Suspended in France...
Discussion
Hi all,
So I got done going 173 on a French highway by a gun, police further down the road pulled me over and took my licence for being 40+ over. Apparently a 90 EUR fine but nothing has come through yet...
I gave them my French address where I'm staying temporarily for a few more weeks and they said they'll return my UK one to me here (didn't want to wait until I got back to the UK to get it...). Got a letter from the Prefet advising of a 4 month ban (but no fine?), but they're now asking me to do a medical and exchange my licence for a French one. I'm contesting that by saying my main residence is in the UK and I'm here as an int'l student for now. Any tips on whether that's worth it?
DVLA question - I assume I'm still fine to drive in the UK/ other EU countries that don't share reciprocity with France? Also I understand many people just apply for a replacement licence as "lost", but on the form online there's a part that asks you to declare whether you're disqualified in any country. Do people normally "admit" that and does anyone know if it has any impact on the UK licence? Eg if a car rental company or insurance provider ran a check code, would it show up?
Cheers
So I got done going 173 on a French highway by a gun, police further down the road pulled me over and took my licence for being 40+ over. Apparently a 90 EUR fine but nothing has come through yet...
I gave them my French address where I'm staying temporarily for a few more weeks and they said they'll return my UK one to me here (didn't want to wait until I got back to the UK to get it...). Got a letter from the Prefet advising of a 4 month ban (but no fine?), but they're now asking me to do a medical and exchange my licence for a French one. I'm contesting that by saying my main residence is in the UK and I'm here as an int'l student for now. Any tips on whether that's worth it?
DVLA question - I assume I'm still fine to drive in the UK/ other EU countries that don't share reciprocity with France? Also I understand many people just apply for a replacement licence as "lost", but on the form online there's a part that asks you to declare whether you're disqualified in any country. Do people normally "admit" that and does anyone know if it has any impact on the UK licence? Eg if a car rental company or insurance provider ran a check code, would it show up?
Cheers
@zzrman - definitely KPH! I understand it can be a lot worst if that was mph...
@emperorburger - Since January, but spent a month back home during COVID lockdown - it hasn't been the magic 6 months that would "require" me to get a french licence
@omniflow - yep it's over 40kmh. Luckily I had a replacement driver, which the gendarmes were fine with even though he didn't have insurance... I was told that I'm getting a 90 EUR fine but nothing has come through yet, understand it can take time
I don't really care about the French ban - I wasn't aware they could do that but needless to say I won't be exceeding 130 by that much any time soon. More concerned about whether I'd have to disclose this to DVLA in my 'lost licence' application - and whether that can have any impacts?
@emperorburger - Since January, but spent a month back home during COVID lockdown - it hasn't been the magic 6 months that would "require" me to get a french licence
@omniflow - yep it's over 40kmh. Luckily I had a replacement driver, which the gendarmes were fine with even though he didn't have insurance... I was told that I'm getting a 90 EUR fine but nothing has come through yet, understand it can take time
I don't really care about the French ban - I wasn't aware they could do that but needless to say I won't be exceeding 130 by that much any time soon. More concerned about whether I'd have to disclose this to DVLA in my 'lost licence' application - and whether that can have any impacts?
Thanks all
@dogstar / @catso - yep, it's actually just having the licence that I care more about, so that I can drive in other countries that don't share reciprocity with France. I'm happy to get a D1 but I'm unsure whether DVLA will find out if I say I'm not disqualified, or what the implications are if I fess up...
@dogstar / @catso - yep, it's actually just having the licence that I care more about, so that I can drive in other countries that don't share reciprocity with France. I'm happy to get a D1 but I'm unsure whether DVLA will find out if I say I'm not disqualified, or what the implications are if I fess up...
Yeah, I'm thinking of waiting for 4 months but I'll likely need to do a bit of driving around Europe over July/Aug; so if it isn't back in London in the next few weeks then I guess I can take my paper counterpart, and yep I have a photo of it too.
I'm gonna pay the fine just for peace of mind too, can't be bothered with the hassle of being chased/ car getting stopped in the future.
I'm gonna pay the fine just for peace of mind too, can't be bothered with the hassle of being chased/ car getting stopped in the future.
Also, this might be a silly qu but I'm planning to come back via Eurotunnel - a friend can drop me to Calais, and get the train back to Paris.
Is there a risk of being pulled up literally just driving through check in/passport control/security? Do you know they check your licence or anything?
Is there a risk of being pulled up literally just driving through check in/passport control/security? Do you know they check your licence or anything?
For anyone wondering, absolutely no checks at the Eurotunnel almost as expected (and none even on the drive, though a friend drove me to be safe)
No returned licence either despite numerous emails to the Prefecture
Looks like I'll try and get by on my paper counterpart and photo of my licence, and just apply as "lost" when the ban expires
No returned licence either despite numerous emails to the Prefecture
Looks like I'll try and get by on my paper counterpart and photo of my licence, and just apply as "lost" when the ban expires
cmvtec said:
I was caught some years ago and fined €750 for 217 in a 130 zone.
I was also banned from the roads in France and my driving licence physically confiscated at the road side.
I had to arrange for my car to be collected and returned to my company apartment and arrange for colleagues to drive me for a while.
A few months later when I returned to the UK, having already obtained a duplicate licence from the UK claiming mine was lost.
I drove from Paris to the 'tunnel at night and got back into the UK without even having to show a passport.
Never driven back to France since!
Did you declare to the DVLA that you were banned in France when you applied for the replacement? Or was your ban over by then?I was also banned from the roads in France and my driving licence physically confiscated at the road side.
I had to arrange for my car to be collected and returned to my company apartment and arrange for colleagues to drive me for a while.
A few months later when I returned to the UK, having already obtained a duplicate licence from the UK claiming mine was lost.
I drove from Paris to the 'tunnel at night and got back into the UK without even having to show a passport.
Never driven back to France since!
To be honest, my 90 EUR fine seems pretty 'reasonable' for the speed I was allegedly doing. I couldn't be bothered to argue so just coughed up (online) and then set about trying to get my licence back. Could be the case that once it's reviewed by the judge it could go up?
As for my licence, after 5 emails or so to the prefecture telling them I'm not a resident of France, they actually did respond (with heavy criticism of my 'aggressive', let's say, tone) and after giving them proof, they responded saying they've posted it back to the UK... only time will tell if it ever comes...
As for my licence, after 5 emails or so to the prefecture telling them I'm not a resident of France, they actually did respond (with heavy criticism of my 'aggressive', let's say, tone) and after giving them proof, they responded saying they've posted it back to the UK... only time will tell if it ever comes...
markyb_lcy said:
Does using Waze in France include camera location alerts? I had been led to believe it is illegal in France to use such a device, though I realise a phone is not a dedicated device for that purpose. Is it legal when it’s used as such?
Believe it's counted as illegal. I'm pretty sure cameras are often reported as "police", at least when I used itGassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff