Suspended in France...
Discussion
I think you have heard the last of your fines, OP.
I got done for 188kmh on the autoroute in France. They round that down to give what you’re done for - in my case 171kmh, so 41 over the limit.
For that I got a €135 fine on the spot, and a 2 month ban (only in France). They said they’d send my drivinng license back, but I never did.
In the UK I filled in a D1 form for my driving licence being lost and sent it back one day AFTER my French ban ran out. The wording on the D1 form is “are you CURRENTLY disqualified in another EU country”. Currently.
I’d not be swapping it for a French one and doing a medical etc if you are not legally obliged to do so. If it was me I’d write, tell them I was returning to the uk and ignore. I’ve lived and worked there and they’re glacially slow with this sort of stuff.
Incidentally I never received any further requests for money for fines etc despite what people on PH have said.
I got done for 188kmh on the autoroute in France. They round that down to give what you’re done for - in my case 171kmh, so 41 over the limit.
For that I got a €135 fine on the spot, and a 2 month ban (only in France). They said they’d send my drivinng license back, but I never did.
In the UK I filled in a D1 form for my driving licence being lost and sent it back one day AFTER my French ban ran out. The wording on the D1 form is “are you CURRENTLY disqualified in another EU country”. Currently.
I’d not be swapping it for a French one and doing a medical etc if you are not legally obliged to do so. If it was me I’d write, tell them I was returning to the uk and ignore. I’ve lived and worked there and they’re glacially slow with this sort of stuff.
Incidentally I never received any further requests for money for fines etc despite what people on PH have said.
Dog Star said:
Incidentally I never received any further requests for money for fines etc despite what people on PH have said.
I got 4 tickets for speeding on a trip from Andorra to Caen in December 18, which arrived in January 19 at the UK address to which the car was registered. They were filed in the round filing cabinet next to the desk. Reminders threatening increased amounts payable if I didn't cough up came around April/May 19. These were filed in the same filing cabinet.No more was heard.
aakashb7 said:
DVLA question - I assume I'm still fine to drive in the UK/ other EU countries that don't share reciprocity with France?
I believe many EU countries require you to actually have your licence with you to be legal (France being one of them) so, no you're not fine to drive in any country with this requirement.If you had a replacement UK licence then, presumably it would be valid in other (non French) countries? You'll probably need to get one anyway as I believe the French authorities don't have a good record at returning confiscated licences.
They've certainly taken a serious stance on speeding in France, gone are the days when you could do what you like.
When they first started getting serious, I got stopped at 201kmh and was hit with a £200 on-the-spot fine and left to carry on with my journey but I understand that would now definitely get me banned and probably vehicle confiscated.
I also received a further postal request for another contribution a few months later but never heard from them again when I 'forgot' to respond.
Since then in France I just set cruise control to 130 - 140 and relax.
zzrman said:
Dog Star said:
Incidentally I never received any further requests for money for fines etc despite what people on PH have said.
I got 4 tickets for speeding on a trip from Andorra to Caen in December 18, which arrived in January 19 at the UK address to which the car was registered. They were filed in the round filing cabinet next to the desk. Reminders threatening increased amounts payable if I didn't cough up came around April/May 19. These were filed in the same filing cabinet.No more was heard.
When I first came out to Belgium I had a company car. It wasn't new - someone else had used it for a couple of years.
I went to visit a customer in a town just over the border, and just after I set off on the way back, I got pulled over by the police - there were outstanding speeding fines against the car.
I explained that I couldn't have committed them as I was UK-based at the time. The police were fine with my explanation, but they didn't care - it was pay up or they'd impound the car.
Thanks all
@dogstar / @catso - yep, it's actually just having the licence that I care more about, so that I can drive in other countries that don't share reciprocity with France. I'm happy to get a D1 but I'm unsure whether DVLA will find out if I say I'm not disqualified, or what the implications are if I fess up...
@dogstar / @catso - yep, it's actually just having the licence that I care more about, so that I can drive in other countries that don't share reciprocity with France. I'm happy to get a D1 but I'm unsure whether DVLA will find out if I say I'm not disqualified, or what the implications are if I fess up...
aakashb7 said:
Thanks all
@dogstar / @catso - yep, it's actually just having the licence that I care more about, so that I can drive in other countries that don't share reciprocity with France. I'm happy to get a D1 but I'm unsure whether DVLA will find out if I say I'm not disqualified, or what the implications are if I fess up...
Just wait until the ban expires and get another. In the meantime do you have a copy or photo of the licence? If stopped elsewhere in Europe I am not sure what you could do - tell them it's with DVLA who are on a go-slow due to CV19?@dogstar / @catso - yep, it's actually just having the licence that I care more about, so that I can drive in other countries that don't share reciprocity with France. I'm happy to get a D1 but I'm unsure whether DVLA will find out if I say I'm not disqualified, or what the implications are if I fess up...
zzrman said:
Dog Star said:
Incidentally I never received any further requests for money for fines etc despite what people on PH have said.
I got 4 tickets for speeding on a trip from Andorra to Caen in December 18, which arrived in January 19 at the UK address to which the car was registered. They were filed in the round filing cabinet next to the desk. Reminders threatening increased amounts payable if I didn't cough up came around April/May 19. These were filed in the same filing cabinet.No more was heard.
Worth checking how it is in France...
Yeah, I'm thinking of waiting for 4 months but I'll likely need to do a bit of driving around Europe over July/Aug; so if it isn't back in London in the next few weeks then I guess I can take my paper counterpart, and yep I have a photo of it too.
I'm gonna pay the fine just for peace of mind too, can't be bothered with the hassle of being chased/ car getting stopped in the future.
I'm gonna pay the fine just for peace of mind too, can't be bothered with the hassle of being chased/ car getting stopped in the future.
Also, this might be a silly qu but I'm planning to come back via Eurotunnel - a friend can drop me to Calais, and get the train back to Paris.
Is there a risk of being pulled up literally just driving through check in/passport control/security? Do you know they check your licence or anything?
Is there a risk of being pulled up literally just driving through check in/passport control/security? Do you know they check your licence or anything?
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.
They know this...its called a deterrent 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.
fourstardan 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.
They know this...its called a deterrent 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.
A couple of years ago I was pulled by a Gendarme with a gun hiding behind a fence, clear dry road, no other traffic but I was doing 147kph and the universal speed limit on all main roads had just dropped from 90kph to 80kph so I was well over. The cop said he would record the speed as 139kph as I was driving safely and also because above 140 they apparently have the right to confiscate and crush your car. That adventure cost me €280 plus 4 months disqualification plus three points although they were never imposed, plus all the aggro of a medical and photos for the new licence.
One needs to remember that in France the rules are applied differently in different places, that Gendarmes have quite a lot of discretion and they can choose to ignore your crime or they can throw the book at you, unlike in the UK where the rules are applied quite rigidly. Last point is that, as remarked by others, they are now taking motoring offences by foreigners much more seriously than in times past. If you get a fine just pay it otherwise you risk at some future time being stopped and invited to cough up a seriously large amount of accumulated fines or risk loosing your car, they do have the power and nowadays they also have some really good technology up their sleeves!
One needs to remember that in France the rules are applied differently in different places, that Gendarmes have quite a lot of discretion and they can choose to ignore your crime or they can throw the book at you, unlike in the UK where the rules are applied quite rigidly. Last point is that, as remarked by others, they are now taking motoring offences by foreigners much more seriously than in times past. If you get a fine just pay it otherwise you risk at some future time being stopped and invited to cough up a seriously large amount of accumulated fines or risk loosing your car, they do have the power and nowadays they also have some really good technology up their sleeves!
For anyone wondering, absolutely no checks at the Eurotunnel almost as expected (and none even on the drive, though a friend drove me to be safe)
No returned licence either despite numerous emails to the Prefecture
Looks like I'll try and get by on my paper counterpart and photo of my licence, and just apply as "lost" when the ban expires
No returned licence either despite numerous emails to the Prefecture
Looks like I'll try and get by on my paper counterpart and photo of my licence, and just apply as "lost" when the ban expires
I was caught some years ago and fined €750 for 217 in a 130 zone.
I was also banned from the roads in France and my driving licence physically confiscated at the road side.
I had to arrange for my car to be collected and returned to my company apartment and arrange for colleagues to drive me for a while.
A few months later when I returned to the UK, having already obtained a duplicate licence from the UK claiming mine was lost.
I drove from Paris to the 'tunnel at night and got back into the UK without even having to show a passport.
Never driven back to France since!
I was also banned from the roads in France and my driving licence physically confiscated at the road side.
I had to arrange for my car to be collected and returned to my company apartment and arrange for colleagues to drive me for a while.
A few months later when I returned to the UK, having already obtained a duplicate licence from the UK claiming mine was lost.
I drove from Paris to the 'tunnel at night and got back into the UK without even having to show a passport.
Never driven back to France since!
cmvtec said:
I was caught some years ago and fined €750 for 217 in a 130 zone.
I was also banned from the roads in France and my driving licence physically confiscated at the road side.
I had to arrange for my car to be collected and returned to my company apartment and arrange for colleagues to drive me for a while.
A few months later when I returned to the UK, having already obtained a duplicate licence from the UK claiming mine was lost.
I drove from Paris to the 'tunnel at night and got back into the UK without even having to show a passport.
Never driven back to France since!
Did you declare to the DVLA that you were banned in France when you applied for the replacement? Or was your ban over by then?I was also banned from the roads in France and my driving licence physically confiscated at the road side.
I had to arrange for my car to be collected and returned to my company apartment and arrange for colleagues to drive me for a while.
A few months later when I returned to the UK, having already obtained a duplicate licence from the UK claiming mine was lost.
I drove from Paris to the 'tunnel at night and got back into the UK without even having to show a passport.
Never driven back to France since!
aakashb7 said:
cmvtec said:
I was caught some years ago and fined €750 for 217 in a 130 zone.
I was also banned from the roads in France and my driving licence physically confiscated at the road side.
I had to arrange for my car to be collected and returned to my company apartment and arrange for colleagues to drive me for a while.
A few months later when I returned to the UK, having already obtained a duplicate licence from the UK claiming mine was lost.
I drove from Paris to the 'tunnel at night and got back into the UK without even having to show a passport.
Never driven back to France since!
Did you declare to the DVLA that you were banned in France when you applied for the replacement? Or was your ban over by then?I was also banned from the roads in France and my driving licence physically confiscated at the road side.
I had to arrange for my car to be collected and returned to my company apartment and arrange for colleagues to drive me for a while.
A few months later when I returned to the UK, having already obtained a duplicate licence from the UK claiming mine was lost.
I drove from Paris to the 'tunnel at night and got back into the UK without even having to show a passport.
Never driven back to France since!
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