This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-45269474
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Austrian baker caught speeding 42 times in a row on same road | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A baker has been fined €3,000 (£2,700) for speeding on the same Austrian road 42 times in a row. | |
Heimo Wallner was caught by the same device every day he returned from work at three in the morning. | |
He told Austrian media he could not see signs for the 30km/h (18.5mph) limit on that stretch of road in the dark - and drove at the standard 50km/h (31mph). | He told Austrian media he could not see signs for the 30km/h (18.5mph) limit on that stretch of road in the dark - and drove at the standard 50km/h (31mph). |
It took more than a month for the first penalty to arrive - by which time he had clocked up dozens more. | It took more than a month for the first penalty to arrive - by which time he had clocked up dozens more. |
Mr Wallner started his job in Klagenfurt, about 30 minutes' drive from his home in the southern region of Carinthia, in February. He received his first speeding notice in May. | Mr Wallner started his job in Klagenfurt, about 30 minutes' drive from his home in the southern region of Carinthia, in February. He received his first speeding notice in May. |
"Then I thought there would be more to come - and it would get expensive," he said. | "Then I thought there would be more to come - and it would get expensive," he said. |
Mr Wallner said he did not notice the speed camera - set up near a school on the route - because the area was always very dark in the middle of the night. | Mr Wallner said he did not notice the speed camera - set up near a school on the route - because the area was always very dark in the middle of the night. |
His car captured by an infra-red camera, which does not fire a visual flash. | His car captured by an infra-red camera, which does not fire a visual flash. |
Out of about 50 trips, he was recorded driving at a consistent 50km/h 42 times in a row. | |
He paid all 42 penalties to avoid the lengthy and expensive procedure to challenge them, he said. | He paid all 42 penalties to avoid the lengthy and expensive procedure to challenge them, he said. |
He told Germany's Süddeutsche Zeitung: "You cannot lodge an appeal against all the fines in one go, so I would have had to make 42 separate challenges." | He told Germany's Süddeutsche Zeitung: "You cannot lodge an appeal against all the fines in one go, so I would have had to make 42 separate challenges." |
"These are a good two months' wages for me, and there's no rebate for a bulk fine either." | "These are a good two months' wages for me, and there's no rebate for a bulk fine either." |
Police did remove about €300 from his total, he said, but has still had to cancel his plans for a Greek holiday. | Police did remove about €300 from his total, he said, but has still had to cancel his plans for a Greek holiday. |
Mr Wallner added that his wife did not blame him for the expense. | Mr Wallner added that his wife did not blame him for the expense. |