Appealing a traffic fine? Get free advice!

Questioner

I recently moved to a new city. I always travel to work on my moped. Until recently I always used the passage under a public building (a museum), which I see many cyclists and mopeds use. Now that I have been happily riding under the passage for a month with other moped riders, it turns out that this section is only accessible to cyclists and not to people with mopeds. A camera system registers license plates of mopeds and moped riders who ride through it anyway. Now that I look back at the traffic situation, there is a pedestrian sign at the entrance, with two exceptions below it. The first exception sign says: 'cyclists allowed' and the other exception sign says: 'mopeds and scooters not allowed'. In my subjective opinion unclear, especially because I am almost never the only one with a motorized vehicle who uses the cycle path under passage. I recently received a fine for the first time I drove under the passage; half a month ago. In the meantime, two more have been added. I was not aware of the fact that it was forbidden to drive there, until I received the first notice (three weeks after the violation). Unaware of any wrongdoing, I did not correct myself and happily drove under that passage dozens of times. It turns out that this system (fining with cameras) is an experiment by the municipality to see if moped riders could be effectively banned. The first two months people only received a warning at home. In November the city council will evaluate the current process. Between the time I first drove under the passage and the first fine I received (in which it became clear to me that this is not allowed at all) I drove under that passage dozens of times. Of course I don't do that anymore. I have now received the third notice for the same violation and I fear a mountain of notices. …Is there anything that can be done about this with regard to an appeal?

Lawyer

That's not nice. Something can be done about the situation. You can file an objection with the municipality. It is important that you substantiate this well. I or one of the other employees of the legal aid clinic can help you with this. You can then, if necessary, appeal to the subdistrict court. My expectation is that if you meet good (legal) substantiation, that you only have to pay the 1st fine. And that the others can be waived. I would like to hear from you so that I can provide you with good advice.