Brits speeding in France Watch Out!

[Fred]

Just found this on the BBC. "French police step up watch on British drivers."

French police say many foreign drivers break the speed limit because they know they can avoid a fine. EU figures show that foreign drivers make up 5% of road traffic but account for 15% of speeding offences in the 28-nation bloc.

But new EU legislation is coming into force this year, aimed at tackling that anomaly. The deadline for implementation across the EU is 7 November.

Member states can now exchange data on motoring offences, to track down guilty drivers. So if a French camera catches a Spanish motorist speeding, that driver will still have to pay a fine in Spain - provided the driver is the owner of the vehicle.

Even before the EU directive came along, France had adopted such cross-border arrangements with Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland, which is not in the EU.

However, the UK, Republic of Ireland and Denmark have opted out of the EU directive.

So the only way motorists from those countries can be sanctioned on French roads - and there are many more from Britain than Ireland or Denmark - is if they are caught in the act by the police and made to pay on-the-spot fines.

Lt Benjamin Dupain runs the operation. "They have to pay on the spot. If they don't have any money on them and they are on their own, they will be driven to the nearest cashpoint machine. If they really have no money at all, then an on-duty judge will be called to decide what to do. But that can mean waiting around for up to three days and the car will not be allowed to move," he says.

British motoring association the RAC told the BBC that "finding you are liable for an on-the-spot fine of up to 375 euros (£323) when holidaying in France, with no option to have this transferred back to the UK, can be a very unwelcome surprise".

[Admiral]

Thing is, Fred, are our Gendarme friends looking for UK cars because they're an easy quick buck or can I carry on regardless because I'm a "French" driver in a French registered car with CT, assurance etc?


Just a thought. Not that I condone breaking the law etc etc. But the 30kmph limit in some towns is impossible to observe.

[Fred]

Thing is, Fred, are our Gendarme friends looking for UK cars because they're an easy quick buck or can I carry on regardless because I'm a "French" driver in a French registered car with CT, assurance etc?


Just a thought. Not that I condone breaking the law etc etc. But the 30kmph limit in some towns is impossible to observe.

Oh all police like nicking a speeding motorist it doesn't' matter what country you are in, but yes they will probably target the ones that make the most easy money. Besides someone has to pay for a van & 3 cops hiding behind a tree. And I'm totally with you on these 30km speed limits, they may just as well shut those roads down to be honest and ban any vehicles from having access.

It's just as dangerous for the idiots who don't look where they are walking at 10 or 20 so where do you draw the line? if someone gets hurt outside the swimming pool will they have to make it 20k then 10k and then what ? We will all have to travel in one of those tiny little box's with a 1 cylinder engine that sound like a tank and have about as much power as Hand Whisk.