Breathalysers

[Riders Rest]

I did hear (whilst in Germany) that you need to carry two! You can be fined if you dont have one on your person whilst driving/riding, and that if you are stopped and tested ( #1), the policeman can still fine you for NOT having another...cant guarantee how acurate this is...but thats what I heard from someone who deals with French bikers etc....

...Got mine...1 Euro I think...

There is a lot of Hype about the brethalyser which is inacurate...

you need only have 1 (one) complete in date unopened brethalyser on you/in your vehicle - this is not for the Gendarme to use at anytime it is for you to use should you feel the need to check if you are fit to drive before driving.

The police/Gendarme will use their own equipemnt to test you on the road side should they need to since theirs will be officially calibrated.

The Police/Gendarme will not stop you soley to determin if you have one or not, you may be asked to produce one if they stop you for any other reason such as speeding, or dangerous driving or at a normal vehicle spot check into or out of a town which is normal practice in France where they will check your documents and now I suppose that you have a breathalyser.

 

[Taff]

... you need only have 1 (one) complete in date unopened brethalyser on you/in your vehicle - this is not for the Gendarme to use at anytime it is for you to use should you feel the need to check if you are fit to drive before driving.

But if you carry one (as will be required by law) and use it, you then haven't got a breathalyser, which is why I assumed they sold them in packs of 2.

 

[Geziuks]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18662555 Sorry for reposting this link from another post, just thought that more people have read this post. Obviously I can't understand the need of having a breathalyser with you as police have one anyway if you have made an accident.. but have a look at 3rd paragraph, do we need to carry warning triangle as well?? Also, police are targeting drivers that come via Euro tunnel or ferries.. Are they assuming that brits (or whoever crosses the channel) are more likely to be drunk??

 

[John Armstrong]

Also, police are targeting drivers that come via Euro tunnel or ferries.. Are they assuming that brits (or whoever crosses the channel) are more likely to be drunk??

Easier income generator from the fines, plus I'd bet the police unions have shares in the two companies that make them (assuming that there's only two companies is true).

 

[STUBBS]

sold in packs of 2 make sure it has a nf or ce produst mark on it

 

[Fanum]

Fuck all this...


BOYCOTT FRANCE!!

 

[franco]

Fuck all this...


BOYCOTT FRANCE!!

Yeah bugger off, don't want your sort over here anyway ha ha ha.

 

[andy malton]

those are NF which is good, but i see occasions where people have bought them in the Uk only to find out they are no good....

i can just imagine the huge mark up the ferry companies will be selling them for!

i saw them on the boat Friday 5.99 for a twin pack

 

[MasterDabber]

French supermarket ... Carrefour..... about 2 Euros for 2.

 

[ChasF]

Proving very difficult to purchase here, we've asked in several places and they all had a small allocation (20 kits) which have sold out with no fixed date given for the delivery of the next batch.

You can't be fined for not having a kit until November.

A kit is 2 breath testers but if you only have one left when stopped by the Gendarmes you'll be OK if you buy a new kit asap.

 

[Taff]

... Obviously I can't understand the need of having a breathalyser with you as police have one anyway if you have made an accident..

But in your example the Police breathalyser will be a reactive use following an accident. My guess is that the Authorities want people to use them proactively ie to test themselves and prevent the accident happening in the first place.

French supermarket ... Carrefour..... about 2 Euros for 2.

So, they're cheap as chips, take up next to sod all space and will keep Monsieur Plodde happy. In a nutshell, there's no reason to refuse to carry them ... apart from proving a point.

 

[ChasF]

The Gendarmes often stop and test every car on the road. In France you don't have to be driving erractically or have anything wrong with your vehicle, they just stop you, check your documents, tyres, 'code de route', then breathalyse you and do a drugs test.

Fortunately, they are functionaires and therefore very lazy.

 

[franco]

So, they're cheap as chips, take up next to sod all space and will keep Monsieur Plodde happy. In a nutshell, there's no reason to refuse to carry them ... apart from proving a point.

Still a pain in the hole if you've got three cars and a few motorbikes, and the things have a limited shelf life. I object to the fact it's a fecking money-making scam for some of the government cronies with no real benefit as far as I'm concerned. The hard core drink drivers down here will still get bladdered and drive, whilst teetotal people still have to shell out for stuff which is no feckin use to them whatsover.

Fais chier

 

[gman2]

Still a pain in the hole if you've got three cars and a few motorbikes, and the things have a limited shelf life. I object to the fact it's a fecking money-making scam for some of the government cronies with no real benefit as far as I'm concerned. The hard core drink drivers down here will still get bladdered and drive, whilst teetotal people still have to shell out for stuff which is no feckin use to them whatsover.

Fais chier

Totally agree Rob, someone is making a feckin fortune from this. What I can't work out is that I read you have to have 2 in your vehicle but if you actually use one that means you have to buy another before you drive so in fact you need 3.

Cheers

Dick

 

[mrsroynie]

Totally agree Rob, someone is making a feckin fortune from this. What I can't work out is that I read you have to have 2 in your vehicle but if you actually use one that means you have to buy another before you drive so in fact you need 3.

Cheers

Dick

No. You only actually need one breathalyser - and the idea is that they are for personal use, i.e. you think you might be over the limit after a boozy lunch, so you test yourself and determine whether you are fit to drive. The reason they are sold in twos is that, if you test yourself and find that you are, in fact, fit to drive - you still need a useable breathalyser to stay within the law.

If you are stopped by the Gendarmes, they will not ask you to use your breathalyser to test yourself. They will do it with their own equipment. So, if you absolutely never drink and drive, you really only need to carry one breathalyser (as you will never use it). However, as others have mentioned, they are sold in France for 2€ for 2, so most people will carry 2.

 

[Giles]

This is more about politics than making money. The French (along with the Spanish) had their knuckles rapped by the European bods that look at road casualty reduction, and they were told to pull their socks up. (France and spain had the worst casualty figures by a long stretch..). That's why French speed checks have suddenly rocketed, and they've brought in a whole load of legislation like reflective bike gear and breath test kits.

 

[franco]

Indeed see here

Linky

 

[AlanI]

Probably of more immediate importance is this:

Driving in France, Belgium or Netherlands?

According to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office there has been a series of robberies and express kidnappings on or around the motorway connecting Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Ghent, Dunkirk and the Channel Ports - particularly towards the southern end of the route.

Perpetrators of these incidents have been using threats of violence and carrying knives and/or firearms.

In the early hours they have been flagging down vehicles, seeming to seek assistance, or kidnapping single drivers outside petrol stations or 24-hour stores.

The perpetrators have generally been gangs with Eastern European connections, sometimes using UK-registered vehicles. They have been robbing victims on the spot or taking their victims under force to the nearest ATM to extract as much cash as their cards will allow.

 

[Stonker]

So where is the best place to buy the breathylisers?

 

[sidestand]

Halfrauds & the ferries are both about the same price - box of 2 for £5.99

Cheaper in French supermarkets, but that's too late if you get stopped at the docks.

You need the French approved ones, as their limit is lower than ours !