French on the spot fines - what if you don't/can't pay it??
Discussion
I remember in 2005 on the way home,we were sitting at a cafe on the N138 when two coppers on motorbikes escorted a Ferrrari F40 To the cash point just to the side of us! Fair play to the lads in the F40 though, they took it on the chin! We ended up later that day being behind them in the same que waiting for our ferry. Had to give them a beer for entertainment.
Edited by fatboy18 on Friday 23 March 19:40
Edited by fatboy18 on Friday 23 March 19:40
I think you are somewhat behind the times over there. The French now have the right to even confiscate your car depending on the circumstances, at minimum immobilise it overnight until the fine is paid. The maximum withdrawal from most machines here is 500 euros. The fine depends on the excess of speed over the prevailing limit. 90 euros used - some time ago - to be the fine but two years back I had my car impounded for doing 93mph on the main road (7am on a Sunday at that) where the speed limit is 90kph or 55mph. I had to pay a £1,000 fine the next day. The fine is graduated according to the excess speed and 90 euros is applicable up to 120kph - in other words under 30kph over the prevailing limit. Over that it goes up quite steeply and anything that is over 50kph over the prevailing limit you'll need deep pockets. Furthermore, I heard the other day (I am not entirely sure that it is true though) that they have finally got the computers together between th UK and France and that all infractions, from April onwards, will be forwarded to the UK for points to be added. It certainly applies for cars registered in Luxembourg since nearly a year back. Quite simply, have fun at your own peril in France, especially in the Sarthe. The Sarthe is the department with the highest death toll in France and the police here are cracking down like hell. Only last week a Ferrari was caught at 228kph (140mph) on the motorway just north of Le Mans and his car was impounded and he had to continue by train.
You have been warned.
You have been warned.
jacko nic said:
Fat boy your reg plate is for sale FAT 730Y,check out 911 GT3 in PH classified,yellow GT3,has the plate and he will take offers,not the best but would look good on your motor.
Nice one, only problem is at the moment I dont have anything to put it on. Almost got a new toy ( see thread : New Viper Member,started by Venom 500) and as youll see on that I bought a plate for the car V 99 GTS only problem is no F'N CAR! 
When I got stopped in 2003, i was doing 140kph in a 90kph, they fined me just over 200
euros - had to be paid on the spot or I could enjoy the local gaol until the next
morning when I would face the beak.
They then confiscated my licence and banned me on the spot for two weeks, luckily I was
travelling with a friend who drove home, the licence was sent to the French Embassy in
London and had to be collected in person - quite a trip seeing as I live in Liverpool !
(I also received a good tongue bashing in the embassy as well).
In retrospect it now seems quite amusing, at the time quite frightening as it was difficult to understand what was going on, particularly the instant ban.
I was lucky in that I was travelling with a friend, the british guy in an A3 who overtook me in the speed trap area (hidden in a wood in Chappele St Gautier) got £480 fine and was also banned on the spot, as he was travelling alone (we didn't know him) we had to leave him at the side of the road as we drove off, I often wonder how he got home in the end as it was a good 100+ miles from there to Calais.
So if you're travelling down, make sure you have someone with you who can drive just in case you're caught speeding as they don't take any prisoners (no pun intended) - all of this was on the Sunday coming back after the race, and they are set up to catch brits they pulled in eight cars with me, and as we were dealt with, they pulled in another lot of cars - all british by the way - all coming back from Le Mans.
We counted another four set of traps along that 100+ mile stretch, so effectively they lie in wait for you. Best bet is coming back on the Sunday is to take it easy.
sagerhead said:
Someone flashing their lights saved me a trip to jail for sure one time in France. I will be forever grateful to that mystery person.
I don't often see it in the UK though, I'm from NZ and it is common down there.
Is it done in the UK?
I don't often see it in the UK though, I'm from NZ and it is common down there.
Is it done in the UK?
Yes it is but if the BiB catch you doing it they will impose a fine or other such nonsense! I used to travel around the country in a 40ft artic and the lorry drivers have a sort of unwritten code for these things! Flash lights and thumbs down usually means a speed trap!
Monsieur le Gendarme who busted me last year told me that the automatic 'Ban' level is 172kph (40 over the 130 limit). I was doing 182 so got an instant ban (15 days it was in the end) and my wingman had to drive to the coast. Very pleased I got him insured! My fine was €130 and I got a nice ride in a plod mobile to the cashpoint. At 40kph over the speedlimit 
Plod told me that if I couldn't pay the fine then they'd keep my voiture until I could. Felt sorry for the chap who got pulled at the same time as me in his R32. He had been doing 220kph and had to find €750!!
Moral of the story is....whilst for 51 weeks of the year you can happily enjoy the roads of France almost gendarme free, Le Mans weekend is a different matter. They will be out in force and therefore you are very likely to get busted speeding if you are being silly.
On a lighter note, the French versions of the Gatso don't appear to matter to UK cars. I have lost count of the number of times I've been flashed now with no consequence.
Plod told me that if I couldn't pay the fine then they'd keep my voiture until I could. Felt sorry for the chap who got pulled at the same time as me in his R32. He had been doing 220kph and had to find €750!!
Moral of the story is....whilst for 51 weeks of the year you can happily enjoy the roads of France almost gendarme free, Le Mans weekend is a different matter. They will be out in force and therefore you are very likely to get busted speeding if you are being silly.
On a lighter note, the French versions of the Gatso don't appear to matter to UK cars. I have lost count of the number of times I've been flashed now with no consequence.
[quote] Furthermore, I heard the other day (I am not entirely sure that it is true though) that they have finally got the computers together between th UK and France and that all infractions, from April onwards, will be forwarded to the UK for points to be added.[/quote]
They certainly have a nationwide network of ANPR camera's but I didnt think they had the ability to put points on your licence in the uk for speeding offences in europe.... they are trying though.
They certainly have a nationwide network of ANPR camera's but I didnt think they had the ability to put points on your licence in the uk for speeding offences in europe.... they are trying though.
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