Extortion claim as speed fine rises

A LAWYER caught in a speed trap has lodged a complaint of attempted extortion after a €135 fine was increased to €431 for non-payment.

Pierre-François Divier had contested the original offence and sent his documents by recorded delivery with the €135 fine enclosed – however, a problem with La Poste meant they never arrived.

His car had been flashed by an automatic radar in Paris in August 2008 at 52kph in a 50kph zone and he decided to challenge the loss of a point from his licence because the driver was not identifiable in the picture.

However, when his letter was not received by the authorities the fine was increased automatically – despite his protests – until finally bailiffs demanded €431.28 or said they would seize his bank account.

Mr Diviers says the authorities at the Ministère Public du Contrôle Automatisé de Rennes “just wouldn’t listen” to his protests and now he has launched a complaint alleging attempted extortion. The public prosecutor has three months to investigate his complaint.