France - speeding ticket
Discussion
Hi
Hoping people can advise.
Over Easter in France I noted three or four different cameras flash me on their autoroutes. Comfortable fast cruising rather than outright caning. From other UK drivers, this seemed to be the norme. I was in my own car. Last week, I received a slip left by the postmen saying there was an international letter to collect from the post office that required my signature. My thought is that confirming receipt would be unwise and so I should just ignore. Clearly, I have no idea what the letter says.
I had planned to keep my current car! But also plan to return to France at some point, so will consider all options
Any experience of a fine escalating? Can it escalate if I don't receive (sign for it).
Any thoughts please? Thanks in advance.
Hoping people can advise.
Over Easter in France I noted three or four different cameras flash me on their autoroutes. Comfortable fast cruising rather than outright caning. From other UK drivers, this seemed to be the norme. I was in my own car. Last week, I received a slip left by the postmen saying there was an international letter to collect from the post office that required my signature. My thought is that confirming receipt would be unwise and so I should just ignore. Clearly, I have no idea what the letter says.
I had planned to keep my current car! But also plan to return to France at some point, so will consider all options
Any experience of a fine escalating? Can it escalate if I don't receive (sign for it).
Any thoughts please? Thanks in advance.
Edited by Killer1 on Thursday 5th June 12:26
Dog Star said:
I've had quite a few flashes in France over the years, and I've never ever had a letter in the post. You can always go along and ask to see it before signing, and politely decline to take/sign.
+1Me and a friend on a driving holiday even competed to see how many we could set off. I've grown up a fair bit since then, mind
Thanks. There are a few articles on the web about a French/UK alliance on giving out address to plate details. They all talk about this happening in 2013 but can't find anything that says whether it went ahead. Guessing from the ticket it did! I *think* a fine is the worst they can do but heard stories of drivers been pulled over the next time they go to France, if tickets are unpaid.
Great idea on asking to see letter and not signing. Didn't think that would be possible. Thanks again.
Great idea on asking to see letter and not signing. Didn't think that would be possible. Thanks again.
I'm sure I read an article recently that the UK were going to start helping foreign countries chase these fines/tickets as too many people were simply returning to the UK an avoiding them?
This the the best I could find with a quick Google search - it's dated 2012 but I'm sure there's been one more recently; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2160834/Ho...
This the the best I could find with a quick Google search - it's dated 2012 but I'm sure there's been one more recently; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2160834/Ho...
If you are thinking of returning to France, you should at least read the letter. Why bury your head in the sand?
Not having received the notification is not used as mitigation, proof of posting does that.
A couple of years ago I drove past two hidden mobile cameras on the autoroute, I was driving to Spain for 3 months, but the fact I had not read the letters did not stop them escalating the fine for non-payment, so a €90 fine became €360.
Points on your license are not yet transferable, so my guess is that you will be warned, or an attempt at being fined at worst.
Not having received the notification is not used as mitigation, proof of posting does that.
A couple of years ago I drove past two hidden mobile cameras on the autoroute, I was driving to Spain for 3 months, but the fact I had not read the letters did not stop them escalating the fine for non-payment, so a €90 fine became €360.
Points on your license are not yet transferable, so my guess is that you will be warned, or an attempt at being fined at worst.
hunton69 said:
So you believe your above the law outside of the UK and that its ok to break the French speed limits.
What would you do if you hit a parked car and there were no witnesses?
1. 'You're'. Decent puctuation is the difference between knowing your sWhat would you do if you hit a parked car and there were no witnesses?
t, and knowing you're st.2. Won't somebody think of the children!!
OP, you really weren't paying attention, were you?
In my experience, the French give you a sporting chance by placing speed camera warning notices ahead of the camera. Unlike the UK where most are a bluff, if you see one of these warning notices (they are quite large!) you will almost certainly encounter a camera in the next few kilometres.
Now mobile cameras, that's a different matter altogether, it was them that largely cured me of my (alleged) speeding whilst living in France, no warnings at all and often cunningly hidden. Merde!
In my experience, the French give you a sporting chance by placing speed camera warning notices ahead of the camera. Unlike the UK where most are a bluff, if you see one of these warning notices (they are quite large!) you will almost certainly encounter a camera in the next few kilometres.
Now mobile cameras, that's a different matter altogether, it was them that largely cured me of my (alleged) speeding whilst living in France, no warnings at all and often cunningly hidden. Merde!
Vizsla said:
OP, you really weren't paying attention, were you?
In my experience, the French give you a sporting chance by placing speed camera warning notices ahead of the camera. Unlike the UK where most are a bluff, if you see one of these warning notices (they are quite large!) you will almost certainly encounter a camera in the next few kilometres.
Now mobile cameras, that's a different matter altogether, it was them that largely cured me of my (alleged) speeding whilst living in France, no warnings at all and often cunningly hidden. Merde!
Maybe things have changed since you last traveled in France but on the predominantly E17 route Calias > Reims > Troyes > Dijons the fixed cameras are a pure money generating exercise. Cameras are in gray boxes, totally hidden, with forward facing cameras. It is illegal to not disable sat nav functionality that tells you where the cameras are. Think about that last point. Safety or money generation? But no, no sporting chance. Not anymore old timer In my experience, the French give you a sporting chance by placing speed camera warning notices ahead of the camera. Unlike the UK where most are a bluff, if you see one of these warning notices (they are quite large!) you will almost certainly encounter a camera in the next few kilometres.
Now mobile cameras, that's a different matter altogether, it was them that largely cured me of my (alleged) speeding whilst living in France, no warnings at all and often cunningly hidden. Merde!
rdjohn said:
If you are thinking of returning to France, you should at least read the letter. Why bury your head in the sand?
Not having received the notification is not used as mitigation, proof of posting does that.
A couple of years ago I drove past two hidden mobile cameras on the autoroute, I was driving to Spain for 3 months, but the fact I had not read the letters did not stop them escalating the fine for non-payment, so a €90 fine became €360.
Points on your license are not yet transferable, so my guess is that you will be warned, or an attempt at being fined at worst.
I agree. If I can read the letter, as suggested, without confirming receipt then that is definitely the way to go.Not having received the notification is not used as mitigation, proof of posting does that.
A couple of years ago I drove past two hidden mobile cameras on the autoroute, I was driving to Spain for 3 months, but the fact I had not read the letters did not stop them escalating the fine for non-payment, so a €90 fine became €360.
Points on your license are not yet transferable, so my guess is that you will be warned, or an attempt at being fined at worst.
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