European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 30, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Italy gets Tough with violators of new traffic code Bilyj King Jungi in Northern Italy Bureau Aviano a Hilly a Drivers in Italy face Stiller fines this year for a number of traffic violations following a revision of the nation s traffic code Pines have quadrupled for offences such As failing to use turn signals and failing to provide documents such As 113 cards Drivers licenses and registrations upon request by Law enforcement officers Pines for those offences climbed from 12,500 lira to 50,000 lira or from about $8,50 to $34, i he code which took effect at the beginning r 1093, deals harshly with speeders. Fines stayed the same at $34 Lor motorists exceeding the Speed limit by to Kilometres per hour those ticketed for driving 11 to 40 Kph Over the limit will face fines up to $130, Drivers going 40 Kph or More Over the posted limit can ire fined up to $340. A the most significant aspect of the new Road code is its crackdown on speeding and certain other dangerous driving practices and the fact that Driver s licenses can be seized on the spot by police Quot said Ficera Kon Coletta italian Legal adviser to the 40jst fighter Wing at Aviano a in Northern Italy. Drivers exceeding the limit by 40 Kilometres per hour can have their licenses suspended on the spot Kon Coletta said wednesday. The revised traffic code also decrees that Drivers can be forced to forfeit their licenses immediately for passing on the right entering on coming Traffie lanes while passing on a curve driving in an emergency Lane or driving while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs Kon Coletta said. Other offences such As driving an uninsured vehicle May result in the immediate impoundment of the vehicle she said. She said it was Uncertain How the fines will be levied against violators driving vehicles belonging to . Service members and their families. T he nov Road code also makes the penalty for refusal to submit to a  test the same As taking tic test and failing it. Those refusing die test face loss of i heir License for 15 Days to three months As much As a month in jail and a Fine of As High As $1,360, Quot in general i expect that enforcement of the new traffic rules May be More rigid in the North of Italy but i Don t know Bow receptive the italian Public is to changing its driving habits a she said.2 american Samaritans subject of dogged search Ity Gary Pomakoy stuff writer Nikon Katsikopoulo wants to thank two americans he credits with saving the lives of his brother and a Friend who were seriously injured in a three car Accident on Southern Germany s autobahn 5 in cantly january. And a Chow dog May be tic key to finding them. Quot i would like to extend my Praise and thanks. To the unselfish action of these two american citizens. Who risked their own lives to Rescue total strangers a Katsikopoulo wrote to the stars and stripes t he three car Accident occurred around ii . Jan. 3 near the Freiburg North autobahn exit according to Katsikopoulo. Ills brother and a woman travelling companion were in the third of the three cars involved and the Impact caused their Carlo burst into flames lie wrote. Details of the woman a injuries were not available but in Tsikopoulos brother was hospitalized until wednesday lie said thursday. Quot the Driver who is my brother. Was stuck behind the wheel and unconscious a he wrote Quot his female a also stuck called for help when she saw the lire. That a when the americans who were not involved in the Accident arrived on the scene according to the  even though the car could have exploded at any moment and risking their own lives they Cut the safety belts because they would not open and saved the two people the car totally burned  German police who responded to the scene did no to take the names of the americans but told Katsikopoulo that the rescuers a must be members of the its forces and probably stationed in Kaiserslautern a the Only other details about the rescuers arc that they were driving u civilian possibly japanese made jeep they wore in civilian clothes and there was a woman with them is police said the americans also had a Chow dog which is a medium sized Breed that typically has a compact muscular body a thick Brown or Black coat and a it Luc Black Tongue. Anyone Wotli information concerning the incident can Call the stars and stripes at Dan 348-8237 or German civilian 06155-601237.German defector charged with treason Hakun of a a military flier who defected from West Germany to fast Germany in 1978 has been charged with High treason for revealing information to authorities the Federal prosecutor s office said f i Day Hie Man identified Only As Erhard a 56, had lived under an assumed name in Dresden ill Eastern Germany until lie was arrested in april 1991, after German reunification the prosecutors office said. It said he was a flier in a naval aviation Squadron with the rank of lieutenant when he defected to fast Germany on nov. 4, 1978. Lie was interrogated until the following May by fast German agents and Quot revealed his entire knowledge gained in the service a the announcement said. Conviction for High treason can bring life imprisonment. However the Man has been free since june 1991, rather than being jailed As would be common in serious espionage accusations. No trial Date was announced. New envoy to France takes Channel ca1.ais, France of Fri faint a new ambassador to France became his country s first envoy to reach an a Cuevas Post entirely by land Friday a tiding a construction train through Tje Channel funnel. Because the 31 mile Tunnel beneath the English Channel is not yet finished sir Christopher Mallaby traded his Blue suit and a weathered hat for overalls and �4 hard hat before making the three hour 40-Iniriute trip. A impressive and pleasant Quot he said in French after emerging from the Tunnel terminal in san Gatte near a la is and celebrating with Champagne. He had embarked from the fingliss coastal City of j Folkestone making a journey that is expected to take Only 35 minutes when the Tunnel is completed i he former ambassador to Germany 56, replaces sir  u Fergusson who is retiring. The world s largest construction project started in 1987, has been beset by delays and disputes that have pushed the Price far beyond  a initial estimate to More than $12.5 billion. It is now due to open this december six months late it will easy trains and cars Between Guidon and Paris in three hours half the current Lime via train and ferry. Quot i May get dirty but i Don t mind and this is a More modern sort of hut Quot Mallaby said before departing. After the trip Mallaby said Quot the impression you have is of a project that is almost Complete. Not Only is the Tunnel Complete but tic Walls ceiling and floors Are All  he described the Tunnel As a one of the wonders of the modern world Quot and said it was bound to increase Contact Between the Uritis ii Ami Flench. Russian georgian avalanches take toll vf.ad/kavka/,  Farj a series of a Hes in soul hem Russia and neighbouring Georgia at  2 i people officials said Friday and Moo  be b oed under Lorn of melting nov and Rock.  18 people aboard a passenger bus and  russian soldiers who had been guarding the / on t so a Ennel along the Iran  High Way Irr the North Ossetia Region of Russia. The Moscow based committee Lor  situations said a third Soldier from the same guard unit was hospitalized t was unclear whether lie escaped the Avalanche or wits rescued. Kes tiers trying to Clear the Highway Friday expected to find More vehicles under the Snow said Arkady to Bolo Deputy prime minister of North  gets big raise a to $125 a month Moscow it a president i Lor is n. Yeltsin got u hefty raise on t thursday from Kussian Law makers who gave the same salary to the Heads of the legislative and judicial branches the Itak pass news Agency said Yeltsin a salary this year will be 72,0 h rubles a month. That is just $125 at the latest Exchange Rale but it is Caily 10 times the average monthly Wulc of Kussian Woi Kors. The increases were pro Hgt cd by Yeltsin Iasi december and approved without fanfare by the supremo soviet legislature Itak Tass repented. Most russians complain Hilt cily about High prices and Low nay but Yeltsin a salary had suffered As Well Llis Pic Vious pay had been 18,900 rubles a month since last july. That was Only $33 at the cubic no Exchange i ate. Lecause of inflation it actually was Worth More $189 when he first got it last year. Lawmakers voted to give the same 72,000-Rublc salary to Yeltsin a erstwhile foe Faili Macut speaker Kuslan Khash Lutov and to constitutional Couit chief Justice Valcy /.oikm. It a t ass did not say what salaries the other two were getting previously