It can sometimes be a challenge to rent a car overseas or drive obeying foreign traffic rules.

Until recently, if you received a speeding ticket or parking fine in a foreign country, many travelers returned home and decided to ignore those tickets.

The European Union has now linked with local authorities and U.S.-based rental car firms, and the fines are now being enforced, with additional penalties.

That information can also be used to deny you a future rental car, or worse: you might be refused entry back into that country.