Some advice on speeding in France....
Discussion
Just a few tips based on my experience, as I have a house in France so regularly drive through france (and get caught).
1. If you see a sign warning for speed cameras
DO slow down, there will be one comming up soon.
2. Motorways are the ONLY place you can go 130KM/H.
3. Dual carriage ways are 90km/h unless otherwise stated (I know to my cost).
4. In my opinion do not go over 160km/h (100mph) on the motorway. If you do you can be fined £500 on the spot fine, banned from driving in france for a few months, have your licensce taken away and even have your car impounded. I speak from experience.
5. Always carry some euros,, for speeding fines.
6. Do have on/in your car the following: Light deflectors, yellow luminus warning jacket. (I have never had any trouble for not having a GB sticker).
7. ABSOLUTE MUST: DO take photocopies of your insurance, Vehicle registration docs, MOT etc. YOU WILL NEED THIS. Possibly at customs, but deffinatley if you get pulled over.
8. You can get fined in France if you 'hog' the outside motorway lane when the middle lane is free.
9. Be very, very, very nice to the police if you get pulled over. I have been let off on three occasions this way.
10. Do not take any form of speed detection device with you.
11. Enjoy! See you all at Le Mans.
1. If you see a sign warning for speed cameras
DO slow down, there will be one comming up soon.
2. Motorways are the ONLY place you can go 130KM/H.
3. Dual carriage ways are 90km/h unless otherwise stated (I know to my cost).
4. In my opinion do not go over 160km/h (100mph) on the motorway. If you do you can be fined £500 on the spot fine, banned from driving in france for a few months, have your licensce taken away and even have your car impounded. I speak from experience.
5. Always carry some euros,, for speeding fines.
6. Do have on/in your car the following: Light deflectors, yellow luminus warning jacket. (I have never had any trouble for not having a GB sticker).
7. ABSOLUTE MUST: DO take photocopies of your insurance, Vehicle registration docs, MOT etc. YOU WILL NEED THIS. Possibly at customs, but deffinatley if you get pulled over.
8. You can get fined in France if you 'hog' the outside motorway lane when the middle lane is free.
9. Be very, very, very nice to the police if you get pulled over. I have been let off on three occasions this way.
10. Do not take any form of speed detection device with you.
11. Enjoy! See you all at Le Mans.
[quote=david500]
4. In my opinion do not go over 160km/h (100mph) on the motorway. If you do you can be fined £500 on the spot fine, banned from driving in france for a few months, have your licensce taken away and even have your car impounded. I speak from experience.
5. Always carry some euros,, for speeding fines.
9. Be very, very, very nice to the police if you get pulled over. I have been let off on three occasions this way.
quote]
In France I have been caught at 179 KPH and 195 KPH (in the rain!) - first time - quite jovial ticking off and - I was very nice, but had no money so followed Gendarme to the nearest cash point, paid €90 and went on my way...second time 195 in the rain - was rather different, very nearly had car impounded, fellow was quite happy to make me walk the final 50 miles or so to Calais - I learned that they take the lower speed limit in the rain (110 KPH) very seriously - I was very, very apologetic let him blow off steam, spoke in French, rather than English, and we eventually settled on the €90 fine and promises of never speeding in France again...I then also had to explain that I had no cash - and the poor grumpy fellow led me to a cash point so I could pay.
My TIP - carry at least €90 euros in cash, learn to say "Je suis désolée" with conviction...and watch your speed in the rain.
4. In my opinion do not go over 160km/h (100mph) on the motorway. If you do you can be fined £500 on the spot fine, banned from driving in france for a few months, have your licensce taken away and even have your car impounded. I speak from experience.
5. Always carry some euros,, for speeding fines.
9. Be very, very, very nice to the police if you get pulled over. I have been let off on three occasions this way.
quote]
In France I have been caught at 179 KPH and 195 KPH (in the rain!) - first time - quite jovial ticking off and - I was very nice, but had no money so followed Gendarme to the nearest cash point, paid €90 and went on my way...second time 195 in the rain - was rather different, very nearly had car impounded, fellow was quite happy to make me walk the final 50 miles or so to Calais - I learned that they take the lower speed limit in the rain (110 KPH) very seriously - I was very, very apologetic let him blow off steam, spoke in French, rather than English, and we eventually settled on the €90 fine and promises of never speeding in France again...I then also had to explain that I had no cash - and the poor grumpy fellow led me to a cash point so I could pay.
My TIP - carry at least €90 euros in cash, learn to say "Je suis désolée" with conviction...and watch your speed in the rain.
I was recently caught speeding at 225km/ph in Limoges, France. My licence was taken off me and my car impounded. I have to go to court in Limoges in October. Has anyone had the same thing happen to them, should I take legal representation with me. What are the chances of me getting my car back and how much will it cost me? I have spent hours on the phone and the net but cannot find any one who can advise me, can you - please?
RickinFrance said:
I was recently caught speeding at 225km/ph in Limoges, France. My licence was taken off me and my car impounded. I have to go to court in Limoges in October. Has anyone had the same thing happen to them, should I take legal representation with me. What are the chances of me getting my car back and how much will it cost me? I have spent hours on the phone and the net but cannot find any one who can advise me, can you - please?
Blimey, that's a bit harsh! Normally they'd just give you a damn big fine (like 700€
and take your licence away on the spot, allowing a passenger (hope you had one) to subsequently drive the car. Your licence would then be sent back to you in the UK and they'd do a mickey mouse court hearing in your absence and agree that 700€ was appropriate and stop there. Where were you doing 225 kph to piss them off so much? If it was open, uncrowded motorway then I'd say you're being hung out to dry. The only UK car impoundments that I've heard of for speeding in France were the 2 cannonballers who were basically done for dangerous driving (mise en danger d'autrui), supposedly because they were racing. If they've really impounded your car for a poxy 140 mph then they're really stepping up their war on speeding (while the drunks drive slowly from place to place).
If you're stopped in France for doing more than 50kph over the limit (ie. more than 180kph on the motorways), they take it very seriously. Maximum is €1500 on the spot fine, 3 year ban, and car impounded if there's not a secondary driver available. See line 3 in the chart below:
www.automobile-sportive.com/technique/permis/tableau-contraventions-mars2004.pdf
www.automobile-sportive.com/technique/permis/tableau-contraventions-mars2004.pdf
nel said:
and they'd do a mickey mouse court hearing in your absence and agree that 700€ was appropriate and stop there.
Sorry Nel, I don't agree. From what I've heard, English courts are often successful in reducing the length of a proposed French ban (eg. 6 months to 3 months) but I'm not aware of a case where they've negated it completely.
LotusNova said:
nel said:
and they'd do a mickey mouse court hearing in your absence and agree that 700€ was appropriate and stop there.
Sorry Nel, I don't agree. From what I've heard, English courts are often successful in reducing the length of a proposed French ban (eg. 6 months to 3 months) but I'm not aware of a case where they've negated it completely.
Hi LN - that's not what I meant. The french subsequently run the offence and the on the spot fine paid before a french court and adjudge its fairness, almost invariably finding that the sum was correct I understand. I have read of one case (here on PH) where the poster said that the french court decided that he had been fined too much and he got some wonga back from the frogs, but am still finding that hard to credit. Maybe he was driving a fast panzer when caught and they were frightened that he'd come back in occupation mode?
As far as I know English courts have no power whatsoever relating to a ban in France, and vice versa. Long may Europe remain divided - when they succeed in ganging up on the motorist it'll be shite.
LotusNova said:
W.r.t. remaining divided, my understanding is this will end next year...
To a certain extent they already collaborate across european borders in giving driver details, but this is only for the purposes of fines. A harmonised, european-wide points system is still a long way off, given that some countries don't yet use points or totting up systems, e.g. Belgium. So I believe it will be a while before you can lose your licence to drive in England because of a speeding offences committed while on holiday in Greece for example.
I might add that the corruptability and nationalism of the different european police forces is very variable and an EC-wide points system would open the floodgates to racketing and blackmail. But then some might accuse me of being too cynical!
I was also caught recently on the way to the Le Mans Classic (in my case doing 214km). I was fined 750 Euro on the spot and detained for about 4 hours of paperwork and I too have to go to court in November. My car was not detained and I was allowed to go on my way. I am also looking to understand what could happen if I go to court? And I can't find anything helpful on the net? Did you find anything helpful?
Maximum is 3 year ban, although the norm seems to be between 3 & 6 months. Line 3 in class 5 below:
www.automobile-sportive.com/technique/permis/tableau-contraventions-mars2004.pdf
www.automobile-sportive.com/technique/permis/tableau-contraventions-mars2004.pdf
t30mcm said:
I was also caught recently on the way to the Le Mans Classic (in my case doing 214km). I was fined 750 Euro on the spot and detained for about 4 hours of paperwork and I too have to go to court in November. My car was not detained and I was allowed to go on my way. I am also looking to understand what could happen if I go to court? And I can't find anything helpful on the net? Did you find anything helpful?
There will be nothing they can do if you do go to court. I got done for similar speed and same fine. Got my licence back a week later. All I can say is
the gendarmes! Its a completely biased view, and probably unfair on the whole of them, but they have £500 of my money, so they can all go and bollox.LotusNova said:
Maximum is 3 year ban, although the norm seems to be between 3 & 6 months. Line 3 in class 5 below:
www.automobile-sportive.com/technique/permis/tableau-contraventions-mars2004.pdf
www.automobile-sportive.com/technique/permis/tableau-contraventions-mars2004.pdf
You need the 2006 listing:
www.securiteroutiere.equipement.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/sric3_tableau_contraventions_et_sanctions_2006_03_20.pdf
However, be aware of the following too:
En vertu des dispositions de l’article R.413-14-1 du code de la route, le dépassement de la vitesse maximale autorisée de 50 km/h ou plus entraîne le retrait de six points et est puni de l’amende prévue pour les contravention de cinquième classe. Toute personne coupable de cette infraction encourt également les peines complémentaires suivantes :
la suspension, pour une durée de trois ans au plus, du permis de conduire, cette suspension ne pouvant pas être limitée à la conduite en dehors de l'activité professionnelle, ni assortie du sursis, même partiellement ;
l’interdiction de conduire certains véhicules terrestres à moteur, y compris ceux pour la conduite desquels le permis de conduire n'est pas exigé, pour une durée de trois ans au plus ;
l'obligation d'accomplir, à ses frais, un stage de sensibilisation à la sécurité routière ;
la confiscation du véhicule dont le prévenu s'est servi pour commettre l'infraction, s'il en est propriétaire, en cas de dépassement de la vitesse autorisée de 50km/h ou plus.
So 50kph+ over, in your own car and they will seize it.
For your further info, regarding radar detectors:
Par ailleurs, leur détention, utilisation ou transport est réprimée par l’article R.413-15 du code de la route. Cette infraction entraîne le retrait de deux points sur le permis de conduire et est punie de l'amende prévue pour les contraventions de la cinquième classe.
La personne coupable de cette infraction encourt également la peine complémentaire de suspension, pour une durée de trois ans au plus, du permis de conduire (cette suspension pouvant être limitée à la conduite en dehors de l'activité professionnelle) et la confiscation du véhicule, lorsque le dispositif qui a servi (ou était destiné à commettre l'infraction est placé, adapté ou appliqué sur un véhicule.
La saisie du dispositif est obligatoire.
Again; radar detector installed in car = car confiscated.
Le TVR said:
You need the 2006 listing:
www.securiteroutiere.equipement.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/sric3_tableau_contraventions_et_sanctions_2006_03_20.pdf
www.securiteroutiere.equipement.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/sric3_tableau_contraventions_et_sanctions_2006_03_20.pdf
Merci
>>>10. Do not take any form of speed detection device with you.
GPS devices ARE LEGAL!!!!
Even openly sold in your local Super U, Carefour etc etc.
I used my RoadPilot MicroGo in June while on holiday and attending a certain 24hr race.
Worked fine, even added a few more cameras to their database for them, should reduce my subscription
Just don't take radar detectors, you will get shot
GPS devices ARE LEGAL!!!!
Even openly sold in your local Super U, Carefour etc etc.
I used my RoadPilot MicroGo in June while on holiday and attending a certain 24hr race.
Worked fine, even added a few more cameras to their database for them, should reduce my subscription
Just don't take radar detectors, you will get shot
We visited Le Mans this last weekend.
One never knows who is reading this so i'll just say we covered the rouen to boulogne section at an average speed of between 149 and 151 mph.
Sitting on the boulogne toll (on the southbound side) is a police station. Aprox 100 metres beyond (northbound) is the viaduct, which we may now confirm, has a timing beam at each end plus a camera.
The Gendarmerie were not too pleased as it took ten miles + for them to catch us.
Fortunately only two of the four cars were "clobbered"
Please beware next year.
d
One never knows who is reading this so i'll just say we covered the rouen to boulogne section at an average speed of between 149 and 151 mph.
Sitting on the boulogne toll (on the southbound side) is a police station. Aprox 100 metres beyond (northbound) is the viaduct, which we may now confirm, has a timing beam at each end plus a camera.
The Gendarmerie were not too pleased as it took ten miles + for them to catch us.
Fortunately only two of the four cars were "clobbered"
Please beware next year.
d 
david500 said:
In my opinion do not go over 160km/h (100mph) on the motorway. Enjoy! See you all at Le Mans.
This does now seem to be the 'limit' for Motorway crusing.
Stayed at around this figure when on motorway with no bother for this years' LM trip, even went through a speed trap with no stop & payout .....
Nothing like a few years ago when 2 miles-a-minute convoys were quite normal....oh er only apparently , so I've been told....ahem !
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