RE: French police ratchet speeding fines
Thursday 9th June 2005
Step into my office, m'sieurFurther confirmation, if any were needed, of the French traffic police's new, tough attitude to speeding in France is provided by motoring photographer Neill Watson.
French police ratchet speeding fines
Instant ban and hefty fine for UK drivers
Step into my office, m'sieur
On his Web site, he catalogues the experience of being stopped for driving at 193kph (120mph) in a 130kph limit on a near-empty motorway with a smooth clear surface. An instant ban for the driver -- a professional racer as it happened -- ensued, plus a "donkey-choking" fine of 750 euros, to be handed over instantly to the friendly gendarmes.
That's how it is now: exceed 179kph -- 50kph above the limit -- and it's a ban plus a big fine, no questions.
Be aware out there.
Image courtesy Neill Watson
Discussion
I would had to of left a wife and two little kids at the toll Having been clocked at 193 kph in a 130 kph limit, I would suggest guilty until proven guilty! The French like this sort of thing, I've been stopped for an instant breathalyser check (at 2pm in the afternoon) and another one where they were spotting people not wearing seat belts as they came round a bend (that only cost you 15 Euros though). A friend who lives there keeps cash in his car to pay the fine and then carries on at the same speed. He's found the only speed trap in that Department so isn't going to get pulled again.
He will likely get some of that money back if he can read French and send a letter once its been up in front of a judge. They take the max penalty at the roadside and then refund from that if the judge deems it isn't required.
A couple of years back, an Elise driver had to flag down a random stranger and get them to drive their car back to Calais having been stopped on the way back from lemans.
I got stopped last week on the Lyon ring road - a 110kph limit. I was doing 150ish. 2 bikers came up behind me, I didn't have a chance.
When they stopped me the first thing the cop did was ask for my license (retrospectively thinking, I foolishly gave him the plastic part first). He then said (in French), "right - no more driving for you in France - you walk from here etc.". Luckily my girlfriend was in the car and I asked if she could drive.
In the end they let me off "vous avez la chance today monsieur". No fine either. I am so jammy.
I'm going to the US on Monday and need the plastic part of my license to get a rental car - no way would the DLVA have got me a duplicate in time. Next time I'll hand over the paper part and pretend to be looking for the plastic part.
BTW, never forget your cars registration document when travelling abroad.
When they stopped me the first thing the cop did was ask for my license (retrospectively thinking, I foolishly gave him the plastic part first). He then said (in French), "right - no more driving for you in France - you walk from here etc.". Luckily my girlfriend was in the car and I asked if she could drive.
In the end they let me off "vous avez la chance today monsieur". No fine either. I am so jammy.
I'm going to the US on Monday and need the plastic part of my license to get a rental car - no way would the DLVA have got me a duplicate in time. Next time I'll hand over the paper part and pretend to be looking for the plastic part.
BTW, never forget your cars registration document when travelling abroad.
Sounds a bit of a shocker but on reflection that much over the limit and there's not much you can say apart from "c'est la vie"! What are you supposed to do if you are the only driver? Where does you car go, etc?? Are the French also a bit stroppy over radar detectors etc and if so how do they know you've got one?
If I go to Le Mans this year (still undecided) - I'm seriously tempted to take the 7 series rather than the Cerbera !
7 series is more subtle (less chance of being pulled ?), and if I can only do 130kmh, I may as well do it in an arm chair with the a/c chilling the beers nicly.....!!!
7 series is more subtle (less chance of being pulled ?), and if I can only do 130kmh, I may as well do it in an arm chair with the a/c chilling the beers nicly.....!!!
leosayer said:
You're joking you need to give them the V5 as well!?
Carrying this around in your car in the UK is generally considered to be madness.
Not your V5, but the paper part of the licence you got when your photo licence was issued.The bit that looks like the old paper licence.
We keep ours in a wallet along with any green cards and E111's
Compared to the British system, this all seems very fair and professional.
The cops appear to be polite and reasonable - no sneering "sir" or patronising lectures. They can use their discretion, unlike Gatsos. And they even speak English!
You pay up and that's the end of it - no points on your licence, no being raped by your insurance company for the next five years.
Sure, an instant ban is an inconvenience, but only for the rest of your French holiday - it doesn't apply once you are back home.
If you were caught doing 120mph in UK the penalty would be much higher. Although the up front fine would be lower, you'd probably face a ban (in your home country) and have to declare it to your insurance.
Duncan
The cops appear to be polite and reasonable - no sneering "sir" or patronising lectures. They can use their discretion, unlike Gatsos. And they even speak English!
You pay up and that's the end of it - no points on your licence, no being raped by your insurance company for the next five years.
Sure, an instant ban is an inconvenience, but only for the rest of your French holiday - it doesn't apply once you are back home.
If you were caught doing 120mph in UK the penalty would be much higher. Although the up front fine would be lower, you'd probably face a ban (in your home country) and have to declare it to your insurance.
Duncan
Pasthim said:
Sounds a bit of a shocker but on reflection that much over the limit and there's not much you can say apart from "c'est la vie"! What are you supposed to do if you are the only driver? Where does you car go, etc?? Are the French also a bit stroppy over radar detectors etc and if so how do they know you've got one?
Radar detectors are banned and if they catch you I understand the penalty can be anything up to confiscation of the vehicle. I've also heard the standard penalty is to make you drive over the detector. Oh, and there really are such things as "radar detector detectors".
Piccy mate said:
You're joking you need to give them the V5 as well!?
Carrying this around in your car in the UK is generally considered to be madness.
Not your V5, but the paper part of the licence you got when your photo licence was issued.The bit that looks like the old paper licence.
We keep ours in a wallet along with any green cards and E111's
You need to be able to prove ownership of the vehicle, so yes, the V5 or similar doc you may have from your company. I just shove mine in with my travel docs in the clothes bag so it doesn't stay in the car overnight. I also needed it after someone rear ended me in Italy (first thing they asked for in this case - even though I'd done nothing).
Regarding the V5 - yes, you do need it in France, it's the law.
I believe speed detectors are banned and the get really pissed with you if you have one.
Jean Claude Ger-Damme was vey freindly, but his biker cop senior boss was very stern indeed. Definately not one to take the rise out of.
As to what would have happened had he been alone, that's a very good question.....I was just hoping the cashpoint would cough up the daily maximum without flagging up a query at Barclays.
Neill Watson
I believe speed detectors are banned and the get really pissed with you if you have one.
Jean Claude Ger-Damme was vey freindly, but his biker cop senior boss was very stern indeed. Definately not one to take the rise out of.
As to what would have happened had he been alone, that's a very good question.....I was just hoping the cashpoint would cough up the daily maximum without flagging up a query at Barclays.
Neill Watson
Frankly this bitching makes me laugh.
What would have happened in the same circumstances for 193kph in the UK ?
Fair is fair.
Icidentally I crossed France last week from Cherbourg to Nice.
I did not once used the motorways, but only National and B road all along, and guess what?
Not one copper, beautiful scenary, great roads, no traffic, a drivers dream.
Slightly longer, but so much more fun
Hi Gulliver,
If you read what I wrote, Andy's philosophy is indeed, 'fair cop'. You're right, the French B roads are superb and if you have the time are very entertaining indeed. Don't think that you won't get a tug, though. My pal living down near Poitier got one barrelling down his favourite lane.
Has Andy stopped speeding? 'Course not, he's a racer - like trying to stop a cat catching mice.
Neill W
If you read what I wrote, Andy's philosophy is indeed, 'fair cop'. You're right, the French B roads are superb and if you have the time are very entertaining indeed. Don't think that you won't get a tug, though. My pal living down near Poitier got one barrelling down his favourite lane.
Has Andy stopped speeding? 'Course not, he's a racer - like trying to stop a cat catching mice.
Neill W
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