French police roadside ban for speeding

French police roadside ban for speeding

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A993LAD

Original Poster:

1,627 posts

220 months

Sunday 20th May 2018
quotequote all
Currently biking home through France.

Got pulled over by cops and they took my wife's licence immediately. They let me off thankfully and made it clear they were doing me a favour.

But it did leave us stuck by the side of the road with 2 bikes, lots of luggage and only one rider.

Despite being slightly smug that I was clocked at a lower speed than the missus I'm now faced with the difficulty of getting back to UK and then returning for the second bike.

Bang to rights for exceeding the limits by a good margin although not dangerously so and the roads are so empty and flowing it's hard to resist. We were doing 130kph in a 90.

They took all our cash in fines too.

Can you imagine if UK cops started doing that to foreigners visiting Blighty.

Any tips on how to get the second bike back gratefully received.

I had to knock on a door in the village were we were stopped and ask a stranger to store it for me.

About 300 miles from calais

Had been a great 2000 mile trip until that point.

Been through France a few times without trouble so obviously a bit overconfident re speeding I guess.

My bad

But wife takes the rap.

Lol

J B L

4,199 posts

214 months

Sunday 20th May 2018
quotequote all
Happened to a mate a while back. His ZX7r kept breaking down so we left it in Charleville Mezieres at my parents' and he carried on the trip on the back of another friend's GS.

He went back a couple,of weeks after we got back to the UK in a rental van. Did Plymouth - Charleville and back in a day. He was knackered though. That was the cheapest option. Can't remember what courrier services he tried but everything was running into the low £1000s.
Although his bike was slightly nearer to Calais. 200 miles ish.

Oh and don't forget your ramp and straps rolleyes

Andybow

1,175 posts

117 months

Sunday 20th May 2018
quotequote all
st, where about were you?

A993LAD

Original Poster:

1,627 posts

220 months

Sunday 20th May 2018
quotequote all
Not far from Dijon

bogie

16,342 posts

271 months

Sunday 20th May 2018
quotequote all
Bummer, thats unlucky. Have seen similar happen to cars on the way back from LeMans, luckily they had passengers insured to drive.

We are heading through France in a few weeks to the Black Forest, so will be extra vigilant......


Andybow

1,175 posts

117 months

Sunday 20th May 2018
quotequote all
A993LAD said:
Not far from Dijon
crap, just off a39 , I think I would just ride anyway being extra careful, take smaller roads and stay off the motorway. I feel for you, nearly happened to me, but luckily I played dumb and was let off

kiethton

13,883 posts

179 months

Sunday 20th May 2018
quotequote all
Andybow said:
crap, just off a39 , I think I would just ride anyway being extra careful, take smaller roads and stay off the motorway. I feel for you, nearly happened to me, but luckily I played dumb and was let off
I'd do the same but swap bike's and not travel together...

Birky_41

4,276 posts

183 months

Sunday 20th May 2018
quotequote all
Gutting to read that. Bloody French, I find so many rude and the police just see an opportunity in my opinion

Not worth stopping when you know that's the outcome

cmaguire

3,589 posts

108 months

Sunday 20th May 2018
quotequote all
This daft Worldwide anti-speed thing is just becoming plain ridiculous now, this nonsense in France really takes the shine off using the roads there. They've threatened to ban me twice recently.

I would go through the motions, come back later and drive/ride anyway. And then hope my next visit was after the ban expired.

A993LAD

Original Poster:

1,627 posts

220 months

Sunday 20th May 2018
quotequote all
It was a small D road. I was keeping off the main N roads and assuming the chances of a cop with a speed gun on a quiet back road with hardly any traffic was unlikely on a Sunday.

How wrong I was.

Also thought about just riding them both home but the cop was very clear about watching for the bike and instant jail if caught.

Not a risk the wife was willing to take.


sunbeam alpine

6,936 posts

187 months

Sunday 20th May 2018
quotequote all
Are you still in France? Your wife is only banned in France, so if you could find someone to collect the bike and ride/transport it to Calais, she could ride it from there..... smile

bozzy.

778 posts

77 months

Sunday 20th May 2018
quotequote all
Sorry to hear about your troubles OP.

They’ve got no sense of humour when it comes to speeding le frogs.

Hope you get everything sorted.

Pebbles167

3,417 posts

151 months

Sunday 20th May 2018
quotequote all
Take her to Calais, and give her your bike to get home with. You can get a taxi/train back and pick up the remaining bike. It's the only sensible option.

Edited by Pebbles167 on Sunday 20th May 23:54

A993LAD

Original Poster:

1,627 posts

220 months

Monday 21st May 2018
quotequote all
Yes good thinking.

I looked at that but today the only option seems to be 3 to 6 bus journeys via Paris ending with a long taxi ride from Langres if I can get one. Could be a 9 hour journey down.

It's a Bank Holiday here today and everything shut. Also I have to be at an important work event tomorrow.

Might get the Eurostar London to Paris next Friday and then down to Langres from Paris.

Would prefer to send a van

A real ball ache in any event.


croyde

22,701 posts

229 months

Monday 21st May 2018
quotequote all
Have you a mate that fancies a trip down to pick it up for you?

black-k1

11,887 posts

228 months

Monday 21st May 2018
quotequote all
Easiest way may be to take her into Germany then return for your bike to Dijon. Both then ride back through Germany & Belgium and get a ferry from somewhere like Zeebrugge. She's only banned in France.

130kph in a 90 resulting in a loss of license is very worrying. I know that if you doubled the limit then it was bye bye license not as little as 50kph over!

sunbeam alpine

6,936 posts

187 months

Monday 21st May 2018
quotequote all
Have sent you a PM with my phone number. Give me a call.

croyde

22,701 posts

229 months

Monday 21st May 2018
quotequote all
I presume she is banned as per their computer or do they take your actual licence off you?

Rushjob

1,843 posts

257 months

Monday 21st May 2018
quotequote all
croyde said:
I presume she is banned as per their computer or do they take your actual licence off you?
Both of the above.
You get your licence back through the post after a week or three.

NDA

21,488 posts

224 months

Monday 21st May 2018
quotequote all
What a nightmare.... Interesting on a D road too. frown