Caught speeding in Dunkerque, license taken away....

[dannyDC2]

Afternoon all,

I come to you with another problem!

Driving home from Germany yesterday I got a bit lost in Dunkerque trying to find the car ferry. I ended up in the commercial bit where I shouldn't have been and was running late to catch the 4 o'clock sailing.

I was driving down an empty road in the middle of nowhere at speed when two police officers walked into the road, one of which was pointing his gun in my direction. The other was signalling me to pull over.

Long story short the road was a 50kmh limit, I was doing 147kmh on his radar gun. Why the road was a 50kmh limit I do not know, must be simply to make money from silly s like me who want to stay at the Nurburgring for an extra hour and end up rushing to the ferry. No civilians would be anywhere near, the road was as wide as a bypass in England. Had I known it was a 50 I probably wouldn't have been doing 3 times that.

Anyway they've took my license off me and banned me from driving in France. Luckily I managed to get in touch with my mates who were waiting for me at the port (so lucky that they didn't board), so one of them was allowed to drive my DC2 back to the port for me. I was escorted to a cash machine to give them 750 euros for the speeding offence. I was told my license would be sent to the embassy and then sent back into England but I wasn't entirely sure what that translates to.

What I'd like to know is if anyone has had a similar experience before, and if so, is it possible that my UK driving license is in danger?

[Hi]

This happened to a friend I was travelling with back in 2009 (so things might have changed since then) but they banned him for a month in France and kept his photocard licence. They said after a month they would post it back to him but it never turned up so he just asked for a replacement from the DVLA saying he had lost his.

[anonymous-user]

Anyone who cannot spell licence deserves a driving ban, a 750 Euro fine, and to be shot, so boo to les Flics for only completing two out of three.

[dannyDC2]

Breadvan72 said:

Anyone who cannot spell licence deserves a driving ban, a 750 Euro fine, and to be shot, so boo to les Flics for only completing two out of three.

Lisense

[dannyDC2]

Hi said:

This happened to a friend I was travelling with back in 2009 (so things might have changed since then) but they banned him for a month in France and kept his photocard licence. They said after a month they would post it back to him but it never turned up so he just asked for a replacement from the DVLA saying he had lost his.

I haven't been given a time with regard to how long the ban is. I wont be going back for a while anyway.

[anonymous-user]

dannyDC2 said:

... I wont be going back for a while anyway.

Good job, too; La Patrouille de Ponctuation are medieval in their severity.

[anonymous-user]

90mph in a 30mph zone? Ooof!

[dannyDC2]

Breadvan72 said:

Good job, too; La Patrouille de Ponctuation are medieval in their severity.

I don't understand what you are saying Mr fancy pants.

[dannyDC2]

charltjr said:

90mph in a 30mph zone? Ooof!

When you say it like that it sounds terrible doesn't it. If it was down the high street or in the suburbs I would understand their presence, but they were just there to make money.

[anonymous-user]

One thing I seen from a few posts on here and this, is you need to slow down and take a look at your driving. 91 Mph in a 30 Mph is pretty stupid whatever your excuse and I am sure in the UK you would be looking at getting banned.

(2015/413/EU) was opted out by the UK, so you should be able to apply to the DVLA and get a new one, but probably leave driving in France for a while.

[dannyDC2]

The Spruce goose said:

One thing I seen from a few posts on here and this, is you need to slow down and take a look at your driving. 91 Mph in a 30 Mph is pretty stupid whatever your excuse and I am sure in the UK you would be looking at getting banned.

In the UK a deserted bypass between a port and a main road wouldn't be a 30mph limit it would be a NSL. Never done 90 down a bypass before? Arse.

[matrignano]

I still don't get how they can confiscate an official document issued by a foreign country?
How can it be under their jurisdiction???

[Stickyfinger]

dannyDC2 said:

When you say it like that it sounds terrible doesn't it. If it was down the high street or in the suburbs I would understand their presence, but they were just there to make money.

You will not get it back....just apply for a replacement one as "lost"
90mph is not really allowed anywhere in France (or for that matter in the world ?)if not on a Dual/Motorway is it ?

Making money ?, nope don't think so....justified. In the UK you may well of revived more that a fine and a little inconvenience/insurance impact. Maybe be a little more observant and a little less daft in future ?

I would stop moaning about it and take in maturely.

[anonymous-user]

dannyDC2 said:

In the UK a deserted bypass between a port and a main road wouldn't be a 30mph limit it would be a NSL. Never done 90 down a bypass before? Arse.

Funny enough never had a speeding ticket and never driven 90 in a 30 whatever poor excuse you come in with, running late but enough time to be stopped get money and make the ferry.
You are just deluding yourself, and I think this lesson is your wake up call, but only you can make the change and it makes F-all difference to me.

[RVVUNM]

They will send it to you when the ban expires. I was banned for three days a few years back on my way back from Le Mans and my licence was sent back after two weeks.

[anonymous-user]

dannyDC2 said:

Breadvan72 said:

Good job, too; La Patrouille de Ponctuation are medieval in their severity.

I don't understand what you are saying Mr fancy pants.

Punctuation Police gonna get ya, that's what.

[HantsRat]

dannyDC2 said:

When you say it like that it sounds terrible doesn't it. If it was down the high street or in the suburbs I would understand their presence, but they were just there to make money.

Or they were there because people constantly speed through the 50km limit?

[randlemarcus]

dannyDC2 said:

The Spruce goose said:

One thing I seen from a few posts on here and this, is you need to slow down and take a look at your driving. 91 Mph in a 30 Mph is pretty stupid whatever your excuse and I am sure in the UK you would be looking at getting banned.

In the UK a deserted bypass between a port and a main road wouldn't be a 30mph limit it would be a NSL. Never done 90 down a bypass before? Arse.

Actually, there's precisely one of those between the North Sea Ferries terminal in Hull, and the A63. Lit dual carriageway, with fencing, and a 30 mph limit.

Still, aside from being poorer, your UK licence is unaffected. You might get more letters with a demand for more fines, as the 750 is a deposit against the eventual court fine, but normally the fine is exactly what the police got from you in cash.

Lesson for you is perhaps look more closely at your time management when messing about on the Ring.

[HantsRat]

Post a streetview link of the road.

[anonymous-user]

matrignano said:

I still don't get how they can confiscate an official document issued by a foreign country?
How can it be under their jurisdiction???

"He's Batman, he can sit where he likes."

Their gaff, their rules. French criminal law and procedure prevail over anything to the contrary from another country. Are you suggesting that British police could not seize documents held by a foreign national suspected of involvement in some shenanigans within the UK?