NF breathalyser in France - latest?
NF breathalyser in France - latest?
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Discussion

donkmeister

Original Poster:

12,938 posts

130 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
Has anyone been stopped by the French police and asked to show their breathalyser in the last couple of years?
The latest I can find on this is a rather confusing "the law states you must carry one, but there's zero penalty for not having one". Being made of thin glass I've had them shatter in their packets before so would prefer not to carry them if it won't cause me a ball-ache with the gendarmes.

Doofus

34,417 posts

203 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
I got pulled (and banned) for speeding last summer. They didn't ask about, or check my hi-vis or breathalysers or any of the other crap you're supposed to lug about everywhere. I only had hi-vis jackets, and they were under the boot floor, so not strictly legal anyway.

I was breathalysed, incidentally, (scored 0). M. Plod suggested that, being English, I'd have had a skinful the previous evening.


donkmeister

Original Poster:

12,938 posts

130 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
Doofus said:
I was breathalysed, incidentally, (scored 0). M. Plod suggested that, being English, I'd have had a skinful the previous evening.
If you were French you'd have had that skinful at breakfast biggrin

Obviously not all French people drink drive but I've had French colleagues getting excitable when I've suggested they're unfit/illegal through a wine-soaked lunch and perhaps I should drive their car... DD seems to be less unacceptable there.

Riley Blue

23,205 posts

256 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
They're no longer necessary, haven't been for a few years. That's what my friends who live in France tell me.

chopper602

2,333 posts

253 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
Riley Blue said:
They're no longer necessary, haven't been for a few years. That's what my friends who live in France tell me.
The manufacturers and the retail outlets continue to tell you they're required though . . .

guindilias

5,245 posts

150 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
donkmeister said:
If you were French you'd have had that skinful at breakfast biggrin

Obviously not all French people drink drive but I've had French colleagues getting excitable when I've suggested they're unfit/illegal through a wine-soaked lunch and perhaps I should drive their car... DD seems to be less unacceptable there.
Isn't the traditional French labourer's breakfast croissant and brandy, at a café (possibly for a couple of hours - then it turns to lunch and wine)?

Riley Blue

23,205 posts

256 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
chopper602 said:
Riley Blue said:
They're no longer necessary, haven't been for a few years. That's what my friends who live in France tell me.
The manufacturers and the retail outlets continue to tell you they're required though . . .
They would, wouldn't they...? It's been about five years since the penalty for not having them was rescinded.

pheasant

159 posts

136 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
And certain outlet over here ( guess which one) still sell 'headlamp yellow paint' for France, anyone old enough to remember that !!

Doofus

34,417 posts

203 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
pheasant said:
And certain outlet over here ( guess which one) still sell 'headlamp yellow paint' for France, anyone old enough to remember that !!
That stuff would make even a Cullinan look cool cool

Riley Blue

23,205 posts

256 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
pheasant said:
And certain outlet over here ( guess which one) still sell 'headlamp yellow paint' for France, anyone old enough to remember that !!
What...! It's been illegal on cars since the 1990s...

Doofus

34,417 posts

203 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
Riley Blue said:
What...! It's been illegal on cars since the 1990s...
But still legal on those built earlier.

redjohn

1,666 posts

276 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
My strategy is hi viz on the rear parcel shelf to show you know the law and have all the gear and not much point in stopping me then not bother with anything else.

Seriously a hi-viz is a useful the rest isn't but never been stopped and asked for any of it.

Stoofa

959 posts

198 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
I have the hi-viz in the car, got a nice compartment under the passenger seat where I can fit enough for one each. Warning Triangle I've always got in the car anyway, don't need a law requirement to put something as useful and safe as that in my car. I've also got first aid too.
Breathalyser's I had at the very beginning when the law did appear, but as the fine was rescinded soon afterwards, I've still got those out-of-date ones somewhere in the car, but I've never bothered replacing them.

As for my lights - Flatline the HID's, job done.

donkmeister

Original Poster:

12,938 posts

130 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
redjohn said:
My strategy is hi viz on the rear parcel shelf to show you know the law and have all the gear and not much point in stopping me then not bother with anything else.
Sound idea, I'll do that, laid out to show we have one each!
Everything else bar the nugatory breathalysers is built-in to the car - the headlamps have moveable masks to account for Napoleon's whim, triangle in boot lid, first aid kit in passenger seat.

gtidriver

3,714 posts

217 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
Dont forget the spare bulb kit. I was on the tunnel the other day, the french registered blue Ford Mondeo that belonged to the "Passport checking only when really busy" Police didnt have any light reflector stickers installed on the lights, not that its probably going to be driven off site but it could. Ive driven loads of cars abroad and never had the stickers fitted.
Good idea on leaving the vests on the parcel shelf to divert attention from you.

gtidriver

3,714 posts

217 months

Friday 11th May 2018
quotequote all
Doofus said:
I got pulled (and banned) for speeding last summer. They didn't ask about, or check my hi-vis or breathalysers or any of the other crap you're supposed to lug about everywhere. I only had hi-vis jackets, and they were under the boot floor, so not strictly legal anyway.

I was breathalysed, incidentally, (scored 0). M. Plod suggested that, being English, I'd have had a skinful the previous evening.
You can leave us with just being banned for speeding, we need details please smile

Doofus

34,417 posts

203 months

Saturday 12th May 2018
quotequote all
gtidriver said:
You can leave us with just being banned for speeding, we need details please smile
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...