French speeding tickets being sent UK licence holders
Discussion
grand said:
Fatt McMissile said:
In France the owner of a foreign registered car caught speeding is presumed to have a "virtual driving licence" that can lose or recuperate points in the same way as a real licence. Therefore if you have received £600 odd of fines, you will have lost your virtual llicence and it is illegal for you to drive in France.
Changing the plates or car will make no difference if you remain the owner. Loss of points is held on file under name and address until you lose 12 and they write and cancel your licence. As french bureaucracy has become digital it has become very joined up, and although they may not be looking for you at the border, if you're speeding on an autoroute and you are stopped by Gendarmes at a péage, there's a strong possibility they will run some checks on you, and not just for speeding. Think of the worst case scenario including impounding your car and a day or two answering questions and you will be in it, plus costs and increased fines that will make your £600 look like chickenfeed.
So the question is, do you feel lucky?
If they do stop me in the future, how do they link me to these offences if I only show my passport (which doesn’t show my address) and I have a car with different number plates?Changing the plates or car will make no difference if you remain the owner. Loss of points is held on file under name and address until you lose 12 and they write and cancel your licence. As french bureaucracy has become digital it has become very joined up, and although they may not be looking for you at the border, if you're speeding on an autoroute and you are stopped by Gendarmes at a péage, there's a strong possibility they will run some checks on you, and not just for speeding. Think of the worst case scenario including impounding your car and a day or two answering questions and you will be in it, plus costs and increased fines that will make your £600 look like chickenfeed.
So the question is, do you feel lucky?
2 tickets have just arrived here - both for exceeding limits by under 20km/h. Both €45. One down South and one up North heading home on 29th & 30th of last month. Fair cop.
I’ve gone online and paid one but when attempting to pay the second one with the different e-payment number I get an error message: ‘The last transaction for this fine is being processed by the bank server; please try again later.’
Any ideas anyone? Thanks.
I’ve gone online and paid one but when attempting to pay the second one with the different e-payment number I get an error message: ‘The last transaction for this fine is being processed by the bank server; please try again later.’
Any ideas anyone? Thanks.
MDJ said:
2 tickets have just arrived here - both for exceeding limits by under 20km/h. Both €45. One down South and one up North heading home on 29th & 30th of last month. Fair cop.
I’ve gone online and paid one but when attempting to pay the second one with the different e-payment number I get an error message: ‘The last transaction for this fine is being processed by the bank server; please try again later.’
Any ideas anyone? Thanks.
They are giving you a BOGOF? I’ve gone online and paid one but when attempting to pay the second one with the different e-payment number I get an error message: ‘The last transaction for this fine is being processed by the bank server; please try again later.’
Any ideas anyone? Thanks.
andygo said:
Zed 44 said:
My solution is to avoid France which I've done since they introduced the ridiculous 48mph limit on RNs and D roads.
A little tricky to avoid France when you are going there on your hols I believe!
grand said:
If they do stop me in the future, how do they link me to these offences if I only show my passport (which doesn’t show my address) and I have a car with different number plates?
Your car with different plates will be registered to you at the same address as that of your previous offences? I have already said that the owner and registered address are the principal records against which such driving offences are recorded. For everyone. Not the car reg., not the licence number.My assumption is that they have stopped you for another offence and run a check on you. They will want to see your driving licence, insurance and V5. It is an offence not to carry them when driving here and they have your address on them. Not having them or not showing them will obviously make them more suspicious, mean another fine and they won't allow you to drive on if you don't show them that you are licenced to do so.
If they are trying to link you to your previous offences, believe me, they will do so.
Of course, if you feel lucky you don't have to believe me
Assuming Fatt Missile knows his stuff, and assuming that each fine is for an excess speed of under 20 kph over the prevailing limit, (so under70 retained in a 50 for example) you have now acquired four points on your virtual licence. Now under the French system these points will be reinstated after six months. It is only for speeds more than 20 kph over the limit that the points would last for three years on your virtual licence. So - four fines, four points, and in six months your virtual licence will be nice and rosy with another twelve points ready for next year. However, a warning. If you have been very naughty and were over the 20 kph, you need to be a good boy because you only get those back after you have been fine free for three years. it took me seven years to get all my points back and that was thanks to - of all reasons - Covid 19!
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