Le Mans: Fleeced for 750 euros
Discussion
Anyone else get stopped for having or carrying their Radar Detector in France. Not only did they Confiscate it, they also made you pay 750 euros(IN CASH!)before proceeding. If you didn't have the cash on you they kept your passport and driving license while you go to a bank to get it. And failing that they would impound your car.
In the 10 mins we were there they pulled another 4 cars, which at a quick calculation works out at 18,000 euros an hour, which certainly isn't a bad little income!!!!!!
The car pulled over in front of us had his disconnected and in his glove box, but he still got fined! Ouch!!!!
In the 10 mins we were there they pulled another 4 cars, which at a quick calculation works out at 18,000 euros an hour, which certainly isn't a bad little income!!!!!!
The car pulled over in front of us had his disconnected and in his glove box, but he still got fined! Ouch!!!!
We also got stopped. They were waiting by a roundabout and spotted the bracket on the windscreen. The Road Angel was in the glovebox!! They did the same to us as you described, until we eventually convinced him it was not a radar detector but a GPS system and therefore didn't work in France. Ridiculous attitude, and we thought the Brit cops were bad.
judas said:
Hmmmm, a radar detector detector... How on earth would that work? 
It's gonna be fun next time I take the beast over to la belle France as the radar detector box is bolted under the bonnet with a cable running through the bulkhead to the dash where it connects to the RoadPilot.
if they believe that you have one, they have the power to take your car appart!! beware!!
Nicholas Blair said:
Was it a random stop or do they have some sort of radar detector themselves to locate ?
We also got stopped on a round about about a mile on from a cafe we stoppped in. While we were waiting we watched them as they pulled the others. Basically they were perminatly on the phone with someone further down the road, I think at some traffic lights, who was telling which cars to pull. Well Sneaky!!!
Tax them !
were used to it apparently!Keep in mind that they fine EVERYONE 750 euros on the spot. You will then get a letter in the post in about 6 months telling you what the judge sets the actual fine at when its later decided. This letter, in French, will explain how you can claim it back by writing a letter in french to the right place.
They sure make it easy to collect the extra back eh?
optim8 said:
Basically they were perminatly on the phone with someone further down the road, I think at some traffic lights, who was telling which cars to pull. Well Sneaky!!!
The law doesn't authorize them to proceed this way.
Technically, it's the officer who has measured the car speeding who is to write and sign the ticket.
If the flic who signs the ticket is not the one who has measured the speed, the ticket is not valid.
judas said:
Hmmmm, a radar detector detector... How on earth would that work?
The same way TV detectors do - by detecting local oscillator leakage from the receiver inside the detector. Have a look at the side panel on this page; http://auto.howstuffworks.com/radar-detector4.htm
Radar detector detectors really exist, and are in use in many US States where detectors are forbidden.
I now the feeling guys!!!
We got stopped heading towards Rouen & had our Bel taken & Road Angel thrown back at us! Tried to convince the police they weren't switched on but apparently you can't even a detector!!!
Got away with 470euros as we tried to waste as much of their "nicking time" as possible! Radar will stop at home next year.
We got stopped heading towards Rouen & had our Bel taken & Road Angel thrown back at us! Tried to convince the police they weren't switched on but apparently you can't even a detector!!!
Got away with 470euros as we tried to waste as much of their "nicking time" as possible! Radar will stop at home next year.
So I have read this. When my tam arrives we will have an Origin b2 fitten permanently. As its not a radar detector, I presume I will be ok, but will need to spend the time telling them as such. We plan to do a lot of touring in france! Either that or I could make removable, any one tried?
Thom said:
Basically they were perminatly on the phone with someone further down the road, I think at some traffic lights, who was telling which cars to pull. Well Sneaky!!!
The law doesn't authorize them to proceed this way.
Technically, it's the officer who has measured the car speeding who is to write and sign the ticket.
If the flic who signs the ticket is not the one who has measured the speed, the ticket is not valid.
Blimey. That invalidates my ticket from a couple of years back then. They had a roadside camera though. Surely that must be good enough evidence?
from advice on here, I left my road angel behind for Le Mans... and then on my last day in Europe, I drove from Zurich to Southend and got zapped by a mobile plod unit on a bridge a few miles from home... doing about 80, no ticket yet, maybe it won't happen? but needless to say I was gutted after having driven all that way at the same speed...
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