The police can issue at least four different fines if you do not clear the ice properly. The first is a well-known one and concerns the fine for not properly scratching the windows. If you scratched a little too casually, it cost you 280 euros last year. The fine amounts increased before 2024 and the fine is for driving with frozen windows 300 Euro.
If you have neatly scratched the windows, you are not done yet. It will not surprise you that the police also want you to properly de-ice your exterior mirrors. If you don't do this, the fine is now 180 euros. Fortunately, many cars are equipped with mirror heating that does its job when you are scratching the windows.
No more frozen windows? Don't forget this little thing
Are you ready then? According to the law, you must have sufficient visibility in front of and behind the car through the 'system of prescribed mirrors or camera monitor system'. And since 2022, new cars must have a reversing camera. This will largely concern the cameras that serve as exterior mirrors, but be sure to clear your reversing camera with your finger. This fine amounts to 180 euros.
By the way, there are quite a few cars that will do the work for you. There are brands with heated cameras and BMW even has a spray nozzle to clean the camera. In winter you of course put anti-freeze in there and with a little spray you should be good to go. By the way, it is also questionable whether a police officer will really give a fine for a frozen camera.
If you haven't done anything to clear the place of ice, you will receive a fine for the windows and mirrors (or camera). Last year you could add the fines together (160 + 280) and you would receive a fine of 440 euros, but in 2024 there will be an additional penalty of ten euros: if you receive both fines, you will not pay 480 but 490 euros. In all cases there will be administration costs on top of this.
Not just a fine if you don't scratch the windows properly
The last one then. Because of all that scratching I left home a little late. Then it may seem useful to leave the ice and snow on the license plate. After all, a section control cannot send fines to a blank plate. But maybe this isn't such a good idea. If the police catch you, you're out this year 180 euros lost, which is 20 euros more than last year.
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