French Speeding Law
Discussion
Was reading this thread here:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=152680&f=25&h=0
Which in turn points to this link:
http://blogs.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/ridingInFrance.htm
The second link says the following about speeding in France:
Can anybody confirm this? Especially the bit about the ban applying to all EC members. Does it mean the ban in France applies in all EC countries or that all EC countries are obliged to ban drivers doing more than 30 kms over the limit for three years?
Surely we’d have heard about this in the UK if they were planning on bringing it in over here?
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=152680&f=25&h=0
Which in turn points to this link:
http://blogs.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/ridingInFrance.htm
The second link says the following about speeding in France:
link said:
Starting June 2003, if you're caught speeding 30 kms over the speed limit, you'll loose your license for three years. Apparently, this now also applies for all EC members. Speeding fines are never really taken from abroad, but apparently, the license suspension is international. This still needs to be verified.
Can anybody confirm this? Especially the bit about the ban applying to all EC members. Does it mean the ban in France applies in all EC countries or that all EC countries are obliged to ban drivers doing more than 30 kms over the limit for three years?
Surely we’d have heard about this in the UK if they were planning on bringing it in over here?
Naaah that's horseshit.
I am French living abroad but occasionally cruising accross the continent.
It is true the speed laws are much tougher these days, but the penalty quoted '30 Kph above the limit = 3 years suspension' or 'Above 50 kmh go to jail 'is not what is happening.
These shows the maximum penalty in extreme circumstances, as quoted when the laws where passed.
They give the maximum penalty in extreme cases ie you were doing 200kmh, while banned from driving, no insurance, etc....
Bellow 50 kmh in excess, you get a fine, possibly some points if you are local.
Above 50 you are on for a court case, possibly some limited driving suspension 3 to 6 months, and points.
For extreme speeds, you get fined and suspension, but technically no one has been send to jail (People have been caught in excess of 250, etc...)
Basically not that different from the UK,
ie
Don't worry - big euro brother hasn't got there yet!!
As a foreign driver, if you are physically (as opposed to by a froggy gatso equivalent) caught speeding at more than 30 kph over the limit (-a 10kph margin of error) then they'll fine you heavily. This will include (illegally within EU law) impounding your vehicle until you pay up. They can also take your licence away and force you find a second driver to get your vehicle out of the country.
However, you can declare your licence "eaten by the dog" as soon as you get back to blighty and get a new one - the french ban does not cross the channel. I recommend going to an AA office and getting an international driving licence for a few quid that you can give to the gendarmes...
As a foreign driver, if you are physically (as opposed to by a froggy gatso equivalent) caught speeding at more than 30 kph over the limit (-a 10kph margin of error) then they'll fine you heavily. This will include (illegally within EU law) impounding your vehicle until you pay up. They can also take your licence away and force you find a second driver to get your vehicle out of the country.
However, you can declare your licence "eaten by the dog" as soon as you get back to blighty and get a new one - the french ban does not cross the channel. I recommend going to an AA office and getting an international driving licence for a few quid that you can give to the gendarmes...
Oh yes, and UK drivers are not specially targeted, but the French Scameras system can't process foreign plates (Same as the UK).
The particular thing is there are a lot more foreign drivers crossing France than the same in the Uk.
Since French drivers are now brow beaten by the Scameras, you will see on French motorways mostly foreign reged cars (German, English, Italian,...) zipping past (I don't blame them....).
Results is that over a THIRD of people caught on camera are foreign reged !! Hence the move to connect the scameras systems EU wide, and if you get caught by a patrol or hand held gun, don't expect leniency.....
Still, you are better off when caught than the local, you only get a fine, about what you would have paid in the UK, unless it's a real high number, where yes your licence is at risk, but then no more so than in the UK.
>> Edited by Gulliver on Monday 31st January 18:12
Phew!!! Thanks for the clarification.
P.S. Regarding foreign cars getting done for speeding; Belgium speed cameras can recognise foreign plates. I had a speeding ticket (in Dutch) turn up through the post at my UK address about a week after driving my UK reg car in Brussels. On the plus side I completed the form admitting it was me and never heard another thing about it
. I guess it’s only a matter of time before they can all do this 
P.S. Regarding foreign cars getting done for speeding; Belgium speed cameras can recognise foreign plates. I had a speeding ticket (in Dutch) turn up through the post at my UK address about a week after driving my UK reg car in Brussels. On the plus side I completed the form admitting it was me and never heard another thing about it
. I guess it’s only a matter of time before they can all do this 
Got caught a few years ago doing 128 mph on the autoroute....£500 holding fine with a sommons to appear before a French court. Didn't attend and a few months later received a full transcript of the court hearing also translated into English...Very professional.....Surprise surprise the fine with costs came to £500 (stirling)...Five minutes before being caught doing 150 thankfully I slowed down a bit.
What did surprise me was to see only British cars, HGV's and PCV's lined up to be dealt with by our French lew enforcement at the Calais toll !!!
What did surprise me was to see only British cars, HGV's and PCV's lined up to be dealt with by our French lew enforcement at the Calais toll !!!
Can't put my hands on the details right now, but in '04 the geniuses of the Labour Gov't signed up to a European "Convention" which was meant to enable governments to cooperate in fighting certain sorts of crime.
One of the features of this Garlic-belt special was the agreement that if a person was banned from driving in one European state, that ban would be in effect in the other states. In other words, if you were a Brit on holiday in, say, Spain, and you did not understand certain local driving rules relating to a lower speed limit in the rain, or in a road-works, and then you got pulled by the cops but couldn't understand what they were saying to you, so they got annoyed and gave your car the once-over and discovered that you had neglected to bring with you your mandatory reflective vests, so they tried to supplement their meagre salaries by shaking you down for cash, which you resisted, so they threw the book at you, and six months later when your case came up for trial in Seville you couldn't get down there to defend yourself, so the Spanish court banned you from driving in Spain, you also would be banned from driving in the UK. Seems fair and reasonable, doesn't it?
The Government agreed to this Convention last year, but to date has not implemented it. Stay tuned.
One of the features of this Garlic-belt special was the agreement that if a person was banned from driving in one European state, that ban would be in effect in the other states. In other words, if you were a Brit on holiday in, say, Spain, and you did not understand certain local driving rules relating to a lower speed limit in the rain, or in a road-works, and then you got pulled by the cops but couldn't understand what they were saying to you, so they got annoyed and gave your car the once-over and discovered that you had neglected to bring with you your mandatory reflective vests, so they tried to supplement their meagre salaries by shaking you down for cash, which you resisted, so they threw the book at you, and six months later when your case came up for trial in Seville you couldn't get down there to defend yourself, so the Spanish court banned you from driving in Spain, you also would be banned from driving in the UK. Seems fair and reasonable, doesn't it?
The Government agreed to this Convention last year, but to date has not implemented it. Stay tuned.
ca092003 said:
More reasons to avoid France altogether.
Then keep your car in the Uk and take the bus.
If you go through Belgium, there is now a Zero Tolerance policy a lot harsher than the Uk or France, systematic court beyond 40 kph excess.
If you go through the Netherlands and get done, they actually will pursue you in the UK for traffic offenses......
There is no hiding these days......
B Roads and a good eye for the men in blue is the best way me think.
Gulliver said:
If you go through Belgium, there is now a Zero Tolerance policy a lot harsher than the Uk or France, systematic court beyond 40 kph excess.
Do you think so?
My impression was that, at least on Belgian motorways, in '03 and early '04 locals were driving noticeably more slowly than they had done in '02 and before. Since early '04, however, it has seemed that quite a few locals have gone back to driving, say, 30-40 kph over the limit, although fewer of them were doing so than in pre-'03.
Do you think that this is right, or have I been seeing an atypical sample, and been lucky?
When you say "zero-tolerance", do you actually mean that you'll get pulled for 122? Have you seen any evidence of at what speed the Belgian cameras are triggered?
On the D-roads, of course, anarchy still reigns.
Cheers.
>> Edited by flemke on Wednesday 2nd February 14:57
I just drove in Belgium - 4 Jan 05 on the E40 from Liege to the border with France. I kept a constant speed of 160km/h for the whole journey and was easily the fastest car out on the motorway. I did around 170km/h in France and yet again was easily the fastest around...I was not comfortable with doing higher speeds - I just stuck out like a sore thumb...
The times when I would do Koln to Calais in 2h including a mandatory fuel stop me thinks have been consigned to history. I don't think that I would see 250km/h on the speedo of the 928 ever again as I enter the Brussels ring road... Ah, those were the days...
The times when I would do Koln to Calais in 2h including a mandatory fuel stop me thinks have been consigned to history. I don't think that I would see 250km/h on the speedo of the 928 ever again as I enter the Brussels ring road... Ah, those were the days...
When we went to France in 2004, my dad stuck to the speed limits give or take a few kmh here and there.
But there were cars, many on UK and German plates flying past in the outside lane of the autoroute, we saw a number of British cars doing easy 3 figure speeds (in mph that is!) but only saw one speed camera the whole fortnight we were there!
But there were cars, many on UK and German plates flying past in the outside lane of the autoroute, we saw a number of British cars doing easy 3 figure speeds (in mph that is!) but only saw one speed camera the whole fortnight we were there!
Gulliver said:
[quote=rat513]Got caught a few years ago doing 128 mph on the autoroute....£500 holding fine with a sommons to appear before a French court.
500£ for 128 mph, and no suspension. Mmmmm.
What would you get in the UK for that speed my friend ?
Sounds like an OK deal to me....
I must admit the officer was very polite as he handed me a pigeon English map and directions to the nearest cash point......He also took my passport which I later found he had no power to do.....Still got the receipt and summons at home !!!!!
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