Biking in France to become a pain ?

[sprinter1050]

I know there's been lots of comments about going orf to Frogland for a trip or passing through but all this lot seems a bit much.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorbikes/942...

[muon]

Being a bit of an ignorant as some on here will testify, I went on a last minute trip into Paris a couple of weeks back – I thought fk it, just going for a night, won’t bother with anything… then a work colleague said his cousin got stopped last month in Northern France and was fined over 400 Euros for not having a breathaliser kit in car! First I’d heard of that.

However, it is a pretty good idea. I bought a pack of 2 from Halfords for about £6 IIRC. I did some heavy drinking in Paris and got up early the next morning to come home. I thought I’d test one of them out and I was under the limit, so I drove. If I tested ON the limit or over, I’d have hung around for a few hours before driving.

[podman]

The Hi Viz is relatively new, as for the rest of it, much the same as it has been for years, no one ive ever travelled with dicks around with GB stickers n bulbs.

As for the drink drive rules, seems fair enough to me.

All have been discussed many times in here.

I see more speed cameras/traps in my drive around Warwickshire than I ever do on a 3,000 mile euro trip...certainly compare something like the Cat n Fiddle to the Alps, its no contest on every level.

I think Mr Ash was stuck for something to write on this occasion...

[CAPP0]

I don't think anything in that article is new, except the reflective clothing bit, and ISTR that's under re-consideration anyway?

The "gendarmes trapping bikers" is not really new either. And I have some doubt over the €400 breathalyser fine? Seems excessive? Is the breathalyser law now in effect? They did postpone it - when we went over last summer we couldn't buy kits anywhere and the locals told us it wasn't law "yet".

Overall, France is still a lovely, relaxed, uncrowded place to ride!

[RumpleFugly]

The majority of the things mentioned in that article have been in place for years. Of the two newer things, yes, you'll need to carry breathalysers, as muon said they are cheap. But the reflective patch/clothing has been dropped due to protest so no need to worry about that.

http://ukfrancebikers.com/2012/12/02/france-compul...

The rest, bulbs, documents,etc has been that way for some time.

[Deva Link]

muon said:

Being a bit of an ignorant as some on here will testify, I went on a last minute trip into Paris a couple of weeks back – I thought fk it, just going for a night, won’t bother with anything… then a work colleague said his cousin got stopped last month in Northern France and was fined over 400 Euros for not having a breathaliser kit in car! First I’d heard of that.

Hmmm....they've never enforced the breathaliser thing and they've recently decided to drop the idea altogether.

[Pothole]

For goodness' sake do some research before panicking! The hi-viz regs have been canned. The article was written in July last year.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults...

The rest of it appears, as stated above. to be no change apart from the breathalysers.

[Pothole]

Deva Link said:

muon said:

Being a bit of an ignorant as some on here will testify, I went on a last minute trip into Paris a couple of weeks back – I thought fk it, just going for a night, won’t bother with anything… then a work colleague said his cousin got stopped last month in Northern France and was fined over 400 Euros for not having a breathaliser kit in car! First I’d heard of that.

Hmmm....they've never enforced the breathaliser thing and they've recently decided to drop the idea altogether.

Have you got a link for the dropping of it? All I can find is that fines are not being levied until March

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/96254...

And RAC website still advises need to carry them.

[RumpleFugly]

Correct, required to still carry the breathalysers, just can't get fined for not having them until March.

[Deva Link]

Pothole said:

Have you got a link for the dropping of it? All I can find is that fines are not being levied until March

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/96254...

Strictly you're right - but the delay is while they rethink whether it's worthwhile or not, and the general consensus seems to be that it won't happen.

The proposed penalty is only €11 anyway.

[Pothole]

Deva Link said:

Pothole said:

Have you got a link for the dropping of it? All I can find is that fines are not being levied until March

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/96254...

Strictly you're right - but the delay is while they rethink whether it's worthwhile or not, and the general consensus seems to be that it won't happen.

The proposed penalty is only €11 anyway.

Ah, OK.

[Mr Snap]

RumpleFugly said:

The majority of the things mentioned in that article have been in place for years. Of the two newer things, yes, you'll need to carry breathalysers, as muon said they are cheap. But the reflective patch/clothing has been dropped due to protest so no need to worry about that.

The rest, bulbs, documents,etc has been that way for some time.

Similarly, they may be coming down hard on filtering on the Peripherique but, seeing as that makes the M25 at rush hour on Friday look like a deserted country lane, for an English driver/rider, it's no big deal; you probably would want to be filtering like a native.
Have you seen how the average French motard 'filters'? I was around Marseilles last week and, believe me, filtering is alive and well; from powerfully built company directors on MV Augustas to teenage girls carrying pillions on scooters, they were filtering around anything that moved in ways that would put most of us Brits to shame. I could barely watch.

[J B L]

I think the correct status about the breathalyzer is that it's under review therefore suspended at the moment

http://www.lepoint.fr/auto-addict/securite/ethylot...

All the points in the Telegraph's article aren't valid either. The reflective band is in the same status as the breathalyzer and more likely to be dropped altogether.

Just noticed the article's from July... a lot has happened since and the French bikers have been demonstrating quite vehemently... as they do.

Now where's Hooli when you need him?

[muon]

So how comes he was fined such a large sum for not carrying one? Doesn't seem the kinda guy who'd make something like that up.

Also, anyone know about being flashed by a camera on the French motorways? The cameras are hidden pretty well in the central reservation, it was late night and I was maybe going a bit quick to get somewhere and it went off...

Will they try to charge you even with UK plates or will they just not bother?

Anyone any experience?

[Pothole]

muon said:

So how comes he was fined such a large sum for not carrying one? Doesn't seem the kinda guy who'd make something like that up.

Also, anyone know about being flashed by a camera on the French motorways? The cameras are hidden pretty well in the central reservation, it was late night and I was maybe going a bit quick to get somewhere and it went off...

Will they try to charge you even with UK plates or will they just not bother?

Anyone any experience?

Was he fined in cash on the spot?

[CAPP0]

Currently* there are no EU countries where they can or will obtain your UK credentials in order to fine you for a fixed camera offence. Only variation to this is if you're in a hire vehicle, when the hire company will receive the NIP and WILL forward it to you as the driver.


*It's regularly reported as "it's going to change" but personally I haven't seen anything to that effect yet.

[J B L]

muon said:

So how comes he was fined such a large sum for not carrying one? Doesn't seem the kinda guy who'd make something like that up.

Also, anyone know about being flashed by a camera on the French motorways? The cameras are hidden pretty well in the central reservation, it was late night and I was maybe going a bit quick to get somewhere and it went off...

Will they try to charge you even with UK plates or will they just not bother?

Anyone any experience?

http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2012/10/08/97001-20121008FILWWW00626-ethylotests-les-sanctions-reportees-au-1er-mars.php

It says in there: no fines before 01/03 and just 11 euros.

I reckon your mate got done over because even if he'd got caught for excessive speeding, the result would have been an impounded vehicle and judgementa at that sort of level.
He must have some sort of paper. If he hasn't then......

As for speed traps, it seems to depend on the speed and if they can be bothered to find you.

[LiamB]

Good.

I hate France.

[J B L]

Why?

[LiamB]

Got my phone stolen there on a school trip ages ago.

bds. The lot of 'em.