Cameras in France
Discussion
silver993tt said:
It's illegal to use any form of camera detection in France, Germany and Austria, including GPS. If you get stopped they will check the unit for this feature and confiscate it including giving you a large fine.
I believe you are right in saying that camera detection systems are illegal in France, but GPS aparatus is advertised widely in French motoring magazines and sold in all the major hypermarkets. I think their laws regarding camera detectors are similar to what ours will be - ie those that detect active cameras are banned, those that identify known areas of cameras are legit. Perhaps someone with greater knowledge can clarify.
Alternatively go to viamichelin.com and download the camera locations and set them as Points Of Interest (picnic site?) on your sat nav. The weekly Autoplus (the French sister publication to Auto Express) has a map in every issue identifying the precise location of each and every camera in France.
Could also be worth a posting on the France forum.
Speed cameras are quite widespread. They are prefixed with a warning board about half a kilometre ahead of the camera, warning road users of a radar in use "for your safety". Sounds familiar!
The cameras are set low at the side of the road and are in a mid-grey box, which does blend in with armco for example on autoroutes.
I downloaded the camera sites from the Tom Tom website, and it is very accurate for location. Of course it doesn't cater for the increaing use of mobile cameras by the French plods.
The cameras are set low at the side of the road and are in a mid-grey box, which does blend in with armco for example on autoroutes.
I downloaded the camera sites from the Tom Tom website, and it is very accurate for location. Of course it doesn't cater for the increaing use of mobile cameras by the French plods.
some more info here, says that Radar and Laser is illegal but GPS is not
Speed camera detectors
There are two families of products available:
- Real radar detectors, forbidden by law in France.
- Radar warning systems, using a database of the location of the speed cameras coupled with a GPS. Allowed in France.
Radar and Laser Detectors - forbidden in France
Radar and Laser detectors detect active (in-use) speed cameras. Advances in speed camera technology have superseded these systems and new digital speed cameras are invisible to Radar and Laser detectors. Unlike GPS based systems there is no subscription with Radar and Laser detectors. Such a device is not allowed in France. Getting caught having such a device in your vehicle means a 1500 euros fine, device impounded (with the car if fixed to it).
GPS Speed Camera Detectors - allowed in france
A GPS speed camera detector relies on a database of speed camera locations. GPS speed camera detectors warn drivers of all known fixed and mobile speed cameras - good as long as they are known. It also offers the user many additional features including the exact camera type, range and perhaps most useful - the road speed limit. Some database updates for France can be available for free, but usually a small fee (monthly or annualy) is requested for easy accurate updates.
http://english.controleradar.org/spee
Website below shows all the locations of the fixed speed cameras
http://english.controleradar.org/
Speed camera detectors
There are two families of products available:
- Real radar detectors, forbidden by law in France.
- Radar warning systems, using a database of the location of the speed cameras coupled with a GPS. Allowed in France.
Radar and Laser Detectors - forbidden in France
Radar and Laser detectors detect active (in-use) speed cameras. Advances in speed camera technology have superseded these systems and new digital speed cameras are invisible to Radar and Laser detectors. Unlike GPS based systems there is no subscription with Radar and Laser detectors. Such a device is not allowed in France. Getting caught having such a device in your vehicle means a 1500 euros fine, device impounded (with the car if fixed to it).
GPS Speed Camera Detectors - allowed in france
A GPS speed camera detector relies on a database of speed camera locations. GPS speed camera detectors warn drivers of all known fixed and mobile speed cameras - good as long as they are known. It also offers the user many additional features including the exact camera type, range and perhaps most useful - the road speed limit. Some database updates for France can be available for free, but usually a small fee (monthly or annualy) is requested for easy accurate updates.
http://english.controleradar.org/spee
Website below shows all the locations of the fixed speed cameras
http://english.controleradar.org/
Edited by matt172 on Tuesday 13th March 11:01
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