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Henning Wegener and his crusade against the City of Madrid for traffic fines ilegalesEl former diplomat German has a 'blog' that aims to enable citizens to report their cases

Andrés Ramos Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 14:34
free voice
Madrid .- Henning Wegener started over one and a half a crusade against illegal fines imposed by the City of Madrid. His country's ambassador in Spain between 1995 and 1999 and later founder of the consulting Unkel SL, this 74 year old German says he feels "at home" in Madrid and after a long time living in the capital has been able to verify, in their view "tax collection effort" that prevails in the city council.

"Perhaps a English can not approach these problems with more distance. Despite my previous official position, do not enjoy any privilege, but I hope to have the same rights as any Madrid and that any citizen of the European Union, "said Wegener, who half a year ago and launched a 'blog 'to denounce the irregularities committed by the Consistory to traffic fines, of which he has suffered.

The former diplomat claims that the site, which currently has 138 members, will become a forum for locals to exchange their experiences, complaints and irregularities which have been in traffic.

"I'm not against penalties when violation actually exists and amounts are provided, but always respecting the legal process and the right of citizens to be heard. It is my hope that through this collective manifestation of exchange of views can convince the City Council to abandon habits of questionable legality or sometimes even illegal, "says Wegener in his presentation of 'blog'.

-. How does this initiative?

-. The initiative comes in September 2009. I had to defend against the City of Madrid against fines and angered me that I never made the proper notifications. In the four sanctioning all we got was a notice by publication, and therefore no possibility to identify the driver, because the deadline had already expired. Was imposed in each case, a fine of 400 euros for failing to identify the driver. And when we did, by a written statement, the Department did not accept. As I found something highly illegal, I wrote the mayor to try to defeat these illegal fines, but never heard back.

After many of my friends who were in the same situation I was encouraged to publicly denounce advantage that I am an independent man, well known in Madrid, and also abroad and nonresident. And many locals fear the time to head to City Hall to protest retaliation against them, mounting him on the IBI or otherwise bothering him, something that to me, not being a resident, I can do. I was encouraged to open a blog for other neighbors could present their cases and make known their grievances.

-. What is the primary objective of this 'blog'?

-. That the City enforce the law for the good of all citizens. It is a forum that has to exist. And my complaints are not directed specifically against the City, I am a great admirer of Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon and I know him very well, but rather against the Councillor for Mobility and Road Safety, Pedro Calvo.

-. What makes a German as you carry out this crusade in Madrid?

-. After leaving state service, I stand in front of a small company, which is the one that I received all these illegal fines. Just took this initiative to combat this injustice somehow.

-. Is this 'blog' is only to report illegal fines in Madrid and is extensible to other cities?

-. I have limited myself to Madrid because the facts I know and friends who have encouraged me to develop the 'blog' is concentrated in Madrid, but there are also many comments from other parts of Spain.

-. Why do you think that is the fact that no initiative has targeted many people yet?

-. The problem is that until a publication known not published, many people are unaware of its existence and has no public attention. When you created the 'blog' had articles in several newspapers and had an influx of comments on the page. However, lately, as there has been no mention in any publication, the comments have been greatly reduced.

-. Do you have any idea designed for the 'blog' has more visibility?

-. I do not know how long I'll keep The blog, at least until the City Council do what you have to do after the court sentences. Maybe not forever live in Spain and may leave time to leave the responsibility of the site to someone who wants to continue this initiative.

-. In 'blog' is even a letter from a Popular Party senator shows his support ...

-. Yes, he gave me permission to reveal his name, but I have not done so far and now, at election time, I would find it distasteful. Would awaken within the Popular Party a discussion about this.

-. Have you been in contact with any other politician?

-. No, only the senator on his own initiative.

-. Said in his presentation that there are penalties where there has been even the possibility of filing claims, a practice which the Constitutional Court has declared as prohibited.

-. Exactly by Edict fines are unconstitutional because they are not entitled to claims by citizens.

-. Do you think that many of the traffic regulations of the City Council the desire premium revenue?

-. It is something that is clear. The fines are extremely high and many rules are not respected. For example, I could see from my own experience and comments from citizens Smart that they control the preferred route and have cameras on the roof, take pictures and, without even stopping, fined or directly sending notification by edict. This is clearly illegal because if a citizen for at fault or because you have an elderly or sick person who should assist is not ticketable. But these cars go, take pictures and go without ever do know where the driver, perhaps next to the car, or investigate the cause for which it stands. These fines to enter a preferred route is very high and then the conclusion is clear: there is tax collection effort.

-. How about installing parking meters in many neighborhoods of Madrid?

-. I am one of the many locals who suffers because I live in a neighborhood that has recently included this system.

-. Do you think speed cameras placed in the capital are reliable?

-. Just check the contents of the 'blog' and not look like all these machines work properly, some of them being manipulated. Experts have found through the photos that the speed at which some vehicles are ticketed does not match that marks the radar.



-. How about reducing the speed limit to 110 km / hour?

-. That's a topic you agree or no, but it is not illegal. If there is a law that it is perfectly legal to collect fine you exceed that maximum speed. Another issue is that technically is useful and if it brings more disadvantages than advantages, as the loss of time, the fact that some car models misbehave at low speeds or consumption on the jams that occur, perhaps more high. In addition, many cars use less at a rate higher. Without going any further, the optimal intake of my car is produced at a speed of 150 kilometers per hour. All these issues can be criticized, but they are a matter of legality but of political expediency.

-. You who is from Germany, a country where major roads no speed limit, do you think that this would be possible to introduce a similar model?

-. In Germany it is something that works very well and there are fewer traffic fatalities in other countries. Obviously the car park is more modern and that also contributes to road safety. If in Spain would be better? I do not know, is a political issue and the parliamentarians belonging to draw the line. I'm not going to approach these problems because it is not my thing, but Spain will respect the rules of the rule of law and there are things that are frankly illegal receipt.