Suspended in France...
Discussion
Hi all,
So I got done going 173 on a French highway by a gun, police further down the road pulled me over and took my licence for being 40+ over. Apparently a 90 EUR fine but nothing has come through yet...
I gave them my French address where I'm staying temporarily for a few more weeks and they said they'll return my UK one to me here (didn't want to wait until I got back to the UK to get it...). Got a letter from the Prefet advising of a 4 month ban (but no fine?), but they're now asking me to do a medical and exchange my licence for a French one. I'm contesting that by saying my main residence is in the UK and I'm here as an int'l student for now. Any tips on whether that's worth it?
DVLA question - I assume I'm still fine to drive in the UK/ other EU countries that don't share reciprocity with France? Also I understand many people just apply for a replacement licence as "lost", but on the form online there's a part that asks you to declare whether you're disqualified in any country. Do people normally "admit" that and does anyone know if it has any impact on the UK licence? Eg if a car rental company or insurance provider ran a check code, would it show up?
Cheers
So I got done going 173 on a French highway by a gun, police further down the road pulled me over and took my licence for being 40+ over. Apparently a 90 EUR fine but nothing has come through yet...
I gave them my French address where I'm staying temporarily for a few more weeks and they said they'll return my UK one to me here (didn't want to wait until I got back to the UK to get it...). Got a letter from the Prefet advising of a 4 month ban (but no fine?), but they're now asking me to do a medical and exchange my licence for a French one. I'm contesting that by saying my main residence is in the UK and I'm here as an int'l student for now. Any tips on whether that's worth it?
DVLA question - I assume I'm still fine to drive in the UK/ other EU countries that don't share reciprocity with France? Also I understand many people just apply for a replacement licence as "lost", but on the form online there's a part that asks you to declare whether you're disqualified in any country. Do people normally "admit" that and does anyone know if it has any impact on the UK licence? Eg if a car rental company or insurance provider ran a check code, would it show up?
Cheers
My understanding is that the magic number is 40Km/hr over the posted speed limit. Assuming it wasn't raining that's 170Km/hr. Given that 173 is over that then I would expect a fine in the region of €750 - €900. However, given that this also triggers an on-the-spot instant ban, you might have got away with it.
Of the two people I know personally who got done for over 170Km/hr, one of them had to swop drivers, the other was solo on his motorbike so he had to leave it at the Gendamerie (?), get a lift on the back of someone elses bike and then collect it one month later.
Of the two people I know personally who got done for over 170Km/hr, one of them had to swop drivers, the other was solo on his motorbike so he had to leave it at the Gendamerie (?), get a lift on the back of someone elses bike and then collect it one month later.
@zzrman - definitely KPH! I understand it can be a lot worst if that was mph...
@emperorburger - Since January, but spent a month back home during COVID lockdown - it hasn't been the magic 6 months that would "require" me to get a french licence
@omniflow - yep it's over 40kmh. Luckily I had a replacement driver, which the gendarmes were fine with even though he didn't have insurance... I was told that I'm getting a 90 EUR fine but nothing has come through yet, understand it can take time
I don't really care about the French ban - I wasn't aware they could do that but needless to say I won't be exceeding 130 by that much any time soon. More concerned about whether I'd have to disclose this to DVLA in my 'lost licence' application - and whether that can have any impacts?
@emperorburger - Since January, but spent a month back home during COVID lockdown - it hasn't been the magic 6 months that would "require" me to get a french licence
@omniflow - yep it's over 40kmh. Luckily I had a replacement driver, which the gendarmes were fine with even though he didn't have insurance... I was told that I'm getting a 90 EUR fine but nothing has come through yet, understand it can take time
I don't really care about the French ban - I wasn't aware they could do that but needless to say I won't be exceeding 130 by that much any time soon. More concerned about whether I'd have to disclose this to DVLA in my 'lost licence' application - and whether that can have any impacts?
You have probably been asked to swap your licence because you gave a French address. You have done the right thing by writing to explain that. No idea how long they will take to respond. Didn't realise that 40kph over meant a ban - must have done that a few times - very easy on long open autoroutes. Bad luck
Edited by Beggarall on Wednesday 17th June 10:09
I have known people to get done for just a little more speed than that in France and suffer vehicle impounding, an immediate €750 fine at the road side and more to come, and then all sorts of costs and hassle trying to get their car back several months later.
You seem to have got away lightly by comparison.
You seem to have got away lightly by comparison.
QBee said:
I have known people to get done for just a little more speed than that in France and suffer vehicle impounding, an immediate €750 fine at the road side and more to come, and then all sorts of costs and hassle trying to get their car back several months later.
You seem to have got away lightly by comparison.
Silly question but there are an awful lot of people who can't get hold of €750 just like that. What happens to them?You seem to have got away lightly by comparison.
CDP said:
QBee said:
I have known people to get done for just a little more speed than that in France and suffer vehicle impounding, an immediate €750 fine at the road side and more to come, and then all sorts of costs and hassle trying to get their car back several months later.
You seem to have got away lightly by comparison.
Silly question but there are an awful lot of people who can't get hold of €750 just like that. What happens to them?You seem to have got away lightly by comparison.
The report back was that you qualify for the €750 on the spot fine, plus immediate driving ban, if you are 50kph over the limit.
The car gets impounded UNLESS you can cough up the €750 there and then.
They will take you to a cash machine, but you will need three cards, as there is a €300 a day limit in France on cash withdrawals.
So if you do manage to find the cash, you still need to find someone to drive the car.....
And then some months later it goes to court and if they are in a bad mood you get the fine increased by anything up to another €750.
QBee said:
I don't know, but have done some research back through PH's archives and have found the post I remembered.
The report back was that you qualify for the €750 on the spot fine, plus immediate driving ban, if you are 50kph over the limit.
The car gets impounded UNLESS you can cough up the €750 there and then.
They will take you to a cash machine, but you will need three cards, as there is a €300 a day limit in France on cash withdrawals.
So if you do manage to find the cash, you still need to find someone to drive the car.....
And then some months later it goes to court and if they are in a bad mood you get the fine increased by anything up to another €750.
That doesn’t make sense, if you’ve paid the 750 on the spot fine, that’s the end of the matter, they can’t then take it to court as wellThe report back was that you qualify for the €750 on the spot fine, plus immediate driving ban, if you are 50kph over the limit.
The car gets impounded UNLESS you can cough up the €750 there and then.
They will take you to a cash machine, but you will need three cards, as there is a €300 a day limit in France on cash withdrawals.
So if you do manage to find the cash, you still need to find someone to drive the car.....
And then some months later it goes to court and if they are in a bad mood you get the fine increased by anything up to another €750.
martinbiz said:
QBee said:
I don't know, but have done some research back through PH's archives and have found the post I remembered.
The report back was that you qualify for the €750 on the spot fine, plus immediate driving ban, if you are 50kph over the limit.
The car gets impounded UNLESS you can cough up the €750 there and then.
They will take you to a cash machine, but you will need three cards, as there is a €300 a day limit in France on cash withdrawals.
So if you do manage to find the cash, you still need to find someone to drive the car.....
And then some months later it goes to court and if they are in a bad mood you get the fine increased by anything up to another €750.
That doesn’t make sense, if you’ve paid the 750 on the spot fine, that’s the end of the matter, they can’t then take it to court as wellThe report back was that you qualify for the €750 on the spot fine, plus immediate driving ban, if you are 50kph over the limit.
The car gets impounded UNLESS you can cough up the €750 there and then.
They will take you to a cash machine, but you will need three cards, as there is a €300 a day limit in France on cash withdrawals.
So if you do manage to find the cash, you still need to find someone to drive the car.....
And then some months later it goes to court and if they are in a bad mood you get the fine increased by anything up to another €750.
I am guessing, but I suspect that, from bitter experience, they know that if they don't take an on the spot fine then they have all the hassle of trying to collect their fines later. As €750 is the minimum fine for that speed, they take that as a deposit there and then and offset it against the eventual fine you are given.
martinbiz said:
QBee said:
I don't know, but have done some research back through PH's archives and have found the post I remembered.
The report back was that you qualify for the €750 on the spot fine, plus immediate driving ban, if you are 50kph over the limit.
The car gets impounded UNLESS you can cough up the €750 there and then.
They will take you to a cash machine, but you will need three cards, as there is a €300 a day limit in France on cash withdrawals.
So if you do manage to find the cash, you still need to find someone to drive the car.....
And then some months later it goes to court and if they are in a bad mood you get the fine increased by anything up to another €750.
That doesn’t make sense, if you’ve paid the 750 on the spot fine, that’s the end of the matter, they can’t then take it to court as wellThe report back was that you qualify for the €750 on the spot fine, plus immediate driving ban, if you are 50kph over the limit.
The car gets impounded UNLESS you can cough up the €750 there and then.
They will take you to a cash machine, but you will need three cards, as there is a €300 a day limit in France on cash withdrawals.
So if you do manage to find the cash, you still need to find someone to drive the car.....
And then some months later it goes to court and if they are in a bad mood you get the fine increased by anything up to another €750.
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