Anecdotal E.G of contrasting French vs. UK (US) police
Discussion
Bit of a long one this but I have been reflecting on this a lot today…
PREVIOUSELY the Monday after Easter Sunday 2005 I was driving with a friend through France to look at the Normandy landing beaches and pay respects at a cemetery on the way. We were pretty close, it was a beautiful day, the roads were very very quiet, I was dawdling behind a small truck when a lovely stretch opened up so I overtook quickly.
We passed a large building several 100’s of meters to the side. It turned out to be a school (closed because of the holidays) hence the 70 kph limit sign which I did NOT see because of the truck. I had massive visibility across hedge less fields on both sides once past the truck, the end of the straight approached, breaking gently I got a sinking feeling...
Police ! We were waved into leafy drive where a Gendarme was lurking, he had logged me doing 137kmh ! Zute, Alors ! He asked for my papers and said that for the speed I was doing it was normal to impound the car on the spot and give a 500+ Euro fine.
Time for some fast talking (in French) “We were returning home that night” , “I need my car for work” , then I thought that won’t work, I need an emotional sell. I hit the jackpot with “we are visiting the beaches and graves”… his eyes lit up with joy – he liked the idea of Brits caring enough to visit. He told me his grandfather was with the resistance and he lived to see the Americans land and 90 years of age. Apparently his uncle had blown up a Panza with a bomb made from pig $hit and got a medal for it too ! Deserved one for inginuity alone IMHO.
I got off with a 60 Euro fine and that’s it. He actually apologised for fining me at all, but said he had to because he had started to write the ticket out and they were all logged.
We ended the conversation with a chat about my Porsche, his restaurant recommendation in the area and an invitation to a Tank Museum. I said I would slow down in future and he said dont worry about it ! Now that’s why I love the French – they are about life.
So to the reason I mention all that is the contrast it has with what happened driving home...
...YESTERDAY a large undercover US style people carrier with a non-uniformed man in it drove up to literally 1 foot behind me with it’s sirens on and hidden lights flashing. Assuming I had been done I pulled to the hard shoulder and stopped. He nearly clipped my bumper then he sped off at about 90 in a 50 Zone. I sat there dumbfounded, thanked my lucky stars and set off again.
Presumably not a patrol car because there are some military bases nearby but WTF kind of behaviour is that ? He damn well near caused an accident where there was none in the first place and was not even interested in closure on the circumstances he was reacting to and was speeding himself !
Really big contrast to my mind – just wanted to share it with you all.
PREVIOUSELY the Monday after Easter Sunday 2005 I was driving with a friend through France to look at the Normandy landing beaches and pay respects at a cemetery on the way. We were pretty close, it was a beautiful day, the roads were very very quiet, I was dawdling behind a small truck when a lovely stretch opened up so I overtook quickly.
We passed a large building several 100’s of meters to the side. It turned out to be a school (closed because of the holidays) hence the 70 kph limit sign which I did NOT see because of the truck. I had massive visibility across hedge less fields on both sides once past the truck, the end of the straight approached, breaking gently I got a sinking feeling...
Police ! We were waved into leafy drive where a Gendarme was lurking, he had logged me doing 137kmh ! Zute, Alors ! He asked for my papers and said that for the speed I was doing it was normal to impound the car on the spot and give a 500+ Euro fine.
Time for some fast talking (in French) “We were returning home that night” , “I need my car for work” , then I thought that won’t work, I need an emotional sell. I hit the jackpot with “we are visiting the beaches and graves”… his eyes lit up with joy – he liked the idea of Brits caring enough to visit. He told me his grandfather was with the resistance and he lived to see the Americans land and 90 years of age. Apparently his uncle had blown up a Panza with a bomb made from pig $hit and got a medal for it too ! Deserved one for inginuity alone IMHO.
I got off with a 60 Euro fine and that’s it. He actually apologised for fining me at all, but said he had to because he had started to write the ticket out and they were all logged.
We ended the conversation with a chat about my Porsche, his restaurant recommendation in the area and an invitation to a Tank Museum. I said I would slow down in future and he said dont worry about it ! Now that’s why I love the French – they are about life.
So to the reason I mention all that is the contrast it has with what happened driving home...
...YESTERDAY a large undercover US style people carrier with a non-uniformed man in it drove up to literally 1 foot behind me with it’s sirens on and hidden lights flashing. Assuming I had been done I pulled to the hard shoulder and stopped. He nearly clipped my bumper then he sped off at about 90 in a 50 Zone. I sat there dumbfounded, thanked my lucky stars and set off again.
Presumably not a patrol car because there are some military bases nearby but WTF kind of behaviour is that ? He damn well near caused an accident where there was none in the first place and was not even interested in closure on the circumstances he was reacting to and was speeding himself !
Really big contrast to my mind – just wanted to share it with you all.
moreymach said:
Yeah, thanks a lot for that.....
Not quite sure what it was saying but still...
Thanks. I obviously don't have a great (or brief) point to make. Main reason was the contrast between the humanity of the French Police and the hostility / hypocrisy of the chap yesterday who was driving like a nutter, swerving, speeding and generally making the motorway a dangerous place just so he could have his peneth worth.
Hollywood Wheels said:
[quote=cyrus1971]
the humanity of the French Police
Now that is funny!!!
quote]
Well it is a sample of just one so "humanity" is a bit much, but he was a particularly nice bloke. Sure they can be swines too !
I can’t recall the name of the beach, I have asked my friend. It was one of the smaller ones, right on the beach, about 5 bunkers & as many trenches, couple of mortar positions and one barracks further back. The memorial read like a smorgasbord of regiments.
Will post when known
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