How to prevent your car being impounded by the French Plod
Discussion
Your car cannot be impounded by the French Police if you are not the registered owner. If you drive a mates car or a hire-car, they are bound by their law which prohibits them from taking it. You must however have your licence and insurance and either V5 to prove its not yours or the agreement. Wont stop the fine but you keep the car.
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fartootall said:
Your car cannot be impounded by the French Police if you are not the registered owner. If you drive a mates car or a hire-car, they are bound by their law which prohibits them from taking it. You must however have your licence and insurance and either V5 to prove its not yours or the agreement. Wont stop the fine but you keep the car.
Now if you are in the same position as the famous estate agent this year, he who was caught at Rouen on the way out and the way back in a rented Ferrari and who was awarded 7,500 penalty euros for his trouble, he surely won't have the V5 since it isn't his car. How they didn't confiscate his I don't know. The french police are getting more and more annoyed at the English taking the urine and will react more and more to serious and flagrant breaches of ther law. After all, I was at Goodwood and at Silverstone this year and didn't notice people going past at 140mph on the M1 nor the A43 now, did I? Hmm, wonder why not. In a few years, when the new european licence is issued, I wonder if they will still take the risk? No, I'm not a totally law abiding citizen and enjoy speed, but you just have to pick your time and place, and Le Mans week just ain't it.
Sorry but this is not wholly true.
Having been to court this year with a mate who proved the car was not registered to him at the time of the offence he was still made to pay the impound costs.
In fairness he did not have the V5 with him at the time of the offence, but it made no difference. There was a considerable row between his lawyer and the prosecutor over the legal point, but he lost. The prosecutor arguing that under French law they were entitled to seize the 'object' with which the offence was committed. It appears the application of the law regarding registration is at best inconsistent.
I agree with Lowdrag on this completely, although I am not going to say I have driven like mother Teresa in France but I accept the punishment if I were to be caught.
Having been to court this year with a mate who proved the car was not registered to him at the time of the offence he was still made to pay the impound costs.
In fairness he did not have the V5 with him at the time of the offence, but it made no difference. There was a considerable row between his lawyer and the prosecutor over the legal point, but he lost. The prosecutor arguing that under French law they were entitled to seize the 'object' with which the offence was committed. It appears the application of the law regarding registration is at best inconsistent.
I agree with Lowdrag on this completely, although I am not going to say I have driven like mother Teresa in France but I accept the punishment if I were to be caught.
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