained that the fine was equivalent to his monthly salary and an Italian woman started to cry when she was told how much she had to pay. I am not sure if this post goes in the sad or absurd file. In Iceland, you drive on the right side of the road and overtake on the left. Girl I know the feeling!! Find Iceland Car rental at Reykjavik KEF airport. The answer to these speeding fines is only one!, Dont speed! So if you were consistently speeding you'll probably have been picked up by the automatic cameras. I hope when you visit my blog you feel inspired and motivated to go out and explore this beautiful world we live in. Got a speeding ticket in Iceland? The approach to pursuing fines incurred by foreigners varies by country. Ask those many tourists who are, or have been in a hospital, after a traffic accident. If the road you sped on was absent of signs notifying you of speed limits. Many fixed speed cameras are located in the south of the island and other areas where there is a smaller police presence. They can range anywhere from $200 to $700. The different speed limits in towns and out on the countryside are always well marked and needs to be followed.