Warning for anyone Driving to France

[ShanSL350]

We have just returned from France this afternoon having been down to Le Mans for the racing.

On the way there three of us were stopped by the Police, had our radar detectors confiscated and fined 750 Euro's or the equivalent of £550 in cash on the spot.


Our passports were taken and not returned until the fines were paid. The Police were even fully prepared with directions to the local bank where we could withdraw the money to pay our fines.

Having met up with other Brits in Le Mans we were not alone.

Apparently according to the letter typed in English for our benefit, Radar Detectors are strictly forbidden in France and french drivers caught have their license's removed.

So be warned, take your Detectors of your dashboards and keep your eyes peeled.

Apart from that, Le Mans was excellent.

Happy Motoring!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[fuzzer]

i doubt any further justification not to go to france is needed ...

I hope you destroyed theradar detector before you handed it over under your tyre.....

 

[scotth_uk]

les mongrels!

 

[mercedes lover]

We have just returned from France this afternoon having been down to Le Mans for the racing.

On the way there three of us were stopped by the Police, had our radar detectors confiscated and fined 750 Euro's or the equivalent of £550 in cash on the spot.


Our passports were taken and not returned until the fines were paid. The Police were even fully prepared with directions to the local bank where we could withdraw the money to pay our fines.

Having met up with other Brits in Le Mans we were not alone.

Apparently according to the letter typed in English for our benefit, Radar Detectors are strictly forbidden in France and french drivers caught have their license's removed.

So be warned, take your Detectors of your dashboards and keep your eyes peeled.

Apart from that, Le Mans was excellent.

Happy Motoring!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Was reading about that on the net before. My Dad's friend got stopped there as well for speeding, they gave him a fine and directions to go to the bank and police station to pick up his passport once he had the money. Loads of spped camera's as well there now got flashed at 100mph coming home last easter. Going this friday to see my family so will try to keep the speed down. But saying that never works excitement is judt too graet.

 

[pammy]

Radar Detectors are strictly forbidden in France and french drivers caught have their license's removed.

So be warned, take your Detectors of your dashboards and keep your eyes peeled.

yikes - we're off to France soon - does this mean I've got to be stowed away somewhere - cos I'm our laser detector but then I don't often sit on the dashboard - so I might just get away with it.

But it does look like we're going to have to watch our speed a bit more than usual Looks like our trek sarf could take a tad longer than in the past

 

[Satch]

The joy of driving in France is no more, especially on the main routes. What it comes down to is a high profile national campaign to reduce the death toll on French roads, which is very high. This has Presidential support and it is making French motorists more upset than they already are.

So the coming of the holiday season marks also marks open season on Brits & Germans blasting south. French police do not take credit cards, so cash or nothing.

Just remember that there is a mandatory reduction of speed limits in wet weather. A really good way to trap foreigners, ie

Motorway 130dry /110 wet

Dual lane 110dry /100 wet

Open road 90dry /80 wet

Also worth noting it is illegal to have a child below 10 in front seat and alcohol limits a lot lower than in the UK, so do not drink at all if driving.

Bon Voyage.

 

[C240Sport97]

use your cruise control, enjoy the beautiful countryside, play some of your favourite music and you won't be that much later arriving, but will be a lot less stressed ... and you can use the fines you would have paid for more mods

 

[seight]

Can't wait

The drive to Le Mans is one they have really gone for, as all the brits in TVR's, Porches etc.. belt off down there. I've driven across France almost every summer and winter for the last 10 years (in a wide variety of machinery) and isn't it is almost always many times more enjoyable than driving here. The roads are so much clearer, faster, smoother, more intelligently signposted, have beautiful lay-bys every few miles etc... and the speed limit is just over 80mph and you can do 90 without getting "done". I once drove all the way to the Riviera in a 1987 911 Carrera at 130mph + (touched 150 several times) and didn't get done once! I'd been told the peages time you between each one but I think this must have be an urban myth as I had clearly disproved it. That may have been updated though.
I'm off again in 4 weeks time, this time in a W140 S500 limo. I will heed all this advice however, and stay under 100mph. As someone here said, "Stick on the cruise on, the air-con and the music and enjoy. I can't wait.....