French speed cameras on TomTom
Discussion
I understand that the French are now making it illegal to have a device which shows the location of fixed speed cameras, and if you update your tomtom with the latest software then all french speed cameras are removed, is this correct?
If it is correct how can you stop this? Do you just untick the france speed camera update box?
If it is correct how can you stop this? Do you just untick the france speed camera update box?
Inverness said:
I understand that the French are now making it illegal to have a device which shows the location of fixed speed cameras, and if you update your tomtom with the latest software then all french speed cameras are removed, is this correct?
If it is correct how can you stop this? Do you just untick the france speed camera update box?
When you connect to the computer through TomTom home the software informs you of the new law & says it will unload French speed cameras. You can tick/untick depending if you want to remove or not. The software also informs you that they are working on a 'dangerous places' update for France & that will be made available through TomTom home as soon as it's ready.If it is correct how can you stop this? Do you just untick the france speed camera update box?
If you are caught using an enabled camera detection device including Sat Nav's (In most cases you can delete this facilty) you can be fined. Penalty up to Euro 1,500 Euros. The French are also removing all speed camera warnings. Similar rules to apply in Germany, Switzerland and Ireland. Source: Caravan club Magazine March 2012.
RonVX said:
If you are caught using an enabled camera detection device including Sat Nav's (In most cases you can delete this facilty) you can be fined. Penalty up to Euro 1,500 Euros. The French are also removing all speed camera warnings. Similar rules to apply in Germany, Switzerland and Ireland. Source: Caravan club Magazine March 2012.
Does anyone yet know whether they routinely inspect satnavs to find out whether speed camera warnings have been removed? How easy is it to check (I know my way round a Tomtom pretty thoroughly, and I would not know how to)?What happens if you get flashed in France in a UK registered car? My supposition is that nothing happens (yet).
RonVX said:
If you are caught using an enabled camera detection device including Sat Nav's (In most cases you can delete this facilty) you can be fined. Penalty up to Euro 1,500 Euros. The French are also removing all speed camera warnings. Similar rules to apply in Germany, Switzerland and Ireland. Source: Caravan club Magazine March 2012.
Does this simply mean you can disable the 'safety' camerea location feature? Or do you have to have the data-base deleted form the device?OK after speaking with a few of my French friends on facebook they tell me that SatNavs showing the location of fixed and common mobile speed camera sites is perfectly legal, its no different to having a paper map and marking locations with a pen.........
[Edited because my initial post seems to contain wrong information].
Because ....
Because what is the definition of 'using speed camera warnings' as mentioned on both the TomTom and Garmin websites?
Does this mean the data can be on the satnav and not in use, or does it mean the data has to be deleted off the satnav?
[Edited because my initial post seems to contain wrong information].
Because ....
Garmin website said:
On 3 January 2012 the French government issued a new law that effectively bans all systems that are able to provide warnings of safety cameras (aka speed cameras). This law includes all sat nav based systems. With immediate effect it has become illegal for anyone travelling in France to have any speed camera warnings on any device across the entire territory of France.
So still not sure what the real situation is!Because what is the definition of 'using speed camera warnings' as mentioned on both the TomTom and Garmin websites?
Does this mean the data can be on the satnav and not in use, or does it mean the data has to be deleted off the satnav?
Edited by AJI on Tuesday 20th March 21:00
DIW35 said:
All my camera data for Switzeralnd (which has a similar rule) and from now on France, is kept on a SD card. If I get stopped in either of those countries, it's a simple matter of just pulling the SD card from the unit.
Good system 
I'm still waiting for my new satnav to arrive, will have to see if its possible to that on the GO 950 live.
I think tomtom have pulled France from their list of speed cameras.
I Believe they are reworking them so they show on tomtom as danger zones. and not speed cameras.
See here for tomtom:
http://uk.support.tomtom.com/app/answers/detail/a_...
h
I Believe they are reworking them so they show on tomtom as danger zones. and not speed cameras.
See here for tomtom:
http://uk.support.tomtom.com/app/answers/detail/a_...
h
I got stopped in Colmar last sunday by the customs police. I was on my own in the car which was pretty much empty and I had 4 customs guards rifling through my personal belongings (dirty clothes etc.) so was unable to see what was going on as I was only able to accompany the one that was searching the boot.
They found nothing of interest in my stuff then just before they were about to release me they spotted hubbies radar advisor on the dashboard. Like a pack of wolves going in for the kill from then on.
I was accompanied to the local cop shop and charged with possession of the aforementionned device - 750 euros on the spot fine plus a court appearance in June.
It took me 8 hours to raise tha cash as my daily card limit wasn't enough to cover it and at 8 am on a sunday morning I didn't have many options open. I spent this time outside the police station but within a fenced in area and my car was confiscated. It was pretty damn cold and wet and resulted time off sick this last week.
In the end I found a Swiss friend who was able to drive to Colmar and save me as I was 500 km from home in Belgium.
Disgusting treatment and disgusting system in this day and age - not even the possibility to pay directly online or in an alternative French police station closer to Belgium (my husband was home in Belgium with my 2 small kids and offered to go to the nearest border and pay immediately - nada).
I have absolutely no intention of returning on French territory ever again so was wondering if anyone can tell me what are my possible options and the risks I'm taking by not attending the Police Tribunal. They took a copy of my Italian driving license (used to live there before going to BE), car documents (is a leasecar through work in BE) and my UK passport.
I understand the max fine is 1500 euros, will I be charged additional costs for not turning up and what actions are they likely to take as a consequence?
Advice to any other motorists - don't risk it, they were total a.....holes and the treatment was close to that of a third world country - my brother offered to send amnesty international to get me out
They found nothing of interest in my stuff then just before they were about to release me they spotted hubbies radar advisor on the dashboard. Like a pack of wolves going in for the kill from then on.
I was accompanied to the local cop shop and charged with possession of the aforementionned device - 750 euros on the spot fine plus a court appearance in June.
It took me 8 hours to raise tha cash as my daily card limit wasn't enough to cover it and at 8 am on a sunday morning I didn't have many options open. I spent this time outside the police station but within a fenced in area and my car was confiscated. It was pretty damn cold and wet and resulted time off sick this last week.
In the end I found a Swiss friend who was able to drive to Colmar and save me as I was 500 km from home in Belgium.
Disgusting treatment and disgusting system in this day and age - not even the possibility to pay directly online or in an alternative French police station closer to Belgium (my husband was home in Belgium with my 2 small kids and offered to go to the nearest border and pay immediately - nada).
I have absolutely no intention of returning on French territory ever again so was wondering if anyone can tell me what are my possible options and the risks I'm taking by not attending the Police Tribunal. They took a copy of my Italian driving license (used to live there before going to BE), car documents (is a leasecar through work in BE) and my UK passport.
I understand the max fine is 1500 euros, will I be charged additional costs for not turning up and what actions are they likely to take as a consequence?
Advice to any other motorists - don't risk it, they were total a.....holes and the treatment was close to that of a third world country - my brother offered to send amnesty international to get me out
That does sound like disgusting behaviour by the french police (and their system) !
It may be worth getting some proper legal advice on your situation.
In the end though, in these days of minimal growth and spending, the french will be shooting themselves in the feet by turning their tourism industry in to dust.
I know if I am not felt welcome in any area on holiday then it would be struck off the list. (Even during the holiday - especially on the road trip type holidays that I do).
Also even just stories like this would make me think twice about future planning to go to certain areas. So in the end they are not helping themselves if they are looking to keep their local economies alive with the needed tourism they thrive on.
It may be worth getting some proper legal advice on your situation.
In the end though, in these days of minimal growth and spending, the french will be shooting themselves in the feet by turning their tourism industry in to dust.
I know if I am not felt welcome in any area on holiday then it would be struck off the list. (Even during the holiday - especially on the road trip type holidays that I do).
Also even just stories like this would make me think twice about future planning to go to certain areas. So in the end they are not helping themselves if they are looking to keep their local economies alive with the needed tourism they thrive on.
I already plan my routes to avoid France. I don't mind skiing there but will avoid as much as possible where I can. I already go via Belgium and Germany on my way to the Lakes and this sort of thing will keep me doing this.
The other reason is how surly the 'service staff' can be. If you don't want to serve drinks or food don't be a f
king waiter! :P
The other reason is how surly the 'service staff' can be. If you don't want to serve drinks or food don't be a f
king waiter! :P gkathryn said:
I got stopped in Colmar last sunday by the customs police. I was on my own in the car which was pretty much empty and I had 4 customs guards rifling through my personal belongings (dirty clothes etc.) so was unable to see what was going on as I was only able to accompany the one that was searching the boot.
They found nothing of interest in my stuff then just before they were about to release me they spotted hubbies radar advisor on the dashboard. Like a pack of wolves going in for the kill from then on.
I was accompanied to the local cop shop and charged with possession of the aforementionned device - 750 euros on the spot fine plus a court appearance in June.
It took me 8 hours to raise tha cash as my daily card limit wasn't enough to cover it and at 8 am on a sunday morning I didn't have many options open. I spent this time outside the police station but within a fenced in area and my car was confiscated. It was pretty damn cold and wet and resulted time off sick this last week.
In the end I found a Swiss friend who was able to drive to Colmar and save me as I was 500 km from home in Belgium.
Disgusting treatment and disgusting system in this day and age - not even the possibility to pay directly online or in an alternative French police station closer to Belgium (my husband was home in Belgium with my 2 small kids and offered to go to the nearest border and pay immediately - nada).
I have absolutely no intention of returning on French territory ever again so was wondering if anyone can tell me what are my possible options and the risks I'm taking by not attending the Police Tribunal. They took a copy of my Italian driving license (used to live there before going to BE), car documents (is a leasecar through work in BE) and my UK passport.
I understand the max fine is 1500 euros, will I be charged additional costs for not turning up and what actions are they likely to take as a consequence?
Advice to any other motorists - don't risk it, they were total a.....holes and the treatment was close to that of a third world country - my brother offered to send amnesty international to get me out
I am not suprised at this treatment but my sympathies Kathryn at your experience.They found nothing of interest in my stuff then just before they were about to release me they spotted hubbies radar advisor on the dashboard. Like a pack of wolves going in for the kill from then on.
I was accompanied to the local cop shop and charged with possession of the aforementionned device - 750 euros on the spot fine plus a court appearance in June.
It took me 8 hours to raise tha cash as my daily card limit wasn't enough to cover it and at 8 am on a sunday morning I didn't have many options open. I spent this time outside the police station but within a fenced in area and my car was confiscated. It was pretty damn cold and wet and resulted time off sick this last week.
In the end I found a Swiss friend who was able to drive to Colmar and save me as I was 500 km from home in Belgium.
Disgusting treatment and disgusting system in this day and age - not even the possibility to pay directly online or in an alternative French police station closer to Belgium (my husband was home in Belgium with my 2 small kids and offered to go to the nearest border and pay immediately - nada).
I have absolutely no intention of returning on French territory ever again so was wondering if anyone can tell me what are my possible options and the risks I'm taking by not attending the Police Tribunal. They took a copy of my Italian driving license (used to live there before going to BE), car documents (is a leasecar through work in BE) and my UK passport.
I understand the max fine is 1500 euros, will I be charged additional costs for not turning up and what actions are they likely to take as a consequence?
Advice to any other motorists - don't risk it, they were total a.....holes and the treatment was close to that of a third world country - my brother offered to send amnesty international to get me out
To re-iterate though, getting flashed at by a FIXED CAMERA is not a problem, there is no cross border prosecution. Being caught by the police hand held devices is and having a camera or laser detector of any sort on board is taken very seriously. Don't take radar detectors full stop. Sat Navs with camera locations are fine though. The Michelin map of France has camera sites marked on it so a likewise equipped sat nav is OK but personally I'd disable it as its no threat anyway.
Keep plenty of cash in the car , at least 100 euros, and do not travel at more than 50kph above the limit where penalties are draconian in the extreme.
I understand that if you don't attend they will pass sentence on you anyway.Usually they just process the original fine in France so there is no reason to think they'll try and get you to pay more anyway. Getting your passport and docs back may be harder if you don't attend though.
Diamond blue said:
To re-iterate though, getting flashed at by a FIXED CAMERA is not a problem, there is no cross border prosecution.
I have read other stories on Pistonheads regarding Italian police pursuing the driver in the UK.Are you sure the French don't do it?
Diamond blue said:
Don't take radar detectors full stop. Sat Navs with camera locations are fine though.
Radar detectors are illegal and I think this is what she got caught with. But still, no excuse for that sort of treatment from the police, which are supposed to be there as a public service and not as judge and executioner.But also now SatNavs with speed camera locations stored on it are illegal in France. Although as you say you can still buy them on paper maps. But I think I read somewhere that the French government will also be making it illegal for paper maps to be sold with camera locations on it.
(So keep hold of your old ones if you have them).
AJI said:
Diamond blue said:
To re-iterate though, getting flashed at by a FIXED CAMERA is not a problem, there is no cross border prosecution.
I have read other stories on Pistonheads regarding Italian police pursuing the driver in the UK.Are you sure the French don't do it?
Diamond blue said:
Don't take radar detectors full stop. Sat Navs with camera locations are fine though.
Radar detectors are illegal and I think this is what she got caught with. But still, no excuse for that sort of treatment from the police, which are supposed to be there as a public service and not as judge and executioner.But also now SatNavs with speed camera locations stored on it are illegal in France. Although as you say you can still buy them on paper maps. But I think I read somewhere that the French government will also be making it illegal for paper maps to be sold with camera locations on it.
(So keep hold of your old ones if you have them).
As far as location on your sat nav then I would definitely disable that function. I don't honestly think you would have an issue but as its not serving any useful purpose in France then why take the risk?
I drove down to Switzerland, through France last week. At the Peage, a long way from the border, there were customs [Douane] officers checking Sat Navs. We saw them from ahead and removed the Satnav from the windscreen, and we were waved through. A Dutch car with Satnav was pulled aside. I do not know the result.
Bob Db
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