Velryba's chick

Hello,

would anyone know if you are allowed to use radars detectors in France, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic?

We have a Beltronics detector.

Thanks
Kate

SJ_Skyline

Kate,

They are Illegal in France an Belgium, not sure about Germany and the Czech Republic though

Velryba's chick

Are they illegal even to carry?

What can they do if they find them?

richs2891

I Think - but not 100% sure the French are only bothered it its plugged in, but to be safe I would unplug and put in the boot whilst travelling in France or they could make you drive over it and fine you.

Richard

Taff107

Germany - illegal

Flatcapdriver

I think the French would jump up and down all over you if they found one in your posession.

SJ_Skyline

http://www.radar-detectors.co.uk/radar_detector_law.asp

HTH

corradoboy

I've heard stories where the French police have searched cars to find them, whether in use or not. The fines can be very steep, IRO €1000, and we all know how much your average Gendarme wants to **** over the English tourists It's usually easy for them to target you too, GB plates, high powered car

Velryba's chick

Hmm, looks like we will be leaving it at home then

vindaloo

The French have a very particular dislike of them. It's an illegal device and owning it is illegal, not just using it.

They can confiscate it or suggest that you render it unusable. Normally driving over it does the trick.

If it has a screen mount, remove it and clean up the tell-tale marks the suckers leave on the screen.

IMO leave it at home.

J.

Freak

The gendarmes will stamp on it at the roadside and fine you (or throw you in jail).

Dont even have it in the car- doesnt matter if its plugged in or not.

scoob_babe

Didn't the French police make a Porsche driver drive over his and give him thumping fine too?!?

Markus

Kate,
Do NOT have a Radar Detector in the car if you go through France, they are illegal and they hate them with a passion. Even if you don't have it turned on, it's still not worth the risk.

I know one poor soul, who shall remain namelss, who happened to forget he had his detector in the car. He went for a little run through france, was going a mite too quick, got pulled, they were going to just give him a fine until they saw the detector. Wham, ripped it out, causing a wee bit of damage to where it was installed, destroyed it, and fined him very heavilly indeed.

I'm not sure about other countries in Europe though. I've never heard of similar practices in Germany, Austria or Switzerland.

STi-Frenchie

This subject was discussed in some detail last year in a thread started by Nevetas IIRC. Try doing a search and it'll turn up.

Best advice is to leave it at home. The gendarmes will crucify you if you have it on, and will crucify you if you have it off. The ONLY "detectors" allowed are those that work with a GPS based system to tell the driver where the fixed radars are...and only one or two of those are "approved" by the French government. Anything that detects a mobile radar or even worse, jams it, will get you the equivalent of the modern day guillotine! They REALLY do not appreciate them.

The Swiss don't tolerate detectors either but will probably opt for the heavy fine -- for Swiss citizens this doesn't even bear thinking about if you are 60kmph+ over the limit -- it's jail straight away plus a very heavy slice (up to 35% IIRC) of your yearly income as a fine.

Easiest thing to do is use something like a Tom-Tom or map your route out so you know where the radars are. Over 1000 have been installed in France, they are aiming for 1500 by the end of next year and the Swiss like to decorate theirs as lumps of cheese, black and white cows Swiss flags and other funky stuff. Be careful coming out of the tunnels as the limit is 100Kmph and they like to have the fixed radars situated just at the exit.

Nevetas

Leave it at home imo

Elmer Fudpucker

or don't get stopped

I've been pulled up by both French and Belgian Police without a thing being said about my Roadangel

I suppose it depends about how **** the respective Police force feels on the day

Jon

MrShades

But, Elmer, a RoadAngel ISN'T a radar-detector, it's a GPS based fixed-camera locator.

If you had a radar detector, then the above applies. The French hate them, and will search your car, remove it, stamp on it (or ask you to drive over it), fine you, etc. etc. - if you're lucky.

I'd err on the side of caution and leave anything that looks or feels like a radar detector at home - but, as you say, in theory a GPS based device would be OK.

Leslie

As you say, don't take it with you.

Les

Velryba's chick

Thanks people for the advice, we will NOT take it than as it realy is only a radar detector and look like one as well!!

We also have one of those hand help pc's that you attach to you wind screen with Tom Tom in it, so that should be OK.

Thanks
Kate