Anyone else get caught on a French speed camera???
Discussion
We had an eventful few days at Le Mans 2006. Not that its going to put me off in the slightest...!!!
But, firstly trying to keep up with the Langoustine boys (Noble, 996, Boxster, BMW Z1, S2000, M3 etc) I got flashed going through a speed cam at approx 220-230 kph... Ooops
Then, on the trip back we got about 50 miles out of Le Mans and my passenger side rear tyre delaminated in spectacular fashion (doing 80mph approx at the time) and I had to limp the rest of the trip back to Boulogne at a frustrating 60 mph... That was a long day!!!
Thankfully I found a Kwik Fit in Deal nr Dover and got two new rear tyres fitted with only 10 minutes to spare before they shut...
Saw some awsome machinery, met some great people, looking forward to doing it all (minus the mishaps) all over again!!!
Hi to anyone who spotted me there!!!
A911 DOM
But, firstly trying to keep up with the Langoustine boys (Noble, 996, Boxster, BMW Z1, S2000, M3 etc) I got flashed going through a speed cam at approx 220-230 kph... Ooops
Then, on the trip back we got about 50 miles out of Le Mans and my passenger side rear tyre delaminated in spectacular fashion (doing 80mph approx at the time) and I had to limp the rest of the trip back to Boulogne at a frustrating 60 mph... That was a long day!!!
Thankfully I found a Kwik Fit in Deal nr Dover and got two new rear tyres fitted with only 10 minutes to spare before they shut...
Saw some awsome machinery, met some great people, looking forward to doing it all (minus the mishaps) all over again!!!
Hi to anyone who spotted me there!!!
A911 DOM
tjdixon911 said:
Glad you had a good trip!
I spotted you on a space saver coming off the ferry at Dover on Monday!
I spotted you on a space saver coming off the ferry at Dover on Monday!
Hey there fella, I was expecting a tap on the shoulder at some point!!! Sorry for not making contact before leaving, I was so disorganised and then ended up leaving stupidly early 'in case of mishaps'...
The space saver certainly saved my bacon, and Im glad the compressor thing all worked (hadnt checked it or the spacesaver prior - doh), I had a mad dash to kwik fit who installed some new rubber and away we went again!!!
Have to hook up next year for sure!!!
Dom
I got nailed by the first camera I saw (or more properly didnt see) about a mile from the ferry at Dieppe. Was so excited I just wasnt paying attention. Dont think I was going too silly, maybe 80 in a 60, not sure TBH. Still, put some manners on me and made me watch out for the Bi(french)B and their speed traps on the A28, so its not all bad.
Anyone know if Im likely to hear anything from the cheese eating surrender monkeys for that?
Anyone know if Im likely to hear anything from the cheese eating surrender monkeys for that?
I got flashed by the first one I passed on the way down, which was placed just after I had overtaken a truck or something. Guess the presence of the camera meant I shouldn't have been overtaking at that point. My initial reaction was to dump it and slow to granny pace, but after some convincing persuasion from the lads in the car I relaxed a little. Glad to hear from you guys too that you have been flashed and nothing ever came of it. I had thought that this was the case, but you can get concerned when it is you.
Has anyone ever been flashed by a camera in France and got a fine????
Has anyone ever been flashed by a camera in France and got a fine????
Yep add another to the list, sadly I was in a friends rex doing about 100k in a 90 whilst admiring a Cobra we were both doing the same speed but I hoping that the 'Doctor on call' sticker on the bonnet and the green flashing light will save my blushes!
Had a great trip, will be there again next year tagging along with the 'Shit Hotters'
Had a great trip, will be there again next year tagging along with the 'Shit Hotters'
Hi all,
Here is the answer I made on another topic for the very same issue !
"I'm french (nobody's perfect!) and I've seen a recent report on French TV showing that :
- Speed traps (the automatic ones) sometimes miss the whole plate of the car (like when you're passing another car) or just can't read it.
Then it goes to a special office where their job is to track the car, based on what they see of the plate.
These guys have to llok at thousands pictures a day with almost no time per picture !
And this is where you're lucky, as almost 100% of foreign plates picture go to garbage !
It'd be too costly to track you when they can fine us (the French) so easily !
The only exception I guess might be very high speed. And 230 km/h is very fast (over 40 km/h above the limit, you can be in big trouble)
But, I know that speed traps can't take you above a certain speed.
They made a try with the Enzo and couldn't catch it !!! This is why French police now have Subaru Impreza to chase drug dealers or people driving like mad.
In any case, even your speed was very high, all of you that have been taken into picture, it might go to garbage !!!
So, no worries guys !
- In any case, imagine that if you ever get caught and receive a fine at home (which again will probably never happen)
First, you have to ask for a picture which will take time for them to send you. No picture = no proof = no fine.
If there is a picture, you can still protest and pretend that you were not driving. Tell your car was borrowed by someone else (whoever, and I think you're not forced to tell any name) and therefore that you want to contest the fine.
The time this goes to court will take ages, and most of the time, they won't charge you at all in the end... as they have no evidence of who is driving
Some french lawyers make huge profits these days...
- So, I think the only problem you can face is mobile speed traps, the ones they have on cars (beware : many anonymous Ford Fiesta or Mondeo), or on side of roads, generally well hidden... There, they can stop you and charge you.
My piece of advice : be careful when crossing villages, cities... when passing through a bridge...
And be careful of high speed (40 km/hover the limit), this is where you have big trouble.
Know that when they measure your speed, they reduce it by 10% for the fine.
The best thing on my mind is avoid highways and nationales and just go through small departementales.
Longer but generally very scenic roads , almost empty and a lot smaller probability to meet police than in Nationale where they're sure to meet some cars speeding...
If they catch you, just get out the car, say 'bonjour' and the 3 words of french you know, be nice, say how sorry you are, that you love France, that you're more used to miles than km/h.... and it could be fine for you or at least reduce your bill !
Here is the answer I made on another topic for the very same issue !
"I'm french (nobody's perfect!) and I've seen a recent report on French TV showing that :
- Speed traps (the automatic ones) sometimes miss the whole plate of the car (like when you're passing another car) or just can't read it.
Then it goes to a special office where their job is to track the car, based on what they see of the plate.
These guys have to llok at thousands pictures a day with almost no time per picture !
And this is where you're lucky, as almost 100% of foreign plates picture go to garbage !
It'd be too costly to track you when they can fine us (the French) so easily !
The only exception I guess might be very high speed. And 230 km/h is very fast (over 40 km/h above the limit, you can be in big trouble)
But, I know that speed traps can't take you above a certain speed.
They made a try with the Enzo and couldn't catch it !!! This is why French police now have Subaru Impreza to chase drug dealers or people driving like mad.
In any case, even your speed was very high, all of you that have been taken into picture, it might go to garbage !!!
So, no worries guys !
- In any case, imagine that if you ever get caught and receive a fine at home (which again will probably never happen)
First, you have to ask for a picture which will take time for them to send you. No picture = no proof = no fine.
If there is a picture, you can still protest and pretend that you were not driving. Tell your car was borrowed by someone else (whoever, and I think you're not forced to tell any name) and therefore that you want to contest the fine.
The time this goes to court will take ages, and most of the time, they won't charge you at all in the end... as they have no evidence of who is driving
Some french lawyers make huge profits these days...
- So, I think the only problem you can face is mobile speed traps, the ones they have on cars (beware : many anonymous Ford Fiesta or Mondeo), or on side of roads, generally well hidden... There, they can stop you and charge you.
My piece of advice : be careful when crossing villages, cities... when passing through a bridge...
And be careful of high speed (40 km/hover the limit), this is where you have big trouble.
Know that when they measure your speed, they reduce it by 10% for the fine.
The best thing on my mind is avoid highways and nationales and just go through small departementales.
Longer but generally very scenic roads , almost empty and a lot smaller probability to meet police than in Nationale where they're sure to meet some cars speeding...
If they catch you, just get out the car, say 'bonjour' and the 3 words of french you know, be nice, say how sorry you are, that you love France, that you're more used to miles than km/h.... and it could be fine for you or at least reduce your bill !
A911DOM said:
Then, on the trip back we got about 50 miles out of Le Mans and my passenger side rear tyre delaminated in spectacular fashion (doing 80mph approx at the time) and I had to limp the rest of the trip back to Boulogne at a frustrating 60 mph... That was a long day!!!
A911 DOM
A911 DOM
Hi, sure we passed you pulling on to peage not far from LeMans. Thought it was odd to pass a porche with out any resistance
then saw the skinny rear and the wheel in your car! Lucky that no damage was done. I was in blue tuscan, not that it really narrows it down that much
Glad to hear you made it home ok, better than the guys who's VW camper burnt out at the side of the road further up.... D.To be fair all of the cameras we saw on the way down (St Malo on the back roads) were all about 500 metres before the camera itself. None of the cr@p you get in this country where there are loads of signs and more often than not no cameras.
I have a feeling next year my front number plate may get knocked off getting off the ferry.
I have a feeling next year my front number plate may get knocked off getting off the ferry.
R TOY said:
A911DOM said:
Then, on the trip back we got about 50 miles out of Le Mans and my passenger side rear tyre delaminated in spectacular fashion (doing 80mph approx at the time) and I had to limp the rest of the trip back to Boulogne at a frustrating 60 mph... That was a long day!!!
A911 DOM
A911 DOM
Hi, sure we passed you pulling on to peage not far from LeMans. Thought it was odd to pass a porche with out any resistance
then saw the skinny rear and the wheel in your car! Lucky that no damage was done. I was in blue tuscan, not that it really narrows it down that much Glad to hear you made it home ok, better than the guys who's VW camper burnt out at the side of the road further up.... D.Cheers chap, I think most people were very confused by my abismal speed on the way back - infact Im sure lots of cars slowed down as they may have assumed I'd spotted a police car and was being 'over cautious'... But yes, we got back safe and well and with a new set of boots in Dover the rest of the trip was much much more pleasant!!!
Seeya again next year!!!
Dom
Dom
I hope you enjoyed being part of the Team Langoustine crowd, good fun trip down on the Wednesday.
We saw you on the Sunday morning and joined you for breakfast in Arnage.
Sorry to hear of your trouble on the way back.
I have some pics here but i am not sure if you are in any of them....
http://community.webshots.com/user/ad
I hope you enjoyed being part of the Team Langoustine crowd, good fun trip down on the Wednesday.
We saw you on the Sunday morning and joined you for breakfast in Arnage.
Sorry to hear of your trouble on the way back.
I have some pics here but i am not sure if you are in any of them....
http://community.webshots.com/user/ad
Happened to me at the weekend on a country road from Dieppe to Bolougne.
I overtook a car in a 90kph zone and the camera flashed me.
I must have only been doing 95-100kph. I cacked myself when my missus read out the driving section of the France Rough Guide and said you can be fined up to 9000 Euros !
I overtook a car in a 90kph zone and the camera flashed me.
I must have only been doing 95-100kph. I cacked myself when my missus read out the driving section of the France Rough Guide and said you can be fined up to 9000 Euros !
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