Mel Fortune writes from Pontypridd:

In May my wife and I visited Porec in Croatia for a week and hired a car from a local firm. On the final day I clipped a wooden post while negotiating roadworks near our hotel and damaged the wing mirror.

I telephoned the hire company that afternoon to report the damage. The agent, Goran, said we were fully insured so there would be no extra charges but that we would have to report the incident to the police.

As I could not get through on the telephone, I walked into the local police station. When I explained what had happened, the policeman said that I would have to go to court. I asked for an explanation but he just said, "Croatian law".

He then accompanied me to the scene of the incident, where he took photographs of the wooden post, and then back to the hotel where he took more photographs of the cracked wing mirror. I was then asked to take a breathalyser test (fortunately negative), my passport was confiscated, and I was told I had to appear in court the following morning.

Goran kindly took us in his car. The judge read my statement, translated by the interpreter, and said I had not committed any offence but I would have to pay 200 kuna (£20) for the court fees and 150 kuna (£15) for the interpreter.

We still cannot believe that such a minor incident merited all this fuss. Is this usual practice in Croatia?

Gill replies:

I asked the Croatian Embassy in London to look into the matter. The consular spokeswoman was initially surprised that you ended up in court but, after checking with the relevant government office in Zagreb, she confirmed that the police did act according to the law.

"It does not matter how minor or trivial the accident is, the driver has to go to court," she said. Even if no other vehicle or person is involved? "Yes, even then it is necessary as there could be an insurance issue or some other problem."

It was fortunate that you did not have a stiff drink in the hotel bar after clipping the post. Croatia now has zero-tolerance drink-driving laws. It is a serious offence to drive with even a trace of alcohol in your blood.

Croatia's coastal road is notoriously dangerous: a winding, slippery ribbon of tarmac at the foot of high mountains, it is particularly treacherous after rain. Drivers should always drive defensively and be aware that driving without dipped headlights at all times is also illegal.

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