Speeding in France - Points on UK License?

Speeding in France - Points on UK License?

Author
Discussion

jakesmith

9,461 posts

172 months

Saturday 20th April 2019
quotequote all
I just got one through from France in November

Subsequent to that trip we have changed the number plate on the car by happy coincidence

Thoughts on likelihood that there would be any consequences to ignoring it if we revisit France. Pretty low surely

I’m not so much bothered about paying 45 euros but think I got flashed a few times and don’t want to open the floodgates


Carlson W6

857 posts

125 months

Saturday 20th April 2019
quotequote all
Use Waze in France. It works superbly. The French spot and report all the radar wielding gendarmes that the British always miss.

NDA

21,677 posts

226 months

Saturday 20th April 2019
quotequote all
Carlson W6 said:
Use Waze in France. It works superbly. The French spot and report all the radar wielding gendarmes that the British always miss.
I wonder how Waze sits with the gendarme's hatred of speed camera detectors?

I've had my car searched by gendarmes when they 'thought' they saw a detector clipped on my sun visor. They didn't realise that I spoke French reasonably well and were arguing between them that they didn't have the right to search the car - but did it anyway.

Fortunately they did not point a radar at my girlfriends pants, they would have started bleeping.

Carlson W6

857 posts

125 months

Saturday 20th April 2019
quotequote all
So difficult to catch you using Waze. They know that. They’d be fighting a losing battle, and the French only like battles they know they can win ;-)

bad company

18,730 posts

267 months

Saturday 20th April 2019
quotequote all
Carlson W6 said:
So difficult to catch you using Waze. They know that. They’d be fighting a losing battle, and the French only like battles they know they can win ;-)
Is Wade illegal in France?

jakesmith

9,461 posts

172 months

Saturday 20th April 2019
quotequote all
bad company said:
Is Wade illegal in France?
Ru joining in on this now?

jakesmith

9,461 posts

172 months

Saturday 20th April 2019
quotequote all
Sorry to bump this slightly slow thread
I got a ticket through from November
Since the trip we have put a new plate on the car
Might be going back to France at some point but like I say car has a new reg
WOuld you pay it or chance it?

bad company

18,730 posts

267 months

Saturday 20th April 2019
quotequote all
jakesmith said:
bad company said:
Is Wade illegal in France?
Ru joining in on this now?
I haven’t the first clue what you’re on about there. I made a typo and meant WAZE.

jakesmith

9,461 posts

172 months

Saturday 20th April 2019
quotequote all
bad company said:
I haven’t the first clue what you’re on about there. I made a typo and meant WAZE.
It was a joke. Wading in. Never mind!
Now... should I ignore my French speeding fine that just came through as I have chanegd the car's registration subsequent to the offence? smile

bad company

18,730 posts

267 months

Saturday 20th April 2019
quotequote all
jakesmith said:
It was a joke. Wading in. Never mind!
Now... should I ignore my French speeding fine that just came through as I have chanegd the car's registration subsequent to the offence? smile
Ah OK. That was a bit subtle for me.

NDA

21,677 posts

226 months

Sunday 21st April 2019
quotequote all
Carlson W6 said:
So difficult to catch you using Waze. They know that. They’d be fighting a losing battle, and the French only like battles they know they can win ;-)
https://www.thelocal.fr/20181119/france-to-stop-drivers-from-revealing-locations-of-police-checks-on-gps-apps


"According to the draft text submitted to France's Council of State for opinion the companies operating the software apps would be required to hide information relating to police checks for between around three and 24 hours.

If the operator did not comply, those behind the application would face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to €30,000."

jakesmith

9,461 posts

172 months

Sunday 21st April 2019
quotequote all
NDA said:
https://www.thelocal.fr/20181119/france-to-stop-dr...


"According to the draft text submitted to France's Council of State for opinion the companies operating the software apps would be required to hide information relating to police checks for between around three and 24 hours.

If the operator did not comply, those behind the application would face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to €30,000."
Bunch o’ cuns
Really shows that it’s all about revenue and not safety

Carlson W6

857 posts

125 months

Sunday 21st April 2019
quotequote all
Yeah yeah yeah. I’ve just done Val D’isere to Richmond in 11hrs Door to Door with Waze helping me make the quickest time for years. Every single camera and hidden gendarme was revealed. That’s the reality. The gendarmes can’t put you in prison for having an app on your phone. It’s all posturing and optics.

jakesmith

9,461 posts

172 months

Sunday 21st April 2019
quotequote all
Carlson W6 said:
Yeah yeah yeah. I’ve just done Val D’isere to Richmond in 11hrs Door to Door with Waze helping me make the quickest time for years. Every single camera and hidden gendarme was revealed. That’s the reality. The gendarmes can’t put you in prison for having an app on your phone. It’s all posturing and optics.
Incredible time up to Yorkshire! Jokes
Anyway hypothetically, if you had been caught and got a letter through with a 45 Euro fine, and were planning on revisiting France but only after putting a new number plate on your car (just circumstantially). would you pay the fine or not?

CAN ANYONE ADVISE ON THIS?

Carlson W6

857 posts

125 months

Sunday 21st April 2019
quotequote all
Yes I would.

I always try to use “risk vs reward” logic and 45 euros isn’t a lot of money to know you’re in the clear if a switched on gendarme with a computer stops you in the future.

In the past when France was less organised and I was young and stupid I’ve ignored parking tickets but I wouldn’t take the risk nowadays, especially for 45 euros.

Do I think they’d catch you ignoring the ticket? No.

Would I take the risk? No.

WyrleyD

1,926 posts

149 months

Monday 22nd April 2019
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The Gendarmes certainly do know about previous speeding offences. I was stopped in a "document check" by the Gendarmes recently and they asked why I had not yet changed my UK driving license for a French license as I had three speed tickets in the last 6 months (all very minor and one just 1 km/h over the limit) so they are connected somehow and it wasn't through the car number as the "offences" were in a different car so it must be through name and address on the license. With a UK registered car I imagine it will be through the name and address of the keeper so it would only be relevant if stopped and not by being flashed by a camera. I haven't changed my license as there is no point as we will be returning to the UK before August.

NDA

21,677 posts

226 months

Monday 22nd April 2019
quotequote all
Carlson W6 said:
Yeah yeah yeah. I’ve just done Val D’isere to Richmond in 11hrs Door to Door with Waze helping me make the quickest time for years. Every single camera and hidden gendarme was revealed. That’s the reality. The gendarmes can’t put you in prison for having an app on your phone. It’s all posturing and optics.
I think you missed the thrust of the draft legislation. The French government will penalise Waze, not the users. They will hold Waze responsible for operating an app (those behind the application would face up to two years in prison).

The legislation says this is to stop kidnappers.

bad company

18,730 posts

267 months

Monday 22nd April 2019
quotequote all
NDA said:
I think you missed the thrust of the draft legislation. The French government will penalise Waze, not the users. They will hold Waze responsible for operating an app (those behind the application would face up to two years in prison).

The legislation says this is to stop kidnappers.
Isn’t Waze an Israeli company? Might make enforcement difficult.

NDA

21,677 posts

226 months

Monday 22nd April 2019
quotequote all
bad company said:
NDA said:
I think you missed the thrust of the draft legislation. The French government will penalise Waze, not the users. They will hold Waze responsible for operating an app (those behind the application would face up to two years in prison).

The legislation says this is to stop kidnappers.
Isn’t Waze an Israeli company? Might make enforcement difficult.
Owned by Google.

But undoubtedly there's going to be an opportunity for a company outside of France to offer something similar.

AstonZagato

12,734 posts

211 months

Monday 22nd April 2019
quotequote all
NDA said:
The legislation says this is to stop kidnappers.
Gosh, I'd never realised that kidnapping was such a big problem in France. Who knew?