French speeding tickets being sent UK licence holders
Discussion
rdjohn said:
Is that you Magooagain?
Similar name, same car, different country - presumably just to be closer to the Nurburgring and Spa?
Hello Rodger. Yes it's me I'm moving between the two(at times). A bit like yourself but in a working kind of way.Similar name, same car, different country - presumably just to be closer to the Nurburgring and Spa?
I still think the future for us is France though. Fiscally we have been French for nearly 20 years so we have a vested interest to stay.
Hi all, first post but been watching this thread for 6 months.
We received a speeding fine Sept 2019, the car is in my partner's name so the ticket went direct to them, but it was me driving at the time of the alleged offense. We ignored the letter completely so effectively refused any joinder contract.
A big A4 package was sent recorded delivery from France to my partner last week, we refused to sign for the letter, was told by the postman it will sit in the sorting office for 90 days then will return to sender.
I will keep you updated on any future movement on this situation.
We received a speeding fine Sept 2019, the car is in my partner's name so the ticket went direct to them, but it was me driving at the time of the alleged offense. We ignored the letter completely so effectively refused any joinder contract.
A big A4 package was sent recorded delivery from France to my partner last week, we refused to sign for the letter, was told by the postman it will sit in the sorting office for 90 days then will return to sender.
I will keep you updated on any future movement on this situation.
Welshbeef said:
Given we’re now “out of Europe” is it to be expected that recovery of fines overseas gets much more difficult so it’s on the spot or nothing
Who knows. It may be part of the negotiation. We may have to make it easier for them to collect fines or maybe not. TBH iMO if you break the rules in any country, you should take it on the chin.
blueg33 said:
SNIP
TBH iMO if you break the rules in any country, you should take it on the chin.
Exactly. TBH iMO if you break the rules in any country, you should take it on the chin.
But I'm not a fan of the way in which the French enforce their traffic laws vis-a-vis the Brits, so I simply don't go there, although I speak French fluently and German not so well.
I now eschew the Tunnel and take the Harwich ferry to Holland and drive through Germany and Switzerland to get to Italy. Net result no money spent on fuel, food, accommodation and tolls in France on at least twenty four (and usually just over thirty) trips a year. Their loss.
psi310398 said:
Exactly.
But I'm not a fan of the way in which the French enforce their traffic laws vis-a-vis the Brits, so I simply don't go there, although I speak French fluently and German not so well.
I now eschew the Tunnel and take the Harwich ferry to Holland and drive through Germany and Switzerland to get to Italy. Net result no money spent on fuel, food, accommodation and tolls in France on at least twenty four (and usually just over thirty) trips a year. Their loss.
We beg you to come back to buy fuel and food and drive on our roads, please please.... So much loss of income. But I'm not a fan of the way in which the French enforce their traffic laws vis-a-vis the Brits, so I simply don't go there, although I speak French fluently and German not so well.
I now eschew the Tunnel and take the Harwich ferry to Holland and drive through Germany and Switzerland to get to Italy. Net result no money spent on fuel, food, accommodation and tolls in France on at least twenty four (and usually just over thirty) trips a year. Their loss.
E34-3.2 said:
We beg you to come back to buy fuel and food and drive on our roads, please please.... So much loss of income.
Forgive the double negatives, but I don't doubt that nobody will notice or if they do would not give a toss. However, it makes me feel better
and at least I'm doing something about something I don't agree with rather than just whinging.psi310398 said:
Forgive the double negatives, but I don't doubt that nobody will notice or if they do would not give a toss. However, it makes me feel better
and at least I'm doing something about something I don't agree with rather than just whinging.Been driving every year on French roads with British plates, never been stopped either.
On the other hand, I have received 2 fines from Italy when driving on French plates, both were paid straight away. Still, I don't mind spending money there and enjoy their beautiful roads.
E34-3.2 said:
I see what you mean but I think that you take it too personally regarding the French law vis à vis the British. The law is the law, we treat Brits, Germans, Spanish, Italians or any other nations in the world the same way than the Brits when they drive on our road. The same as the British police will treat me when I drive on UK roads. Been driving 20 Years in the UK, Nevers been stopped. Should I complain if the police stop me or oder me in a court of justice for non respect of British law? I don't think so.
Been driving every year on French roads with British plates, never been stopped either.
On the other hand, I have received 2 fines from Italy when driving on French plates, both were paid straight away. Still, I don't mind spending money there and enjoy their beautiful roads.
Thanks. It's not being required to follow French law that I object to. It is only good manners when a guest in someone else's country. There is nothing wrong at all with the French police enforcing their laws and with expecting British drivers to obey French law in France. My objection is to British drivers being targeted by the Gendarmerie and treated as a cash dispenser. There is plenty of evidence for that.Been driving every year on French roads with British plates, never been stopped either.
On the other hand, I have received 2 fines from Italy when driving on French plates, both were paid straight away. Still, I don't mind spending money there and enjoy their beautiful roads.
FWIW, I've only ever picked up one speeding ticket in France and that was, I think doubtful, as I was driving a Luton that was well below the prescribed size and weight but was still ticketed for exceeding the lower van limit, but life's far too short to argue over 40 euro.
To add context, I've never ever picked up a speeding ticket anywhere else either, except once in Texas.
lowdrag said:
The UK do not fine foreign plates, so while the French have access at our DVLA details for UK speeders the UK do not do so for French plates in the UK. For example, I come to the UK to visit my family, and I cross the Thames. I do not get fined for not paying the toll.
and that is our own stupid fault TBHpsi310398 said:
There is nothing wrong at all with the French police enforcing their laws and with expecting British drivers to obey French law in France. My objection is to British drivers being targeted by the Gendarmerie and treated as a cash dispenser. There is plenty of evidence for that.
I'd like to see that evidence please. The last statistics I saw showed that 66% of speeding offences caught by fixed cameras on the motorways in France were for cars with foreign plates, but the percentage per country wasn't quoted.lowdrag said:
I'd like to see that evidence please. The last statistics I saw showed that 66% of speeding offences caught by fixed cameras in France were for cars with foreign plates, but the percentage per country wasn't quoted.
I didn't mention fixed cameras, but the gilets jaunes have been most obliging about disabling most of them in la France profonde which will probably have had a distorting effect on recent statistics. I was talking about targeting and thinking particularly about the Gendarmes sitting behind the pillars of the bridges on the autoroutes leading to Calais. I have witnessed streams of French cars being let past with no impediment while British (and TBF German) plated cars travelling at similar or slower speeds were tugged. There are plenty on here who say they have experienced the same.
E34-3.2 said:
psi310398 said:
Forgive the double negatives, but I don't doubt that nobody will notice or if they do would not give a toss. However, it makes me feel better
and at least I'm doing something about something I don't agree with rather than just whinging.Been driving every year on French roads with British plates, never been stopped either.
On the other hand, I have received 2 fines from Italy when driving on French plates, both were paid straight away. Still, I don't mind spending money there and enjoy their beautiful roads.
psi310398 said:
I now eschew the Tunnel and take the Harwich ferry to Holland and drive through Germany and Switzerland to get to Italy. Net result no money spent on fuel, food, accommodation and tolls in France on at least twenty four (and usually just over thirty) trips a year. Their loss.
On a related note, be aware the Dutch plan to introduce a blanket 100kph limit during the day. Starts in March I think.ElectricSoup said:
Anecdote will always win in the minds of the rampant brexiter. It's a paranoia thing. Don't worry about them, it's their loss to boycott such a fabulous country as France. Personally I find simply obeying the speed limit whichever country I'm driving in neutralises any problems. Next week it'll be Italy, Slovenia and Austria (fly plus rent, I'll be on Italian plates). Later in the year, France. The only "targetting" I've ever felt like I've been subjected to is by British Customs when arriving back at our ports as a single young bloke alone in a car. Particularly coming back from the Netherlands, but my whole car got stripped down in Portsmouth once, seats out and everything.
I spend about six months of the year driving on the continent so there is a danger that I might actually have some relevant experience. But let's humour you. Why, in the context of the thousands of kilometres driving I do the continent every year, if you think this is a Brexiteer narrative, am I not saying the same thing about the Italian police or the Germans or the Belgian or Dutch or, for that matter, the Lithuanians?
psi310398 said:
I didn't mention fixed cameras, but the gilets jaunes have been most obliging about disabling most of them in la France profonde which will probably have had a distorting effect on recent statistics.
I was talking about targeting and thinking particularly about the Gendarmes sitting behind the pillars of the bridges on the autoroutes leading to Calais. I have witnessed streams of French cars being let past with no impediment while British (and TBF German) plated cars travelling at similar or slower speeds were tugged. There are plenty on here who say they have experienced the same.
How did you witness it? Did you park up on the side of the motorway to count? I also go backwards and forwards to the UK,I do exceed the speed limit, but am careful when approaching any port. It's a logical thing to do. I have never been stopped for speeding in France in over 20 years of living here and for the matter have only been stopped once in a control for my papers. Going back to your earlier comment, I understood that the main offenders on the motorways (and the statistics were from before the gilet jaunes took umbrage) were the Germans.I was talking about targeting and thinking particularly about the Gendarmes sitting behind the pillars of the bridges on the autoroutes leading to Calais. I have witnessed streams of French cars being let past with no impediment while British (and TBF German) plated cars travelling at similar or slower speeds were tugged. There are plenty on here who say they have experienced the same.
lowdrag said:
How did you witness it? Did you park up on the side of the motorway to count? I also go backwards and forwards to the UK,I do exceed the speed limit, but am careful when approaching any port. It's a logical thing to do. I have never been stopped for speeding in France in over 20 years of living here and for the matter have only been stopped once in a control for my papers. Going back to your earlier comment, I understood that the main offenders on the motorways (and the statistics were from before the gilet jaunes took umbrage) were the Germans.
I've noticed that the Benelux drivers seem particularly lead-footed, too.Anyway, to answer your question, on a number of occasions, both on the A25 and A26, I have clocked a gendarme behind a bridge column (given away by retrospective application of brakes by drivers ahead of me or because Waze has been kind enough to tell me) who has then presumably radio'd up to colleagues ahead, often at the next tollbooth. There is often a line of UK plated cars there and precious few locals.
I envy you the once in twenty years experience on showing papers. I average a couple of times a month here in Italy, but we are close to the Swiss border and the Guardia di Finanza is more active here than in most places, so it's not just the local police and Carabinieri earning their crust...
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