Toll booth timing - urban myth?

[yeti]

Everyone knows someone who knows someone else, but has anyone actually been done from being timed between two toll booths on the French autoroutes? Do tickets actually have the time on them and is it flagged to a waiting copper?

I want to know whether it is safer on the back roads through France this year, the autoroutes can be outrageously tempting - and we don't have a 'support car' this year to slow us down!

[Antwerpman]

it is probably worth reading the other current thread on French speeding

I think it is a myth however although I think that if you are flashed by a mobile unit they can have you intercepted at the next set of booths.....

[kevinday]

I have read of somebody who was done in this way, yes the tickets are date/time stamped and it would be very simple to do the maths automatically.

There is also a simple solution - stop for a 'coffee break' between the two booths.

>> Edited by kevinday on Tuesday 11th January 10:56

[Raify]

kevinday said:

I have read of somebody who was done in this way, yes the tickets are date/time stamped and it would be very simple to do the maths automatically. There is also a simple solution - stop for a 'coffee break' between the two booths. >> Edited by kevinday on Tuesday 11th January 10:56

If you're going to do that, you might as well stick to the limit!

[JonRB]

You're making the assumption that the clocks at both booths are both synchronised and accurate.

You're also assuming an ability to signal the police of the offence.

Of course, both are entirely possible, but more likely not.

[bass gt3]

Guy's,

Having lived in France for 3 years, working in Paris but travelling the length and bredth of the country, i asked my collegues the same thing.
Basically, the answer is no, they do not time you between the toll booths. What does happen though is that they set up a well hidden speed trap AFTER the last exit before the peage. As you go by, your next stop is the booths, with a Gendarme looking for the plates/cars his collegues radio ahead to him. Simple but effective.

Steve

[JonRB]

bass gt3 said:

What does happen though is that they set up a well hidden speed trap AFTER the last exit before the peage. As you go by, your next stop is the booths, with a Gendarme looking for the plates/cars his collegues radio ahead to him. Simple but effective.

Yes, I've heard that too.

[BliarOut]

Raify said:

kevinday said: I have read of somebody who was done in this way, yes the tickets are date/time stamped and it would be very simple to do the maths automatically. There is also a simple solution - stop for a 'coffee break' between the two booths. >> Edited by kevinday on Tuesday 11th January 10:56 If you're going to do that, you might as well stick to the limit!

That's completely missing the point. Hoon..... And breathe

[Le TVR]

Antwerpman said:

I think it is a myth .....

Antwerpman said:

however although I think that if you are flashed by a mobile unit they can have you intercepted at the next set of booths.....

Not unusual, but normally they will have some police bikes with them for intercepts (or helicopter in some departments).
Personally I would never speed on the A8 in the Var - have seen 3 mobile traps in less than 50km on many occasions!

If they are being really tricky they set the mobile trap just before the peage where the limit is constantly changing (130 - 90 - 50 etc...) then they have lots of officers at the booths pulling cars over.

[Fat Audi 80]

I had forgotten all about that myth as we happily set the cruise control to 95mph all the way back from La Tania last week...

What an absolute pleasure the French Autoroutes are. If only I had taken my Audi S2.....

[kevinday]

Another alternative is to take the non-peage routes.....

[HiAsAKite]

You were in La Tania?.. I was in Couchevel last week.. mind you we took the snow train....

[nonegreen]

I have managed to get the toll booth clerk to look a little bemused at some of the times I have posted and though I say so myself some of them have been impressive, but never been done on an autoroute. Been done on an ordinary road but thats another story.

[markmullen]

My ex who was from Buffalo, NY used to pay at each toll booth on the way to and from work with cash rather than sign up for an E-ZPass on the basis that it was generally percieved that your speed was automatically calculated when using E-ZPass.

[Targarama]

JonRB said:

bass gt3 said: What does happen though is that they set up a well hidden speed trap AFTER the last exit before the peage. As you go by, your next stop is the booths, with a Gendarme looking for the plates/cars his collegues radio ahead to him. Simple but effective. Yes, I've heard that too.

I've seen it many times. A26 towards Calais. All the rosbiefs speeding to the ferry. They pull you at the last toll after getting you with a camera in a car parking on the shoulder a few ks earlier. Gendarms Christmas party fund gets nice and fat from that one.

A bunch of PHers were 'done' using this method on the way back from Folembray a few years ago. I now watch out for any parked vehicles on the Autoroute shoulder (have you noticed how few you see?).

As for timing between toll booth - just plan a refuelling stop, this will lower the your average way below the speed limit whatever velocity you're proceeding at. Not seen anyone nicked this way though. If they did time you/fine you, then why bother with the speed cameras described on this thread?

[Fat Audi 80]

HiAsAKite said:

You were in La Tania?.. I was in Couchevel last week.. mind you we took the snow train....

Did you enjoy the ice??

[miniman]

Antwerpman said:

...I think that if you are flashed by a mobile unit they can have you intercepted at the next set of booths.....

This is true. It happened to a colleague of mine a few years ago. We were driving a heavily laden Scenic from Paris up to Calais at a fair lick. We saw the flash from a plod hiding behind a bush with a camera, and the gendarmarie tugged him at the tolls near Calais.

It was only after he'd paid the fine that they revealed that he was going so fast they'd only managed to catch the first half of the number plate and had thus taken a lucky guess at which car to stop at the tolls.

"ahhhh just stop ze first english in ze scenic claude and then send reinforcements. we only have 200 galouises and half a bottle of ricard left"

[madbadger]

Wasn't a porsche stopped after Eurohoon, travelling in convoy with some Tivs?

Makes you an easy target in a scenic as obviously the trick is to be in a car that they can't identify!

'Stop ze next funny rosbiefs car'

[hiasakite]

Fat Audi 80 said:

HiAsAKite said: You were in La Tania?.. I was in Couchevel last week.. mind you we took the snow train.... Did you enjoy the ice??

Loads.. especially around 3pm when the slopes went into the shadows and I was half way down a red with only 5 days skiing experience behind me