Fines sent... 20 years on

An IT error was blamed after around 200 people in the Savoie area received motoring fines dating back 20 years...

Regional newspaper Le Dauphiné reported that people in towns including Aix-les-Bains, La Ravoire and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne were shocked to received fine notices dating back to 1997, when France was still using the franc.

Rates for late payment also included €76 for a parking fine. Some people said they had even had the fines deducted from their bank accounts.
According to the law, punishments for minor offences (contraventions) can only be enfor­ced for up to three years after the offence.