DRIVING LICENCE CONFISCATION

[lloydmic]

The French Police after very kindly allowing me to drive on their perfectly tarmaced, amazingly straight roads, saw the need to tax me €750 for the pleasure and also relinquished me and my mate of our driving licences...

DOES ANYONE KNOW THE PROCESS FOR GETTING IT BACK ??

I have heard varying stories.. Also I heard that I am banned fromm driving in France until I get my licence back. Does anyone know any different ?

The annoying thing is that they didnt show me any radar reading but instead my speed was scribbled in biro on the coppas forearm...

[Dakkon]

Were you speeding?

[claphamgt3]

It should come through the post in about a fortnight's time, with a letter explaining that you are banned from driving in France for a given period of time

[nel]

Also the 750€ fine is a provisional sum I think you'll find. Your case will eventually go before a magistrate (in your absence) who will decide on the appropriate fine. They will then either refund you a bit if you've overpaid (oh look, a flying pig!!) or send you a demand for more wonga. What speed were you and your friend caught at?

[lloydmic]

They got me at 172 KMH but at a constant of 162 KMH. My friend was 160KMH so his fine was only €145. so it basically cost me €605 for 1.25 mph not worth it me thinks...They also took his licence away though

[lloydmic]

put it this way though. I was lucky they didnt get me 1 mile earlier !!!!

[lloydmic]

They mentioned something at the time about me having to get it back from the British embassy in Paris. Is that a fallacy ?

[nel]

lloydmic said:

They got me at 172 KMH but at a constant of 162 KMH. My friend was 160KMH so his fine was only €145. so it basically cost me €605 for 1.25 mph not worth it me thinks...They also took his licence away though

Bloody hell - I'm amazed that they took your friend's licence away as normally you havc to be going at more than 40 kph over the limit (i.e. 170) before they do that. Sounds like you've been treated very harshly and it is quite possible that they will refund part of your 750€ fine.

[j.d.clarke]

My Brother got caught last year on the way home on the N138, 750 euro fine and instant 12 month ban in France. They took his license and the passenger had to drive the rest of the journey in France (well at least until out of sight og the police)

Your license gets sent by the French police to the DVLA in the UK, who will then post it back to you (at the address on the license).

My Brother got his back about 4 weeks after getting stopped in France.

[lloydmic]

but will I get any points on my UK licence ?

[lloydmic]

ALso what about the fact that they showed me no evidence of my speed on radar and it was more their word (although they were prob right but its not the point)

[F355GTS]

Currently no points are added but that's changing!

[lloydmic]

I was under the impression that the licence gets sent back to me ? SO now you are saying that it goes to DVLA first. SO is it not advisable for me to apply for a dupe from DVLA saying that I lost it ?

[lloydmic]

The whoe thing is bollox !! I dont know why they are ruining our fun like this . Where else are we gonna drive now ?

[Fruitcake]

lloydmic said:

put it this way though. I was lucky they didnt get me 1 mile earlier !!!!

Care to expand on this?

[apguy]

With reference to the fining process:-

I was stopped last year and carted off to Le Mans police station where I was fined a nice healthy 1000 Euros. I was made to fill out a bunch of paperwork effectively admitting guilt of my motoring crime. They then fined me the maximum permissible for this offence and told me it would go to the local court in due course - where the actual fine (which could be less) would be ascertained. I had the option of returning at a later date but to be honest it was pointless as I had already admitted guilt.

12 months almost to the date I got a registered letter confirming that my court date has resulted in :
- Fine of 978 Euros
- Admin of 22 Euros

Amazingly adding up to the 1000 Euros I had already paid them

[crugbun]

For future reference, only take full colour photocopies of licence and counterpart to France... This provides all the info they need, but they can't take your actual licence.

[RJDS]

got done 3 years ago in the RS4 263Km/h unfortunately for me it was on the Monday near Rouen, managed to get it in front of a Magistrate along with the paperwork that I had signed admitting guilt no 750 Euros for me, 2112 Euro's including costs plus a 12 month ban in France. funnily enough with the advent of confiscation etc. I have slowed down and now take in the view. The expression that weekend though on the guy's face in the TVR when he was overtaken on the N138 by an estate car with a Roof box at approx 150 mph will remain with me for years LOL. SLOW DOWN THE DAYS OF BEING ABLE TO HOON DOWN TO LE MANS APPEAR TO BE OVER. We have been warned.

[lloydmic]

fruitcake - 163 M.P.H and was only at 5k rpm. ran out of road though... What a shame. The whole point of the trip for me is the commeraderie and the drive down.. If they tighten up on this , it will take the fun out of it...

[ProPlus]

At least the points wont count until 2010/2011 thats when they can tot up all points accrued from anywhere in Europe and shaft you in Britain.....