Day 48 of 97

Day 48: Appealing a Speed Camera Photo

In a pub in Hamm, Kai (B) wants to go to court over a speeding fine, so his friend Emre (A), a trainee lawyer, plays the judge to show him what awaits him there.

How to study this lesson 3 steps
  1. Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
  2. Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense. Point at (or tap) a German word to see what it means.
  3. Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native German, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.

Dialogue

Audio recordings are on the way. For now, each lesson is the dialogue with its English translation.

Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day · point at a word to see its meaning

  1. A

    Du willst wegen des Bußgeldbescheids also wirklich vor Gericht? Gut, dann bin ich jetzt Richter am Amtsgericht Hamm.

    So you really want to go to court over the fine? Right, then as of now I'm a judge at Hamm district court.

  2. B

    Klar! Einunddreißig zu schnell, haarscharf ein Monat Fahrverbot: Der Blitzer spinnt doch. Außerdem bin ich das auf dem Foto gar nicht.

    Of course! Thirty-one over, a one-month driving ban by a whisker: the camera's obviously on the blink. Besides, that's not even me in the photo.

  3. A

    Herr Hülsmann, Sie bestreiten also die vom Blitzer gemessene Geschwindigkeit und zugleich, gefahren zu sein. Man nehme an, Sie seien es nicht gewesen: Wer fuhr dann?

    Mr Hülsmann, so you dispute the speed recorded by the camera and, at the same time, that you were driving. Let us suppose it wasn't you: who was driving, then?

  4. B

    Herr Richter, das kann jeder gewesen sein. Mein Schwager fährt den Golf ständig.

    Your Honour, it could have been anyone. My brother-in-law drives the Golf all the time.

  5. A

    Der Schwager, ein Klassiker bei jeder Fahrerermittlung. Nur ist deiner seit März in Neuseeland, hast du selbst erzählt.

    The brother-in-law, a classic whenever they're trying to identify the driver. Only yours has been in New Zealand since March, you told me so yourself.

  6. B

    Das darf ein Richter doch gar nicht wissen! Dann war's eben ein Unbekannter, der sich den Golf geliehen und vollgetankt zurückgebracht hat.

    A judge isn't supposed to know that! Then it was some stranger who borrowed the Golf and brought it back with a full tank.

  7. A

    Unbefugter Gebrauch eines Fahrzeugs mit anschließendem Volltanken, ein Novum. Sehen wir uns das um 17:42 Uhr auf der Werler Straße aufgenommene Foto genauer an.

    Unauthorised use of a vehicle followed by filling it up: a legal first. Let's take a closer look at the photo taken on Werler Straße at 5.42 pm.

  8. B

    Zoom ruhig rein. Sonnenbrille, Kappe und was Rotes in der Hand, das erkennt kein Mensch.

    Go on, zoom in. Sunglasses, a cap and something red in one hand, nobody could recognise that.

  9. A

    Das Rote ist eine Currywurst in der Pappschale deines Stammimbisses am Bahnhof. Einhändig mit einundachtzig durch die Stadt, alle Achtung.

    The red thing is a currywurst in a paper tray from your regular snack bar at the station. One-handed through town at eighty-one, hats off.

  10. B

    An dem Imbiss isst halb Hamm, die Polizei eingeschlossen. Das beweist nichts, es sei denn, du holst einen Sachverständigen für Currysoße.

    Half of Hamm eats at that snack bar, the police included. That proves nothing, unless you're calling in an expert witness on curry sauce.

  11. A

    Nicht nötig: Um 17:36 Uhr hast du mir ein Foto genau dieser Wurst geschickt, „Beste Curry Westfalens, bin gleich da“. Einspruch abgelehnt, die Runde zahlt der Betroffene!

    No need: at 5.36 pm you sent me a photo of this very sausage, 'Best currywurst in Westphalia, almost there'. Appeal dismissed, and the defendant buys the round!

Your progress is saved in this browser only, with no sign-up. The course page and the menu show where you left off. Well done! Next up: Day 49: Hegel with the Dessert 

If this free course has helped you in your German journey, please consider supporting the project. It's a one-person effort, and even small contributions help keep it running and free for everyone.