French speeding fines?

[capsuleboy]

Went off to France last week to tow an Estafette van home behind my Avantime, as you do.

But while I was watching the daft local drivers, checking on the trailer width and generally trying to drive properly I got flashed by the plod.

It was a camera fixed to the back of an unmarked Megane parked on the side of the road facing me. I think I was doing about 38 in a 30 limit, bugger...

So does anybody know if they follow these up on UK reg cars? Or should I just keep my fingers crossed while wating for the post. The irony of this is I am the original Captin Slow and have so far avoided getting any points ever!

Thanks

Stuart.

[Mr Lobster]

Unless things have changed in the last twelve months then they don't.

 

Back end of 2011 I may have been doing a considerable speed on the A16 (I think) from Paris to Calais when I spotted a gendarme with a speed camera. Despite spending the rest of the journey to the ferry looking in the mirror, nothing ever came of it.

 

Got flashed by a camera a couple of years back and never heard anything from that either.

 

Incidentally, they have a fleet of a couple of hundred Megane coupes now. All unmarked and cruising the autoroute at the legal limit. Theory is that if you overtake them they will then stop you.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I've never heard any credible tales of them following up UK motorists. They have a slightly different points system too which does not translate directly onto a UK licence so I would say dont worry about it, even if they do follow up on it you'll only get a €30 fine or something.

[hhhugues]

As far as I know it just never happens. Pretty sure I've been flashed before in a UK reg car in France and nothing came of it. Not cost effective, works the same the other way. However I'd be mindful of the French rozzers actually keeping a record of driving offences by plate number, just in case you get stopped by them in another instance. Unlike here, I assume its still fairly centralised, as opposed to delegating handling fines collection to independant companies once they're issued.

[George-Roper]

From this //

http://www.day-tripper.net/driving-fran ... mlEuropean law regarding enforcement of traffic fines

 

Until recently if you incurred a fine for a traffic offence in many European countries it was unlikely you would have to pay it, especially if you were caught by a speed camera. Mobile traffic patrols are still a regular feature of French controls however. In an effort to crack down on avoidance, the authorities may now seize vehicles.

 

From October 1st 2009 cross border fines enforcement started. http://www.sparksproject.org

 

The issues of enforcement of traffic fines between member states has been discussed in the E.U. Parliament (2008) but the proposals await final approval by the Commission. This link shows the discussions which have taken place and progress of any directives. http://www.europarl.europa.eu / eur-lex.europa.eu

 

2010 – It looks like this proposed legislation will become law and Europe wide in the next few years. europa.eu/legislation_summaries

 

United Kingdom enforcement is based on an administrative process, with ultimate enforcement through the normal process for the enforcement of civil judgments. There are limited criminal sanctions in some areas.

 

The United Kingdom has a system of traffic legislation that has developed incrementally, local authorities can opt to enforce minor traffic laws via decriminalised legislation or they can leave enforcement in the hands of the police using criminal law.

 

The French system of enforcement is based on criminal and administrative law. There is no congestion charging and comparatively fewer minor offences than other countries.

 

France's system of traffic enforcement is based on criminal and administrative law known as the Code de la Route. Local police forces are empowered by departments and communes to issue traffic fines, which are then enforced in the same way as judicial decisions. If a person does not pay a traffic fine then their assets can be seized. Seizure can be challenged in a civil court.

[Andrew353w]

Went off to France last week to tow an Estafette van home behind my Avantime, as you do.

But while I was watching the daft local drivers, checking on the trailer width and generally trying to drive properly I got flashed by the plod.

It was a camera fixed to the back of an unmarked Megane parked on the side of the road facing me. I think I was doing about 38 in a 30 limit, bugger...

So does anybody know if they follow these up on UK reg cars? Or should I just keep my fingers crossed while wating for the post. The irony of this is I am the original Captin Slow and have so far avoided getting any points ever!

Thanks

Stuart.

 

If "les flicks" do write to you, I suggest you supply the following details regarding the driver:

 

NAME: Christopher HUHNE

ADDRESS: C/O H.M.P. Ford Open Prison, ARUNDEL, West Sussex. BN18 0BX

 

After all, if his wife "took it" for him, I don't see why he shouldn't return the favour for you.....

 

Just a thought......