In both instances, your options are limited - see below. 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. It is known as a floating crosswalk! Also, both officers were confused and initially said they dont know what other option I have. As of 2019, drivers passing through Valaheiargng tunnel in North Iceland will need to pay a toll of between ISK 700 to 6,000 depending on the vehicle. A weekly update of the most important issues driving the global agenda. Iceland roads can be very dangerous all year long due to weather and the many twists and turns. Keep your eyes peel at all times. I envy the lot of you. Iceland has strict driving laws and huge fines. Funny, I just got pulled over today a bit after Vik. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in our emails. However, police officers most likely have visibility to outstanding fines previously incurred in their country, and definitely will in their specific state/region. The more a driver is over the speed limit, the greater the number of day fines they will receive. If the road you sped on was absent of signs notifying you of speed limits. If you are unsure then you should always stick to a slower speed. Instead of paying 30,000 ISK ($247 USD), the fine would be 22,500 ISK ($185 USD). a fine for speaking on mobile while driving is raised from 25.000 to 40.000 ISK (from about 250 USD to 400 USD). Do you want to know more about this subject? Its really up to you, but if you do, Im not even sure your credit card will take your side. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-8227180', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rental cars), have had 738 road accidents, and 150 serious injurys this year, from Jan 1. 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. 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). SSN: 680513-1550 / VAT: 114128 The low speed limit is not just about safety, it's about quality of life. Driving under the influence of alcohol is punished with hefty fines, starting at 70.000 ISK; Speed limits and fines. Fines for speeding are quite different from other offenses. Speed bumps are used to slow down cars. They said ummm not sure how. When you approach a roundabout, make sure you already know which exit you will be taking. If you see an emergency vehicle approaching from behind, indicate to the side of the road if possible and allow them to pass. 2. Ill keep it short and simple. With insufficient numbers of officers, Police relies on peoplesconscience By I didn't get stopped by a policeman, I was waved at to slow down at one point, but he never pulled me over. That fine is 10.000ISK (77USD) but goes down to 8900ISK (68USD) if paid imediately. 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. I would be so freaked out being pulled over in a country where I didnt speak the language!! How are speed limits controlled in Iceland? There are new traffic signs to learn, different driving styles, avarietyof different road types and situations, speed limits and different laws. I decided to pay the ticket immediately using my credit card. If you are unable to avoid getting a fine, then it may be possible for you to dispute it. I really don't feel sorry for the Czech man or the Italian lady. 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. Copy of the complaint. I'm so glad they are finally raising the fines. According topolice in Iceland, they manage to collect only 45% of those speeding tickets. Somebody would have to do the math of a higher compliance rate/lower fine structure vs. a higher fine rate/lower compliance, but I bet they'd get more payments at a lower cost. 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. To make your life easier, we have put together a summary of everything you need to know when it comes to Icelandic traffic laws. I was mostly concerned with the cameras. Promise! In this post, we collected all the information and costs of violating the law. The digital screen will display your speed, and if youre under the limit youll be rewarded with a smiley face. ???? If they cant providethat proof, you shouldnt have to pay. Then the same procedure takes over as with parking offences in Reykjavik. The cost of a speeding ticket in Iceland varies according to many factors; such as the speed you are driving. I had no idea that the fines were so stiff. A vehicle over 3.5000 kg is driving over the legal limits. The message here is DON'T SPEED! Verified Expert. Isafjordur, a fishing town in northwest Iceland, has experimented with a new method of traffic safety and speed control. Here is a short list of of speeding fines in Iceland and how they increase with the offence: 1. Traffic on roads that are shown the "Yellow Diamond" sign has the right of way. 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). 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. Uk credits cards not working in Iceland ? Where were you driving? However, driving in Iceland requires some more precautions compared to driving in other countries. Then there are the horrible "washboard" roads. I just returned from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Ask those many tourists who are, or have been in a hospital, after a traffic accident. And I WILL! For many years Hvalfjrur Tunnel was subject to a fee, however, as of 2018, this tunnel is now toll-free. Many fixed speed cameras are located in the south of the island and other areas where there is a smaller police presence. Wow this is really informative ! I am planning on going to Iceland next year, so this is a very important thing to note! 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. Iceland! I would like to think positively about it that perhaps this lesson actually helped saved my life by stopping me speeding . Which is $460. 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. Definitely not gonna pay one in another countrylol, Iceland is wonderful for mountain lovers. 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. Fines. And not knowing the posted speedlimit isn't either Im guessing this was on the road between (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? That fee is 2500ISK (20USD). Totally freaked me out, girl! 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!). Wait to receive your ticket in the post and pay the fine with no discount. I honestly think with the huge increase of tourism in Iceland, they will start tracking down on unpaid fines and tickets to foreigners. Here's a short summary for you. Use the outside lane if you are exiting the roundabout on the first exit only. Tip: Automatic speed-surveillance cameras are notoriously inaccurate. Scandinavian Travel Services ehf. The largest selection of Car Rentals in Iceland. I would love to hear your story! There are speed cameras all over the country. How would you spend your time in a self-driving car. F.e. And Im SO glad they let you off with a warning! Proudly made in Reykjavk City. Yikes! This can be very hard for police officers to decipher. 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. Honestly, I was ready to pay if it was less than $200 but that much money in an almost empty highway was just too much. Driving in Iceland is no different. A car pulling any type of trailer is driving over the legal limits. Flugvellir 20 230 Keflavik. Some signs are digital and will measure your speed as you pass by. On open roads the speed limit varies too; on gravel roads the speed limit is 80km/h, on asphalt roads the speed limit is 90km/h. Slow down, and the bigger, the safer is the car! Most are just camera's and sometimes there's an officer doing the job with a lasergun. Here are some other reasons why you need to pay your speed fine: The cost of speeding damage on roads, traffic delays caused by accidents, medical costs or the SAR helicopters for rescue missions, etc. These Iceland speed limits are the legal maximum, but depending on driving conditions, you may wish to drive slower. If both your license and passport details werent recorded at the time of the offense or by the rental car company, it seems unlikely that any country would link the two together. Went to iceland back in august, got pulled over at 2:59am for speeding, Paid a 500$ish tickets by a police cruiser that picked me up on radar. 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). Of course Iceland does not have autobahn or ultra modern freeways. Boy was I royaly ripped off! Luckily, there are plenty of traffic signs around to remind you at which speed you should be driving. Hi. The car rental companies provide us with peoples addresses and we send the fine to their home address. A car pulling any type of trailer is driving over the legal limits. Are you saying that when you pay a speeding ticket it should allow you to speed elsewhere for a certain time period before and after that time period? 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. This new breed of crosswalk appears to be floating up and off the road, which. There are a couple of reasons for this low number. Just remember that speed limits are there for your protection. So good to know about speed cameras and such. The fine in Iceland is a minimum of ISK 100,000 and penalties can even include time in prison. $500 is a pretty hefty fee.? Subsequent cars should cross the bridge in a similar order as they arrived. Painful lesson learned as I was not aware the speeding fine was so eye wateringly steep in Iceland. A study done by the University of Iceland found that there is an average of one speed bump every 20 meters in the country. Haha I decided to write it because there really was no blog post or definite answer on whether or not one needed to pay the speeding ticket. Parking in Reykjavik is the same as parking in any other European capital. There have been few incidents in the past where people have hired rental cars, travelled, then returned home, and the weeks later they get a mail request to pay fines in Iceland. Oh no! Went to iceland back in august, got pulled over at 2:59am for speeding. Speeding cameras are dotted around the country and speeding fines can range between ISK 5,000?70,000 (USD 45 to USD 575). Off-roading in Iceland is strictly forbidden. 2023 by Reykjavk Cars Booking Office. Speeding Fines Simplified for Tourists. 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. The requirement for tires isn't about whether they are winter or summer tires, instead, it's about the depth of the tires. It was getting too easy to pay the relatively small fine for speeding and then take a three hour fun class to get the corresponding points removed from your record. Basically, when encountering another car, whoever has the parking space on their right needs to use it to let the other pass. You'll fine the answers here! 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. This sign means there is a one-way tunnel system ahead. And also as a social contribution to a country which has offered so much of its natural beauty which I enjoyed practically for free ( no entrance fees..). Photo from the Reykjavk Police Instagram Account. It being a foreign country we had no idea what to do. The floating crosswalk is not the usual method of tackling speeding in Iceland, but its definitely the most inventive! Fines for everything will be raised a lot. Each time you break the law you risk getting caught breaking the law and having to pay the price. Iceland is a country with many natural wonders, but the best way to explore Icelands natural beauty is by car. Please note that there have been some recent changes to the payable tolls for tunnels. Simple. Let the holiday travels commence! Im Angie, an American photographer, travel blogger, and adventure seeker. Its also an easy way to access remote areas of the country that are inaccessible by public transportation. Don't forget, Iceland is an island and if you ever want to leave, pay your fine and the next time obey the law. A vehicle over 3.5000 kg is driving over the legal limits 3. 3. 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. In case you got caught on camera, chances are that the traffic authorities will issue the fine to your car rental company. 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. http://www.sjova.is/files/2007_8_1_messageFromThePolice.jpg. When police have the correct addresses it can still be difficult to actually collect the fines, as people simply fail to pay. Most of these accidents are because of speeding. Below are common legal defences for speeding fines: How long will a speeding fine take to arrive? No matter the speed limit, there are plenty of signs that keep you updated. well written blog btw, Im enjoying reading what you have to say and thoroughly enjoyed this particular post. Fine $460. There have been few incidents in the past where people have hired rental cars, travelled, returned home, and then weeks later received a letter to their home address with a request to pay fines in Iceland. Whichever car first arrives at a one-lane bridge has the right of way to cross. If for some reason you've entered the roundabout on the outside lane, but realize you don't need to exit immediately, then use your indicator to signal towards the inside lane - but do not switch lanes!