In certain cases, you may be able to dismiss the traffic ticket by completing a defensive driving course. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-88000896', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Iceland, as well as so many speed limit signs. Their advice should be taken seriously when driving there, as you can read below. However, some tourist says they pay more in speeding fines in countries like Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. You may get a ticket in the mail; often it will be perhaps the week after the alleged crime. I too was brought to the back seat of the police car and asked to pay ISK115000..!! 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 views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum. Again this is all about your moral and ethical value to society. It is rumored that some of these also work as speed cameras. Please send us a line at icelandmag@365.is. Gurn also tells RV that the Police has noticed an increasing number of cars driving without license plates on the front. Sure it sucked, but I didnt speed the rest of my trip. I also thought it was kind of them to warn me about the speed camera because I actually had no idea Iceland had any! Perfect to reiterate to my boyfriend with a heavy foot lol And I WILL! There are Iceland police everywhere keeping watch of car speed in the cities and not to forget the speed cameras on the roads. What do speed cameras in Iceland look like? When you get your speeding ticket in the post, make sure to pay it quickly because youll pay 25% less than waiting. Speeding fines in Iceland start at 30,000 ISK and can range up to 150,000 ISK or more. USD 12.30) whereas larger transport vehicles and trucks are subject to an ISK 6,000 toll fee. The second one is when a parking offence has been comitted. BTW I have always found local drivers in Iceland both private and professional to be extremely courteous. I would love to travel to ???????? Basically, when encountering another car, whoever has the parking space on their right needs to use it to let the other pass. Learn more about the fines and penalties . The speed cameras are of multi-national standard and are the same found all over Europe and the UK. The Icelandic road system is unique and drivers must be aware of both on-road and off-road conditions. The biggest challenge with tunnels is quickly adapting to the darkness when entering the tunnel and with the brightness when leaving. Off-roading in Iceland is strictly forbidden. Also, many tks for info about how they control tickets in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This has led to headline-grabbing . 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. 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. 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. 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. But do you have to? Although it is unlikely, errors can occur, so if you get fined, remember to check all the details before paying. As a general guide, the limits are 50km/h in urban areas and 30km/h on residential roads. Option 1: Pay the fine then and there, and receive a 25% discount off your ticket. They can be found all along the ring road and they often wander, carelessly, onto the road, right in front of oncoming traffic. What do you think? You can pay with credit card, on the spot. Speeding is a common offence that people visiting Iceland get fined for, and the fines are costly. 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. Anyone caught driving at the speed of 111-120 km/h (68-75 mph) can expect a fine of ISK 50,000 (USD 816) and those caught driving at the speed of 141-150 km/h (88-94 mph) will have to pay ISK 130,000 (USD 2,121). Some tourists get especially confused about roundabouts in Iceland. In fact, this is the reason they give you a 25% discount to encourage you to pay the fine. 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. 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. The Ministry of Transport is working on new laws which will facilitate collecting fines for driving infractions, especially from foreign tourists, RV reports. I decided to pay the ticket immediately using my credit card. You do not indicate when you enter the roundabout, instead, you need to indicate when you are leaving it. The car hire agency is required by law to send this information back to the police. Animals should be taken into consideration. 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) (30-35 km zones), Driving 36km/h or faster over allowed top speed. 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. 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. Even if you arent told you have a fine when you return your car, it does not mean you are in the clear. Speeding cameras are dotted around the country and speeding fines can range between ISK 5,000?70,000 (USD 45 to USD 575). 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. Some car rentals seem to have told motorists that they do not need to have a license plate on the front of the car. 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. If you get pulled over by the police (like me), you have three options. For a 70kph limit fines begin at 76kph - try it! One-lane bridges are indicated with a bright orange sign and a label of a car with a narrow bridge. They also hope to reduce air pollution and be more ecologically aware. Parking in Reykjavik is the same as parking in any other European capital. In some cases, you may need to appear in court. The speed limit on unpaved roadsis 80 km/hror 49 mph. In hindsight, it was terrible advice to have given. Driving In The Westfjords Of Iceland - Full Guide, Driving 26km/h faster over allowed top speed (30-35 km zones), Driving 36km/h faster over allowed top speed (50-60 km zones), Driving 41km/h faster over allowed top speed (70 km zones), Driving 41km/h faster over allowed top speed (80-90 km zones), If the citation is paid in full immediately, if fine is unpaid within 14 days - after date of citation, Fine unpaid after 28 days - after date of citation, A bus is driving faster over the legal limits, A vehicle over 3.5000 kg is driving over the legal limits. Many of our foreign tourists, very unfortunately, completely ignore tickets. However, police officers most likely have visibility to outstanding fines previously incurred in their country, and definitely will in their specific state/region. Iceland roads can be very dangerous all year long due to weather and the many twists and turns. There are varying opinions based on the speed fines in Iceland. It is then important that people understand the risks they take when they drive there. Plus, there are signs that alert you when theres an upcoming speed camera (see photo). I heard some can even go as high as $1700! Car rental companies are required by law to give the authorities your details if you receive a speeding ticket whilst driving their cars. I didn't get stopped by a policeman, I was waved at to slow down at one point, but he never pulled me over. Alternatively, you may use. The tourist driver ended up paying 150,000 ISK in total after his detected misdemeanor and paid both fines on the spot. Photo from the Reykjavk Police Instagram Account. Tunnels in Iceland are safe and the speed limit is sometimes lowered before driving through it. Should people pay the speeding ticket fine no matter the cost? peppinoss77 - US$ 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. Is the collection made after the ticket is issued, or is the offender given time to send in the money? 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. How would you spend your time in a self-driving car. Knowing the driving rules in Iceland will help to keep you safe from harm and from expensive fines! Do you want to know more about this subject? It actually ruined my entire day but its all okay now (8 months later haha). News from Iceland, What to do and see, local travel tips and expertise. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The Iceland ring road speed limit is 90km/h, but some parts are graveled and the spend limit will be lower. They talked to someone and said well right down your email and phone and will be in touch. We got a ticket for wrong parking (duh) in Spain. Both icelandicguide and FrozebBaz have posted here concerning tourists and driving in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Just 80 percent of fines charged to foreign tourists . That way you will probably get a 2-week period where the fine lowers by 30% or so. If you wait until after this deadline, youll have to pay the full amount. The roads can be narrow, winding and sometimes unpaved; so drivers must be careful not to speed or drive too fast for the conditions. Even then the times (and the fee) indicate you were going quite a lot over the limit (+125 km/h). I honestly think with the huge increase of tourism in Iceland, they will start tracking down on unpaid fines and tickets to foreigners. You may get your speeding ticket on the day or later. You will be heavily fined for spending a night at private parking lots or other areas outside of the campsites. The hire company will have your credit card details and you will have agreed to pay fines when you took the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Of course this is sad but the same rules must apply to foreign tourists as to Icelanders, says Erlingsson, adding that car-rental companies should keep their customers better informed about the traffic law. And not knowing the posted speedlimit isn't either Im guessing this was on the road between (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? If the clock is missing or the parking exceeds the allowed time, one can expect a parking fee. These are bridges where only one car will fit at a time. By law, the rental company must provide the police with your information. Use the outside lane if you are exiting the roundabout on the first exit only. If the parking fee is still unpaid after 28 days, it goes up to 5000ISK (39USD). I thought that was very very high. The officer said I was going 119 which I really doubt but cant confirm (This happened after I stopped and rescued an injured bird so was speeding to get the bird some help)! One thing to consider when you are driving in Iceland is the weather factor. F.e. Well now I'm reading horror stories about the speed cameras in Iceland and the rental car companies charging people's card for a ton of money. If you were speeding consistently that is possible since the times line up. These are not the only offenses under this violation for more information on offenses under parking violation charges you can refer to Article 108, Traffic laws no. I got in touch with the dutch police via their facebook page and decided to pay it before late fees started to accrue. 2. Overall, not a terrible experience. Here is a short list of of speeding fines in Iceland and how they increase with the offence: 20% will be added to this if: 1. Are you sure that these are not two radar camera tickets from the same route before the cruiser stopped you? The most common accidents happen when cars roll over and off the road. Driving 36km/h or faster over allowed top speed. Below are common legal defences for speeding fines: How long will a speeding fine take to arrive? Speed cameras are all over Iceland to catch drivers breaking the speed limit. Car rental companies are required by law to give the authorities your details if you receive a speeding ticket whilst driving their cars. All rights reserved. the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. I received in the mail 4 speeding tickets from Holland totaling about $450 when I was there May 2019 (some tickets were for just going over 5 kms over!). Whether its because of the weather, gravel flying up off the road, or animals in your path; choose the right speed for the condition and take your time. They can range anywhere from $200 to $700. Recently, a tourist from the Czech Republic who was fined for a speed violation complained that the fine was equivalent to his monthly salary also an Italian woman was noticed to be in tears when she was told how much she has to pay for violating the speed law. Vehicles pulling a trailer (i.e. If you get a speeding ticket in Iceland, you have a few options when it comes to paying. Thx to the rental company for not giving us a heads up on a rediculous fee system. I noticed that in certain parts of the country there are 'camera' signs indicating that speed cameras are in effect. Funny, I just got pulled over today a bit after Vik. You MUST bring the following to the class: Driver's license. Frankly, single car road accidents are very common in Iceland, and are really frowned upon, as they are almost always the driver's fault. 2006-2023 All copyright reserved on photos and content, This website uses cookies to help you browse on the website/ web. Definitely not gonna pay one in another countrylol, Iceland is wonderful for mountain lovers. 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 definitely pay the fine! Speeding fines in Iceland are very expensive. They can also go to the website of Blastasjur and see pictures of the car. People driving without license plates On the same trip, I saw the northern lights. If you get pulled over by the police, you have two options: Pay the fine upfront and receive a 25% discount off the fine. Paved roads, given how easy it is for tires to grip them in normal conditions, are known for being on the higher end with ranges from 60 to 90 km/h in many cases. Don't forget, Iceland is an island and if you ever want to leave, pay your fine and the next time obey the law. Photo from the Reykjavk Police Instagram Account. Keeping to the right speed limit is very important as spontaneous dangers can present themselves on Iceland roads. Painful lesson learned as I was not aware the speeding fine was so eye wateringly steep in Iceland. 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. With insufficient resources police relies on people's good conscience. On the lookout Police in Iceland have trouble tracking down and fining foreign speeders. Fine $195. This article will prove helpful if you want to avoid getting speeding tickets on your visit to Iceland. If its paid imediately upon receiving the fine, its 1400ISK (11USD). They in turn transferred it to the offender himself. A weekly update of the most important issues driving the global agenda. Dining in Paris Understanding the speed limit is about as basic as knowing if to drive on the right side of the lane or the left. Icelandic roads are constructed differently to European and American ones - in rural areas they are surfaced with gravel so if you go around a bend too quickly you will have a serious accident. Go Icelands office will then withdraw a handling fee of 5000ISK (39USD) as stipulated in the car rental agreement. 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. Where were you driving? Use our "Jump to Chapter" if you want to get to some of the info quickly. In the Fort Worth, Texas, area, scammers have used the phone to extract payment from unwitting motorists. With insufficient resources police relies on people's good conscience. One of the things that you need to be extremely careful with is Iceland's population of over 800,000 wandering sheep. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The minimum depth of tires needs to be 3mm. Gurn says. Iceland Speeding Ticket fines 5 years ago Save Good evening. It has proven particularly difficult to collect fines from Russian and Chinese motorists. WTF is this bs, two more speeding fines from the one that i received. 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. Just like there are speed cameras, there are also mobile cameras in cars. In Finland, speeding fines are linked to salary. 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. Traffic on roads that are shown the "Yellow Diamond" sign has the right of way. and according to driving laws and posted signs along your route. Option 1: Pay the fine. However, driving in Iceland requires some more precautions compared to driving in other countries. Use the inside line if you plan to exit on the second, third, or fourth exist. If there is no marked road or track then you are not allowed to drive there. I can so relate to it. Discounted to ISK 86000 if I pay on the spot which of course I did. However, as in every country, you need to keep to the regulated speed limit and Iceland is no different. The more a driver is over the speed limit, the greater the number of fines they receive. How nice of them! Icelandic police have card readers in their vans, so you can pay with either your Debit or Credit card. I would love to hear your story! Best Day Hikes in Iceland--Your List of Favorites, Reykjavik Natura - Berjaya Iceland Hotels. Then because people lose control when roads changes suddenly from tarmac to gravel. I'm so glad they are finally raising the fines. Airport and border. Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Sweden has a plan to end all traffic accident deaths, Technology could make traffic jams a thing of the past. They believe that if you dont pay the fine, then dont return. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions.