speeding on the way

[neilly500]

be very careful this year - my mate got nicked last thursday near Caen on the a84. Speed trap on an empty dual carriageway. Got taken to nearest police stn and given a two week 'instant' ban. If he had not been with another 'insured' driver he would still be walking home!! Make sure you have a spare driver or risk leaving your car in France....

[chrisbr68]

This is good advice. I was thinking about this today, and as much as I dont trust any of my friends in my car, it just has to be done!... It may also mean that I can have a beer one night!!

[welshnobby]

....just out of "interest" how fast was he going when he got nicked? Anyone tempted to leave their laser detectors in the car and risk them being confiscated? I have an origin blueI2 which is quick release so thought i could quickly stash it if needed, not that i will be speeding.....sometimes you just can't tell what the limits are on some of those foreign roads

[DucatiGary]

max fine 35k euro's if they see a laser detector in your car.

most people dont get anywhere near that amount im told but I wouldnt gamble it tbh.

[White_van_Man]

welshnobby said:

....just out of "interest" how fast was he going when he got nicked? Anyone tempted to leave their laser detectors in the car and risk them being confiscated? I have an origin blueI2 which is quick release so thought i could quickly stash it if needed, not that i will be speeding.....sometimes you just can't tell what the limits are on some of those foreign roads

They get stroppy if see the cradle for your detector. You really are risking ALOT if you take them.

[Moose.]

Do they use radar or laser guns? And how hard would it be to hit a target like my Tiger (Se7en) if the front number plate was to perhaps get knocked off, getting off the ferry?

[minimax]

Moose. said:

Do they use radar or laser guns? And how hard would it be to hit a target like my Tiger (Se7en) if the front number plate was to perhaps get knocked off, getting off the ferry?

I wonder what the rules are in frogland for driving without number plates?

is it the same light penalty of circa £30 (non endorsable) as in the UK?

[welshnobby]

White_van_Man said:

welshnobby said: ....just out of "interest" how fast was he going when he got nicked? Anyone tempted to leave their laser detectors in the car and risk them being confiscated? I have an origin blueI2 which is quick release so thought i could quickly stash it if needed, not that i will be speeding.....sometimes you just can't tell what the limits are on some of those foreign roads They get stroppy if see the cradle for your detector. You really are risking ALOT if you take them.

....really!!! Mine is hard wired so can't easily remove it!

[calumcousins]

yep, i would be very careful with any sort of speed detecting/jamming equipment. 2 years ago, on the way down there, we got pulled for it driving a VW Caravelle, running on vegatable oil - so not the quickest thing out there.

Plod handed us a very badly translated bit of paper, marched us to a cash point and stuck his hand out. 750Euros thank you please.

Oh, edited to say that the radar detector that we had was conviscated, and a letter was recieved a couple of months later back home saying that it had been destroyed in accordance with some frog law - the tossers.

>> Edited by calumcousins on Thursday 25th May 10:42

[vetteheadracer]

Simple rule of thumb I follow every year is don't get caught

Seriously, leave the laser detectors at home, look out for cars coming the otherway flashing you.....this is always a sign of a speed trap ahead and has saved me on numerous occassions.

There are 2 speed camera locations on the preferred route from the Eurotunnel to Le Mans. One on the N28 / E402 near Darnetal and the other on the N338 near Le Petit-Quevilly according to www.viamichelin.com
Don't forget to take some Euros for the toll roads, this year I think it will be about €50 each way, so don't spend your last euros on beer before you have finished paying all of the toll charges!

[welshnobby]

Is it an urban myth that they can time you from toll to toll?

[neilly500]

my friend was doing 178kph. he was told below 170 = fine, above 170 = instant ban and bigger fine - no exceptions....
The police were using radar and then flagging down offending motorists about 1 mile further up the road apparently.

[Bobo W]

Have heard elsewhere that 40 kmh over speed limit is instant ban. Below that it's discretionary on hard up the officer is.

Last year one of our guys got a ban, they took his licence and relieved him of 750 euros. They've still got his license having sent him a letter saying they didn't fine him enough last time and please can they have another 750 euros

[calumcousins]

Bobo W said:

Have heard elsewhere that 40 kmh over speed limit is instant ban. Below that it's discretionary on hard up the officer is. Last year one of our guys got a ban, they took his licence and relieved him of 750 euros. They've still got his license having sent him a letter saying they didn't fine him enough last time and please can they have another 750 euros

[calumcousins]

welshnobby said:

Is it an urban myth that they can time you from toll to toll?

I asked this very question to an owner of a 993 on the way back to Calais last year (seeing as we had been going at it toll-to-toll) - his response - "its only money..."

still, never did recieve a manilla envelope on my doormat, so I am assuming its a myth - either that or my number plate was illegible to froggy plod's cameras...

[Firefoot]

A couple of guys in work regularly drive to France and got caught with a radar detector in the glove box. They both ended up locked in cells for a few hours, had to pay a fine each on the spot to get out of jail, and a further fine was paid later as the case was taken to court. I had to fax the nice gendarme a letter confirming that they were driving a company leased vehicle as they didn't have the log book with them, along with a copy of the company insurance.

They also got a hefty fine for speeding (which was why they got stopped in the first place).

Police searched the whole car as well so don't think that hiding it in the boot is going to save you

[A10ARF]

neilly500 said:

be very careful this year - my mate got nicked last thursday near Caen on the a84. Speed trap on an empty dual carriageway. Got taken to nearest police stn and given a two week 'instant' ban. If he had not been with another 'insured' driver he would still be walking home!! Make sure you have a spare driver or risk leaving your car in France....

Plenty of info about this subject has been covered on ealier thread:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=2&f=25&t=265491&h=0

Normally found no problem mostly just sticking to an MPH ' ton ' on the Autoroutes.

[ballon]

calumcousins said:

yep, i would be very careful with any sort of speed detecting/jamming equipment. 2 years ago, on the way down there, we got pulled for it driving a VW Caravelle, running on vegatable oil - so not the quickest thing out there. Plod handed us a very badly translated bit of paper, marched us to a cash point and stuck his hand out. 750Euros thank you please. Oh, edited to say that the radar detector that we had was conviscated, and a letter was recieved a couple of months later back home saying that it had been destroyed in accordance with some frog law - the tossers. >> Edited by calumcousins on Thursday 25th May 10:42

My mate was done two years ago, exactly the same, €750 and confiscated my radar detector. LEAVE THEM AT HOME! rely on the natives who are very sporting with regard to warning you, do not ignore anyone who flashes you . Also remember that the plod may be a few km up the road so dont speed up again if they don't suddenly appear round the next corner.

If stopped be nice, speak a bit of frog if you are able and never assume that they don't speak english.

Sorry about but it would ruin the best weekend of the year.

[chocolatemonk]

Never met any1 yet who has had the big 750euro fine. The first year we went, we really went for it with no bother. Last year we all got wound up about speeding etc etc and it ruined what should have been the best run of the year. We had some 1st year people in our convoy who did drive seriously quick with questionable overtaking on the N138 and they only got the 90euro fines.

That being said i hope i dont end up eating my words this year!

[ds240]

I've put a table up on site www.lemans24.piczo.com, showing the penalty scales for speeding.

I will certainly not be going mad on the way down... just not worth getting banned!

>> Edited by ds240 on Thursday 25th May 18:11