Goodbye Old Friend! 

"Klaus Schmoll" (klausschmoll) 04/29/2016 at 14:33 • Filed to: None

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Went to the local police station to hand in my license today. For those who don’t remember, I got a 30 day driving ban for getting the second speeding ticket which adds a point to my license within 24 months.

You usually turn up at any police station of your choice, hand it in, and collect it from them 30 days later. Well, not so much in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Stupid fish heads refused to take it and made me mail it across the country to Baden-Württemberg, where the ticket was issued. The possibility of it getting lost, and being at the whim of the postal system when it comes to getting it back on time is worrying.

Well, first time without a drivers license in almost 20 years. Let’s see how it goes. At least I’m not exactly unprepared. As a first time offender they gave me a four month window to hand it in. As I had to go to our state’s capital for work yesterday, today was the first day to realistically start the 30 days.

So I had time to turn my guest bedroom into a drinks storage, so that I won’t have to schlepp the heavy stuff home from the shops, and I put new tires on the bike.

The old ones were still holding air, but were completely dry rotted and had grown whiskers.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:37

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That’s a crazy harsh penalty for a 2nd speeding ticket.

What’s the cut off for this penalty between tickets? Like 2 tickets in a month? a year? a week? a decade? What are the stakes here.

d15b > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:37

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Can you get a DUI for operating a bike while drunk?

CRider > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/29/2016 at 14:39

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Fucking Nazis.

Klaus Schmoll > d15b 04/29/2016 at 14:39

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Yes, the limit is just way higher.

Klaus Schmoll > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/29/2016 at 14:42

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Two tickets within 24 months. If get another one within the next two years, I won’t be a first time offender and won’t get the 4 month window to hand it in.

They revised the points system a few years ago, and manged to bury this gem where nobody finds it.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > CRider 04/29/2016 at 14:43

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probably a bit much bro

d15b > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:43

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Are you German? Because that makes sense with the higher limit. :)

duurtlang > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/29/2016 at 14:44

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Depends on the steepness of the violation really. I got 2 tickets in Germany on the Autobahn within a few months, nothing happened. Well, nothing but laughably low fines (€20 or €30 each, I don’t remember which). Both were for doing 19 over (119 in a 100), and both didn’t add a point on my license. I had a third one a year later (58 in a 50); still nothing.

Shamoononon drives like a farmer > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:44

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Per shame, doesn’t the Autobahn give you a fix for your need to speed?

Klaus Schmoll > d15b 04/29/2016 at 14:45

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I am indeed.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:46

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Mmm, Radler. The first time I had a real drink was one in Munich when I was 18.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:46

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Wow that’s harsh.

They must have buried it because people should’ve been fighting that one! 24 months is a long time. I can understand if it was maybe 2 months or something but in month 1 and month 23 it doesn’t feel at all like repeat offender/excessive speeder.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > duurtlang 04/29/2016 at 14:46

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SUSPICIOUS

Cé hé sin > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:47

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Not often you see a German document with an Irish translation!

Klaus Schmoll > Shamoononon drives like a farmer 04/29/2016 at 14:48

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I got the tickets ON THE AUTOBAHN! Oh the irony!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:49

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One month vacation?

Shamoononon drives like a farmer > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:49

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WTF? You weren’t even going very fast. I do over 120km/h on my way to work on the California Interstates.

Edit:Oh, I see, you were doing 150km/h.

duurtlang > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/29/2016 at 14:50

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While I’m a EU citizen not being German might help. They are able to mail their tickets to my (non-German) home address though.

Justin Hughes > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:51

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Don’t worry about Klaus. I found this video of him driving a forklift.

Hmm, actually, maybe this is why he lost his license...!

Steve in Manhattan > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:51

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Do you have someone to drive the car and heat it up once a week?

MUSASHI66 > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:51

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You must be 193cm tall or taller with that crazy long head tube on your bike.

Berang > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:52

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That is a really tall bike!

Klaus Schmoll > MUSASHI66 04/29/2016 at 14:52

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1.94 m

MUSASHI66 > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:53

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Ha! Off by 1cm

jimz > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:53

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I only wish we had the stones to do things like this in the US.

Leon711 > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:53

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Ouch. In the UK, we can get up to 12 points, so if I was marginally over the speed limit, say 10mph/16kph, I could get 4 tickets before I was banned. I haven’t had any so far in 7 years and I hope to keep it that way.

Here’s a full breakdown of our points system in the UK- https://www.gov.uk/penalty-points…

jimz > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/29/2016 at 14:53

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yes, but I’d wager the average driver in Germany is much better than the average driver here.

Berang > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/29/2016 at 14:54

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Maybe, maybe not. I haven’t gotten a ticket in over four years, and I feel like the typical driver probably wouldn’t have to worry much about getting two tickets in 24 months. Unless they maybe drive through a speed trap every day.

duurtlang > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:54

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Do you guys still get the paper licenses, or are you allowed to keep your license forever (when you’re not speeding too often)? I had a nice paper one like you’ve got as well, but we have to renew our license every 10 years. As a result I got a creditcard-sized plastic license in 2011 when I renewed mine.

Klaus Schmoll > Steve in Manhattan 04/29/2016 at 14:54

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Nope. But it’s a Honda. Not really worried about it.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > duurtlang 04/29/2016 at 14:54

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I wonder if they can only ticket you then and not steal your license.

Klaus Schmoll > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 04/29/2016 at 14:55

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Can’t get off work. :(

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > jimz 04/29/2016 at 14:55

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Entirely possible, my problem is the time frame for possible infractions not the penalty.

If it were 2 in a month, sure 30 days off of driving might be good for you.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 14:55

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Damn.

duurtlang > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/29/2016 at 14:59

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Maybe. Still, I only exceeded the speed limit relatively mildly. Within a certain safe threshold. I was lucky, my first two tickets were 19 over on the Autobahn, the third one was even less over. Starting at 21 over you get a point on you license and starting at 26 over they can suspend your license. I suspect Klaus exceeded the speed limit with at least 21 and probably 26 kmh, twice.

Klaus Schmoll > jimz 04/29/2016 at 15:00

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Taking speeders’ licenses away?

Klaus Schmoll > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/29/2016 at 15:02

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They can ban him from driving in Germany, but since he’s from the Netherlands, that’s not exactly the same threat level.

Klaus Schmoll > duurtlang 04/29/2016 at 15:03

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Or 21 over twice in 24 months. Which is what happened to me.

Klaus Schmoll > duurtlang 04/29/2016 at 15:07

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The long hair suits you. :) But seriously, we can keep them forever. I will get my old pink one back as well. I know people in their 60s who still have the first one with a picture from when they were 18. They switched to new “euro” licenses about 2 years after I got mine. This also meant no more towing trailers, a 3.5 ton weight limit instead of 7.5 and only 25cc bikes instead of 50cc.

jimz > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 15:16

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not specifically for speeding, but for other offenses of negligence (careless driving, texting while driving, etc.) And I don’t mean for a first offense.

but in this country it can be incredibly hard to lose your driver’s license for anything other than drunk driving.

duurtlang > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 15:22

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It’s clear you haven’t met my girlfriend.

Caleb "If a rally car can do it, so can my Malibu" M. S. > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 15:22

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I lost mine for 30 days a while back for doing 84 in a 65 on my “intermediate license” (16 year old license). That on top of a $174 ticket and ~50 per month increase on my insurance.

As you can imagine, that didn’t please myself, or my parents.

Steve in Manhattan > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 15:23

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Yeah, that’s not long enough for water in the exhaust system to do anything. Still, it won’t hurt to get it up to temperature a couple times.

facw > jimz 04/29/2016 at 15:27

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And when you do lose it, and then continue to drive anyway, there’s not really much penalty in most cases.

Klaus Schmoll > duurtlang 04/29/2016 at 15:28

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It would be harder for you to get to see her (how long does it take by train?) but at least you would be able to get to work, do your shopping etc...

gmctavish needs more space > jimz 04/29/2016 at 15:50

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Same with Canada. Or BC, at least. Someone recently had her license revoked for having 14 distracted driving tickets within the year, but it had to make social media rounds and get on the news before ICBC did anything. They don't communicate very well with police.

duurtlang > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 15:52

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I do my shopping on foot or by bicycle :)

The time it takes to take a train to München (900 km) is actually acceptable and can even be slightly faster (ICE), the cost is higher than my fuel costs though. Taking a train to Sauerland takes twice as long as by car (6 vs 3 hours), which isn’t all that nice.

jimz > gmctavish needs more space 04/29/2016 at 16:01

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aren’t there only a few provinces with their own police force?

Cé hé sin > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 16:05

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But you can still tow trailers! Just little ones. Anyway, as you got your licence before the change you should have kept your B+E classification ( I did).

Klaus Schmoll > facw 04/29/2016 at 16:16

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I’d be completely fucked if they caught me driving anything with an engine within those 30 days. As in losing it for a year, or even having to re-take the test with all the involved costs (around €1500). As a government employee I might evenget into trouble on that front as well.

Klaus Schmoll > Cé hé sin 04/29/2016 at 16:23

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Same here. One of the few perks of not being a spring chicken.

TheOnelectronic > jimz 04/29/2016 at 16:31

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The issue is that taking someone’s license here, even for a short period, can really fuck up their life. Bikes and Public Transport are great in a dense city (well, maybe not the public transport) but in the many, many parts of the country where people live tens of miles from the nearest town, losing their license (and then not just driving anyway) can mean losing their job, which could mean falling behind on bills, and now their credit is fucked, and then they get evicted, etc...

I’m not saying that would always happen, just that it’s a pretty severe penalty that shouldn’t be given lightly.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 17:02

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Legal, illegal, schei ß egal, oder was?

Klaus Schmoll > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 04/29/2016 at 17:27

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+1 for the Werner pic. Additional points if you can guess the car!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 18:02

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Okay, well I should be at least +3: the addage, 1 for the ß (not the Greek beta ) and one for the Werner reference.

The car is an Opel, but I can’t say which model.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 18:06

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Rekord D

Klaus Schmoll > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 04/29/2016 at 18:08

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Manta A. The (poor man’s) Euro Camaro.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 04/29/2016 at 18:08

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I lived in Wurzburg for four years from 1987-91 on Leighton Kaserne as an enlisted soldier in the U.S. Army. While the vast majority of the American soldiers were getting drunk and or being barracks rats, I was learning about important aspects of German culture. Like Werner.

Klaus Schmoll > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 04/29/2016 at 18:11

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Nope.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Klaus Schmoll 04/29/2016 at 18:14

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You still owe me mehr points.

Klaus Schmoll > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 04/29/2016 at 18:20

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Good on you! I lived in Heidelberg for a decade. We used to meet US soldiers all the time at the pubs and much fun was had, but after 9/11 they stayed indoors more and more. This didn’t start in ‘01 but by ‘03 it started to get noticeable and it got worse. It took them time to dig in and retreat but once that was done they never really went out again. They missed out. Heidelberg is probably one of the most peaceful places.

gmctavish needs more space > jimz 04/29/2016 at 19:19

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Yeah, BC isn’t one of them. All the provinces deal with insurance differently though, so I think it’s ICBC that isn’t good at communicating with the RCMP, and the insurance corporation is the one that licenses drivers, so they have to be the ones to revoke them. I think

jimz > gmctavish needs more space 04/29/2016 at 19:38

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and the insurance corporation is the one that licenses drivers, so they have to be the ones to revoke them. I think

interesting. down here the individual states handle driver licensing, usually through a department/bureau of motor vehicles. though here in Michigan it’s under the purview of the Secretary of State.

gmctavish needs more space > jimz 04/29/2016 at 19:59

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Our ministry of transport has nothing to do with driver licensing, which I always found quite weird. We just have one big provincial insurance corporation that licenses and insures everyone, but then if you get a ticket it can result in a suspension, but I think only DUIs can actually get your license suspended for any serious amount of time. It's a weird system.

190octane > Klaus Schmoll 04/30/2016 at 13:29

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I thought it was impossible to get a speeding ticket in Germany, especially on the autobahn. Much disappoint.