French Breathalyser kit further delay in enforcement

[rewc]

The French have announced a further delay in implementing the enforcement of the requirement to carry a breathalyser. They are going to use this delay to question their effectiveness in reducing DD.

http://www.connexionfrance.com/Breath-test-ethylot...

[Stig]

rewc said:

The French have announced a further delay in implementing the enforcement of the requirement to carry a breathalyser. They are going to use this delay to question their effectiveness in reducing DD.

http://www.connexionfrance.com/Breath-test-ethylot...

And in the meantime, millions have already been sold effectively lining the pockets of the French minister who is financially involved with the supplier (IIRC).

Political snouts in troughs the world over.

[Mill Wheel]

Stig said:

And in the meantime, millions have already been sold effectively lining the pockets of the French minister who is financially involved with the supplier (IIRC).

Political snouts in troughs the world over.

Allegedly involved in one of at least EIGHT suppliers!

I was over in the summer, and found none in the local supermarkets in Brittany - but when we got to Les Herbiers in the Vendée, the Hyper U had a huge display - so I bought a handful (1.90€ each) and posted them back to my parents and friends in France who had been unable to purchase them!

They ARE pointless - but so cheap to buy - and it will be so comforting to see the look on the Gendarmes face when you DO have one if stopped.

[jimmy the hat]

Mill Wheel said:

They ARE pointless - but so cheap to buy - and it will be so comforting to see the look on the Gendarmes face when you DO have one if stopped.

IIRC you're supposed to carry two, so you've still got a spare after you've used one.

I'm going over for Christmas so I'll have a go at various intervals just out of curiosity but other than that I'd have thought that they were pointless. Unless you're involved in the racket of course.

Cheers, Jim

[daz3210]

What is the idea then? That they pull you and you supply your own tester?

[Raify]

daz3210 said:

What is the idea then? That they pull you and you supply your own tester?

Presume the idea is that you stagger out of your 3 hour lunch of fine wine, cassoulet and foie gras and say "Oh merde! aaayy cuuuuud be over zeee limit after zat zird bottle of Bordeaux. Aaay ad better use ze little testeur.... Oufff! Over zee limit! Back to ze restaurant for Armagnac zen!"

[98elise]

jimmy the hat said:

Mill Wheel said:

They ARE pointless - but so cheap to buy - and it will be so comforting to see the look on the Gendarmes face when you DO have one if stopped.

IIRC you're supposed to carry two, so you've still got a spare after you've used one.

I'm going over for Christmas so I'll have a go at various intervals just out of curiosity but other than that I'd have thought that they were pointless. Unless you're involved in the racket of course.

Cheers, Jim

But then you would only have one, and would be breaking the law?

[Ozzie Osmond]

Stig said:

And in the meantime, millions have already been sold effectively lining the pockets of the French minister who is financially involved with the supplier (IIRC).

Golly, just think how the politicians must be laughing about all those air-bags which have never been used but go straight to the scrapyard with your car. You don't even get to try a cheap one for yourself just to see if it works.

[randlemarcus]

98elise said:

But then you would only have one, and would be breaking the law?

The law only requires one. Two is a pragmatic approach, as otherwise you have to walk to Le Halfords to buy one to replace the single one you have just used. If you have one, you can drive there.

[jimmy the hat]

98elise said:

But then you would only have one, and would be breaking the law?

Indeed. I'd love to imagine that some bright spark pointing this out is what has actually caused the delay.

Cheers, Jim

[Pontoneer]

98elise said:

But then you would only have one, and would be breaking the law?

Does it actually state that they have to be UNUSED , or do you just need to HAVE them ?

[streaky]

randlemarcus said:

98elise said:

But then you would only have one, and would be breaking the law?

The law only requires one. Two is a pragmatic approach, as otherwise you have to walk to Le Halfords to buy one to replace the single one you have just used. If you have one, you can drive there.

Assuming you're not over the limit.

Streaky

[Mill Wheel]

Firstly, they are sold in pairs - 1.90€ for the two - I should have made that clear!

Secondly, as I understand it, you only need ONE - but buy two on the premise that as soon as you use ONE, you need to have another to remain legal.

At a guess, I would say they would be more useful to drivers who had enjoyed a little too much libation the night before, and wanted to be certain they were OK to drive the morning after.
If you were in the least bit worried about driving over the limit after drinking, you would either arrange alternative transport or not drink too much.

But then the temptation to drink alcohol is perhaps felt all the more, because the alternatives - coffee, or soft drinks - are dearer than wine, beer or cider!

The penalties for drink driving seem a little more draconian for repeat offenders - my parent's neighbour was caught three times, and he has to be tested monthly for alcohol in his system - and he has a lifetime ban from driving - he can only drive an AXIAM type vehicle, with a lawnmower engine in it - as long as his system is clear of alcohol.

[simoid]

Mill Wheel said:

The penalties for drink driving seem a little more draconian for repeat offenders - my parent's neighbour was caught three times, and he has to be tested monthly for alcohol in his system - and he has a lifetime ban from driving - he can only drive an AXIAM type vehicle, with a lawnmower engine in it - as long as his system is clear of alcohol.

I enjoy this idea

[creampuff]

Everyone realises this is France, right? Not England.

Even if breathalysers were mandatory, the French would never enforce this law.

[Mill Wheel]

simoid said:

Mill Wheel said:

The penalties for drink driving seem a little more draconian for repeat offenders - my parent's neighbour was caught three times, and he has to be tested monthly for alcohol in his system - and he has a lifetime ban from driving - he can only drive an AXIAM type vehicle, with a lawnmower engine in it - as long as his system is clear of alcohol.

I enjoy this idea

I think it's brilliant!
There are of course a range of models, and custom kits that can be applied...




Of course no engine mods are allowed - they all have the same two stroke engine!

[rewc]

creampuff said:

Everyone realises this is France, right? Not England.

Even if breathalysers were mandatory, the French would never enforce this law.

Well speed limits are mandatory in France and if you do not believe they enforce them you could be in for a shock. The French Police are to a certain extent like the UK ones in being politically driven. If the instruction comes down from the top to concentrate on breathalysers they would.

[creampuff]

rewc said:

Well speed limits are mandatory in France and if you do not believe they enforce them you could be in for a shock. The French Police are to a certain extent like the UK ones in being politically driven. If the instruction comes down from the top to concentrate on breathalysers they would.

So this is a bit like the spare light bulb law? Oh yes, I get truncheoned up the jacksy by the French police all the time in France for not having spare light bulbs.

French open road speed enforcement is a bit like UK open road speed enforcement: except for cameras, it generally does not happen unless the speeds are well in excess of the speed limit or there is dangerous or erratic driving involved.

[rewc]

creampuff said:

So this is a bit like the spare light bulb law? Oh yes, I get truncheoned up the jacksy by the French police all the time in France for not having spare light bulbs.

As I understand it there is no requirement in French Law to carry a spare light bulb kit, though it is recommended you carry spares of those you can change yourself. Fitting a headlamp bulb to a Renault Megane is apparently no longer a user task.

[LordFlathead]

Having recently returned from LeMans last month I can confirm the following:
You are required to have one unused breathalyser on your person. However, if you blow over, then I presume you will have to self test again which means you will then have to confirm you are fit to drive. Naturally you will require to be in possession of another one so all in all you will need at least 3

bks isn't it