An extra fine from France!!!!!!!
Discussion
This is normal, I've heard it many times on forums. I *think* the first 750 Euros is basically a (non-returnable) bail fee so prevent them slinging you in jail, the second one is the fine itself, as a result of a court hearing which you paid to avoid.
I suspect that if it isn't paid they will issue an arrest warrant, which may or may not in reality cause any trouble. I suspect that if he was arrested and hauled off at some point in the future he would view 250 Euros as a very small amount of money to have avoided it.
Gareth
I suspect that if it isn't paid they will issue an arrest warrant, which may or may not in reality cause any trouble. I suspect that if he was arrested and hauled off at some point in the future he would view 250 Euros as a very small amount of money to have avoided it.
Gareth
dazren said:
My undersatanding is that the 750euro is a deposit towards the expected fine to be issued by the court. If the court has asked for more money I'd suggest paying it if your mate ever wishes to drive in France again.
£160 to never go to France?
Seems like a bargain on the face of it...
Plotloss said:
dazren said:
My undersatanding is that the 750euro is a deposit towards the expected fine to be issued by the court. If the court has asked for more money I'd suggest paying it if your mate ever wishes to drive in France again.
£160 to never go to France?
Seems like a bargain on the face of it...
be a bugger if your plane diverted sick and you had to stay in an hotel at the airlines expense, might get a different type of hotel.
smirnoff said:
My mate who got done for speeding on the way to Le Mans last year, 750 ero fine and licence taken, has just got a letter asking for an extra 250 euros.
They havent sent him his licence back yet, should he pay it?
What will happen if he drives in France now?
They havent sent him his licence back yet, should he pay it?
What will happen if he drives in France now?
I had a similar experience a few years ago; was stopped @ 201kmh & given an on-the-spot fine, although they didn't keep my licence, and sent on my way. About 3 months later I received a demand from the French courts for a further amount (only about an extra £25 IIRC) however being that I don't speak French
I couldn't understand what they wanted so 'filed' it. I have been to France, by car, 3 or 4 times since with no problems (admittedly not the same car and not been caught speeding again). But apart from anything else how would you pay it?
I'm sure you can get a replacement licence for one that was 'lost'.
smirnoff said:
My mate who got done for speeding on the way to Le Mans last year, 750 ero fine and licence taken, has just got a letter asking for an extra 250 euros.
They havent sent him his licence back yet, should he pay it?
What will happen if he drives in France now?
This is quite normal. The 750Eur was a "deposit" for the fine that will be levied when it goes to court. It went to court, they decided 1000 Eur fine so he now has to pay the balance. They havent sent him his licence back yet, should he pay it?
What will happen if he drives in France now?
The bit your mate really wants to know is they add 10% on each month it's outstanding. That's not 10% of 250, that's 10% of the outstanding amount, so compounded. He might think of telling them to stick it right now, but in 5 years when he's on a skiing holiday, going through Lyon airport andthe computer says he owes the Govt. 70,000 Euros, it might be a little more uncomfortable.
He should pay it asap!
I do love that about the French - really look after themselves and take measures to stop Johnny Foreigner from taking the p*ss. Wish we did a bit more of that.
I was in my friends car on route to Le-Mans when he got the 750 Euro big boy fine !
He got a summons 10 months later (I think they wanted him to come back so they could ban him for 3 months to screw him up for the next Le Mans) - He just ignored it.
He then got a registered post letter from France so he refused to sign for it.
He never heard anything else....
Not condoning it, just his experience.
He got a summons 10 months later (I think they wanted him to come back so they could ban him for 3 months to screw him up for the next Le Mans) - He just ignored it.
He then got a registered post letter from France so he refused to sign for it.
He never heard anything else....
Not condoning it, just his experience.
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