Radar Detectors in France...
15 June 2004, 09:54 AM
#1
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Radar Detectors in France...
... are not allowed.
I knew that, which is why I took mine off and carefully stored it in the boot. However, foolishly, I still left the "sucker" attachments on the windscreen.
Driving back from Le Mans yesterday I was stopped at one of the French Police road blocks who spotted the attachment on the windscreen and asked whether I had a detector. I replied no, and said I knew that they were not allowed in France.
He said he didn't believe me, and that I should hand it over. I carried on denying that I had one. He then said that he would search my car plus I would have a €750 fine, or confiscation of the Impreza. I subsequently managed to reduce this to €450, and then produced my Valentine One (cost C. £499) from the boot. He then confiscated this, and my passport, whilst I then went to a cashpoint to pay the fine.
So I had to pay €450 and lose my Valentine One - and what was the offence that I was committing? I'm still speechless, and I'm not sure that there's anything I can do. And to put it in perspective, a friend of mine was stopped doing 120 mph and was fined €90!!
Just a warning for anyone else travelling in France I guess....
I knew that, which is why I took mine off and carefully stored it in the boot. However, foolishly, I still left the "sucker" attachments on the windscreen.
Driving back from Le Mans yesterday I was stopped at one of the French Police road blocks who spotted the attachment on the windscreen and asked whether I had a detector. I replied no, and said I knew that they were not allowed in France.
He said he didn't believe me, and that I should hand it over. I carried on denying that I had one. He then said that he would search my car plus I would have a €750 fine, or confiscation of the Impreza. I subsequently managed to reduce this to €450, and then produced my Valentine One (cost C. £499) from the boot. He then confiscated this, and my passport, whilst I then went to a cashpoint to pay the fine.
So I had to pay €450 and lose my Valentine One - and what was the offence that I was committing? I'm still speechless, and I'm not sure that there's anything I can do. And to put it in perspective, a friend of mine was stopped doing 120 mph and was fined €90!!
Just a warning for anyone else travelling in France I guess....
15 June 2004, 10:56 AM
#4
<<<And to put it in perspective, a friend of mine was stopped doing 120 mph and was fined €90!!>>>
Well he got off light then as the fines for speeding over there are awful.
Even if he was on the motorway where the limit is 130kph, he was 40mph (or 70 kph) over, so that takes him outside the "50 above" rule, and could have seen him get a massive fine, plus immediate loss of license, immobilisation of car and appearance before a magistrate the next day with a possible 14 day jail sentence
As far as radar detectors are concerned, why on earth didn't you leave it at home??? It's an offence to POSSESS one over there, let alone use it.
:
Alcazar
Well he got off light then as the fines for speeding over there are awful.
Even if he was on the motorway where the limit is 130kph, he was 40mph (or 70 kph) over, so that takes him outside the "50 above" rule, and could have seen him get a massive fine, plus immediate loss of license, immobilisation of car and appearance before a magistrate the next day with a possible 14 day jail sentence
As far as radar detectors are concerned, why on earth didn't you leave it at home??? It's an offence to POSSESS one over there, let alone use it.
:Alcazar
15 June 2004, 11:44 AM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
So £300 fine and loss of a £499 piece of kit? And people wonder why we hate the French so much - France would be such a nice place without them 
Thieving *******
Edited to add that the fine I agree with btw as the law is the law but its the confiscation thats wrong. They should allow you to have the option to pay for it to be posted home to you where it is legal to own it - they have no right to take it from you and destroy it
And people wonder why we hate the French so much - France would be such a nice place without them Thieving *******
Edited to add that the fine I agree with btw as the law is the law but its the confiscation thats wrong. They should allow you to have the option to pay for it to be posted home to you where it is legal to own it - they have no right to take it from you and destroy it
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 15 June 2004 at 04:20 PM.
Trending Topics
15 June 2004, 12:15 PM
#8
Scooby Regular
i know it's a sh**e state of affairs but it is their law , end of story , it's no use saying they are a bunch of to%%ers , which they are ! , but you break the law you pay for it 
15 June 2004, 12:47 PM
#10
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Location: Location:
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by 2000TLondon
Is there any point to saying it was "stolen" in France, which in a way it sort of was, ish, kind of, and claiming on the insurance?
15 June 2004, 01:14 PM
#14
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wrap mine up in a towel (inc. sticky bracket) and place in side boot compartment. I even clean the little circle marks left by the suckers
In france it is the device that is illegal, not just the use of one - I think the next time I go I may even leave it at home.
read this, its scary!
http://www.racfoundation.org/releases/300404rac.htm
In france it is the device that is illegal, not just the use of one - I think the next time I go I may even leave it at home.
read this, its scary!
http://www.racfoundation.org/releases/300404rac.htm
Originally Posted by RAC Foundation
Speed Detector Fact File:
Definitive information on the legality/illegality of using the devices in individual European and Scandinavian countries is difficult to establish but France, Belgium, Greece, Austria, Turkey, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Ireland, and Norway all operate bans and will shortly be joined by Spain. The best advice in other states is to either check with the local police before travelling or play safe and remove the device completely.
The harshest potential punishment is levied in Luxembourg where a custodial sentence of between eight days and three years is possible. The Republic of Ireland also deals harshly with offenders and a six month prison sentence is possible.
France, the country most likely to be visited by Brits, can deprive you of your car, licence and up to 1500 Euros if you are caught with a speed detection device.
Speed detection devices were illegal in the UK until 1999 when a decision by the High Court reversed the ruling, although the Government is proposing to make secondary legislation to ban their installation and use once again – creating an offence which would attract a maximum fine of £1000 and six penalty points.
Definitive information on the legality/illegality of using the devices in individual European and Scandinavian countries is difficult to establish but France, Belgium, Greece, Austria, Turkey, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Ireland, and Norway all operate bans and will shortly be joined by Spain. The best advice in other states is to either check with the local police before travelling or play safe and remove the device completely.
The harshest potential punishment is levied in Luxembourg where a custodial sentence of between eight days and three years is possible. The Republic of Ireland also deals harshly with offenders and a six month prison sentence is possible.
France, the country most likely to be visited by Brits, can deprive you of your car, licence and up to 1500 Euros if you are caught with a speed detection device.
Speed detection devices were illegal in the UK until 1999 when a decision by the High Court reversed the ruling, although the Government is proposing to make secondary legislation to ban their installation and use once again – creating an offence which would attract a maximum fine of £1000 and six penalty points.
Last edited by Jaybird-UK; 15 June 2004 at 01:16 PM.
15 June 2004, 01:29 PM
#16
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: London
Posts: 4,797
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
so what are you saying - that the french are wrong to have a law that you disagree with? the device is illegal, the owner got found out, and now feels hard done by. i thought you lot were all in favour of law and order, or is it a case of "only when it suits my personal agenda"?
15 June 2004, 01:38 PM
#17
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: The biosphere
Posts: 7,824
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by ProperCharlie
so what are you saying - that the french are wrong to have a law that you disagree with? the device is illegal, the owner got found out, and now feels hard done by. i thought you lot were all in favour of law and order, or is it a case of "only when it suits my personal agenda"?
15 June 2004, 01:50 PM
#18
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: A powerslide near you
Posts: 10,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Are you seriously suggesting that the French govt. spent loads of time writing up a law to 'target' the small number of citizens from a foreign country who have rader detectors? 
MOST british citizens driving in france do not have these detectors and of the ones that do, the smart ones leave theirs at home.
MOST british citizens driving in france do not have these detectors and of the ones that do, the smart ones leave theirs at home.
15 June 2004, 01:52 PM
#19
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: The biosphere
Posts: 7,824
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Dracoro
Are you seriously suggesting that the French govt. spent loads of time writing up a law to 'target' the small number of citizens from a foreign country who have rader detectors? MOST british citizens driving in france do not have these detectors and of the ones that do, the smart ones leave theirs at home.
MOST british citizens driving in france do not have these detectors and of the ones that do, the smart ones leave theirs at home.
15 June 2004, 02:08 PM
#20
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by ProperCharlie
so what are you saying - that the french are wrong to have a law that you disagree with? the device is illegal, the owner got found out, and now feels hard done by. i thought you lot were all in favour of law and order, or is it a case of "only when it suits my personal agenda"?
15 June 2004, 02:13 PM
#21
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The point is that this law is not well known, and the authorities in France probably like to keep it that way. Read any websites on motoring in France (like the AA) and it will mention the need for warning triangles, spare bulbs etc... but nothing about radar detection equipment.
Whilst it's common sense not to use it, it's a fairly draconian measure to make it illegal to have one in your possession. It's hardly a hard drug is it?
Whilst it's common sense not to use it, it's a fairly draconian measure to make it illegal to have one in your possession. It's hardly a hard drug is it?
15 June 2004, 02:19 PM
#22
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: London
Posts: 4,797
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i think it is fairly well known that they are illegal. i agree that it isa fairly draconian law, but the point being that if you have one in your boot, what's to stop you getting it out of the boot once you have got 1/2 a mile down the road? if they are ilegal to use, they may as well be illegal to own as well.
15 June 2004, 02:20 PM
#23
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: A powerslide near you
Posts: 10,261
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Read any websites on motoring in France (like the AA) and it will mention the need for warning triangles, spare bulbs etc... but nothing about radar detection equipment.
http://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/ov...al_advice.html
15 June 2004, 03:13 PM
#26
Scooby Senior
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: North Wales
Posts: 5,826
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why would anyone need to use a radar detection device anyway? Surely they are only to avoid getting caught breaking the law, which you shouldn't do anyway (ok, I know we all do it but you see my point).
Whether the law is well known or not is irrelevant. It is your responsibility to find out what you can or cannot do when visiting a foreign country. Ignorance is no defence in law. I'm sure there are lots of laws that trip up visitors to the UK because they are not well known, but I don't see anyone moaning about them.
Geezer
Whether the law is well known or not is irrelevant. It is your responsibility to find out what you can or cannot do when visiting a foreign country. Ignorance is no defence in law. I'm sure there are lots of laws that trip up visitors to the UK because they are not well known, but I don't see anyone moaning about them.
Geezer
15 June 2004, 03:25 PM
#27
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: From Your Worst Nightmare!
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
was being over zealous! :P but still, conferscating it when it was in the boot and not in use! he could have had a perfectly valid reason for having it.
