Speeding Law in France & Spain

[wackyraces]

Hi,

I am doing the Gumball 3000 Rally - www.gumball3000.com - that is a 3000 mile run in 6 days. I have looked at the law concerning radar detectors in France and Spain and they are a complete no no!

I am wondering does anyone have hands on experience of the police attitudes i.e what speeds might get a slap on the wrist and what is likely to land a hefty fine.

Any experiences from either countries would e much appreciated..

Cheers
Clement
www.wackyraces.net

[t-c]

I know a couple of people who are in the French Police, and they take no prisoners (sic) when it comes to excess speed, particularly high excess speed. Many of the French Police see arresting Brits in their fancy cars (and bikers are also seen as fair targets) as good sport, but they do tend to target the very serious high speeds rather than the 80 - 100 MPH range.

They will arrest, impound the vehicle and put the offender before the court the following day, and fines in the region of 10,000 Euro's have been banded about, reulting in a stay at a local prison until it is paid.

I got pulled over for doing 120 just outside Le Harve a few years ago, and if it hadn't been for the fact that they recognised my International Police Association badge on the front of the car I would have been arrested and they were talking about a 10,000 franc fine which I think then was about 2K. As it was, I got politeley shown back to the car and everyone stood to attention and saluted as I drove away

Doing the Beaujolais run a few years ago, two Ferrari's got pulled and the occupants were arrested and the cars taken away, but i never found the outcome of that. So I guess the answer is in France it is a case of pays yer money and takes yer chances.

I only have very limited experience of Spain, so I can't really help you on that one.

[Le TVR]

For France speeding would be:

Up to 20km over = 1 point and fine
20 to 30km over = 2 point and fine
30 to 40km over = 3 point and fine and up to 3yr ban
Over 40km over = 4 point and fine and up to 3yr ban

So it starts getting serious at 30+ km over the limit.

[blueyes]

t-c said:

if it hadn't been for the fact that they recognised my International Police Association badge on the front of the car

Sooooo.... where do we get one of those?

[nonegreen]

Have been in France every year for the past 20 years. Got done just once for 160 mph fined 900 quid. Gulp.

Spain, lovely, Caught Spanish BIB at 135 once and they waved. Seems to me they are so full of rioja they care very little. Anyhow good luck show the green scum that resistance is futile and have a good time.

[Shaun_E]

You need a bail bond for Spain - you purchase it before you go. Without it you'll end up in jail until your court hearing and the fine is paid.

[wackyraces]

eh? don't like the sound of that. surely you're not serious - how on earth can that work?

[shnozz]

Shaun_E said:

You need a bail bond for Spain - you purchase it before you go. Without it you'll end up in jail until your court hearing and the fine is paid.

more info needed here please

[TimW]

Out speed em!

[wrinkly]

A few details here

www.drivingabroad.co.uk/driving_tips_countries/Spain/more.htm

[nel]

Careful in France Wackyraces - they have a new interior minister (Sarkosy) who has achieved the impossible. Through draconian sentencing and installation of fixed radars he has tamed the latin temperament of the French.

I used to cruise at 110 mph (180 km/h) on the french motorway but would be overtaken periodically. Now I can drive for a couple of hours at 100 mph (160 km/h) and find that I am far and away the fastest thing on the road! The drivers have completely changed their behaviour, so if you drive quickly you really stand out - always bad news!

Would recommend adopting maximum of 160 km/h as your cruising speed - you'll risk an on-the-spot-fine but no worse.

This link shows the fixed radars on French motorways www.radarsfixes.com/c_carte.asp?carte=F

As you say - radar detectors in France DON'T DO IT. Fines up to £10k (theoretically) and confiscation if caught with one.

Best of luck.

[t-c]

blueyes said:

t-c said: if it hadn't been for the fact that they recognised my International Police Association badge on the front of the car Sooooo.... where do we get one of those?

Its very simple, you join the Police service and then join the IPA for a small subscription fee

I believe civillian members of the force can also join now!

One of the best organisations I ever joined.

Got stopped coming out of Germany once. 6 of us on bikes really tramping on and we get caught by radar. The on the spot fine worked out at about £200 each, but as we were just about to enter Luxembourg we had no DM's. The copper sees my IPA badge on the front of the bike and asks me how much German currency we have on us. Collectively I think we could muster about £5 worth of local currency, so he said "We will only charge you the tourist rate, have a pleasant day!" and that was it, we were on our way again.

It certainly has its uses!

[Zod]

nel said:

Careful in France Wackyraces - they have a new interior minister (Sarkosy) who has achieved the impossible. Through draconian sentencing and installation of fixed radars he has tamed the latin temperament of the French. I used to cruise at 110 mph (180 km/h) on the french motorway but would be overtaken periodically. Now I can drive for a couple of hours at 100 mph (160 km/h) and find that I am far and away the fastest thing on the road! The drivers have completely changed their behaviour, so if you drive quickly you really stand out - always bad news! Would recommend adopting maximum of 160 km/h as your cruising speed - you'll risk an on-the-spot-fine but no worse. This link shows the fixed radars on French motorways www.radarsfixes.com/c_carte.asp?carte=F As you say - radar detectors in France DON'T DO IT. Fines up to £10k (theoretically) and confiscation if caught with one. Best of luck.

I'm the same: I used to drive very fast in France (never below 200 km/h with some nice blats way above that - gets you down skiing or to the Cote d'Azur in record time), but I stopped a year ago when I read too many stories about cars being impounded and people spending nights in cells. Now my limit is 160 km/h there.

The Road Angel stays at home, becaue I just know that, even though I speak the language fluently, M. le Plod will never accept that it doesn't do anything other than tell me my speed in France.

[cazzo]

t-c said:

Its very simple, you join the Police service and then join the IPA for a small subscription fee I believe civillian members of the force can also join now! One of the best organisations I ever joined.

So, could you get 'replacement' badges if yours were...err lost, or extras for your 'other' vehicles. I imagine they might be quite valuable on this site

BTW in 2001 I was nicked in France for 201kph*, didn't get arrested or anything nasty, but had to pay 2000fr

* which is still good 'value' compared to being nicked in the UK @ 25mph less, receiving a 50% greater fine and 6pts

[nel]

Zod said:

The Road Angel stays at home, becaue I just know that, even though I speak the language fluently, M. le Plod will never accept that it doesn't do anything other than tell me my speed in France.

That's very depressing Zod - I'm about to buy myself a toy and had thought about getting a Road Angel or equivalent to go with it, as they are not illegal in France. A recent article in a French car mag made that clear, but is Le Plod aware of this I wonder? Will research further...

Cheers