SPEED TRAPS IN FRANCE

[retroman]

.... so there I am, bowling along at about 80 on an N road towards Aurillac as straight as an arrow, middle of nowhere, no traffic, visibility superb.

Suddenly I've got a Gendarmarie in front of me, waving his arms frantically, no hi-vis vest, nearly ran the silly sod over.

His radar says 124kph in a 90kph zone, who am I to argue, he's got a gun, he's going to 'do' me, 90 Euros in cash, if I can't pay my bike will be IMPOUNDED and I will have to WALK TO AURILLAC (about 10km away) to visit the cashpoint. If my documents are not in order my bike will also be impounded.

In fact, I have enough cash on me and my documents are indeed in order. I offer to pay but am sent on my way with a warning ... lucky I think.

Be warned, be paranoid guys.

 

[Vendome 41]

Speeding in FRANCE

Gettig closer to zero tolerance every day....

 

[franco]

But still a long way off....

..The fascist state that Blighty has become Surprised you never got advance warning by people flashing their lights at you coming in the opposite direction, that's the usual form down here. The police are increasing patrols and speed traps, but you're still much, much more likely to get nicked in the UK than here, and as retroman says, they often let bikes off with a warning, depending on circumstances....

 

[Mike Werner]

Re: But still a long way off....

..The fascist state that Blighty has become Surprised you never got advance warning by people flashing their lights at you coming in the opposite direction, that's the usual form down here. The police are increasing patrols and speed traps, but you're still much, much more likely to get nicked in the UK than here, and as retroman says, they often let bikes off with a warning, depending on circumstances....

Me thinks the coppers have gotten wiser.... they understand camoflage and hidding. When I got caught a month or two ago, they not only were hidden from my view, but also from the oncoming traffic, so no warning !!

But there are ways out of these tickets....

 

[Iain Hogg]

Re: But still a long way off....

Surprised you never got advance warning by people flashing their lights at you coming in the opposite direction, that's the usual form down here.

Seems like retroman's problem was "no traffic", something we're not used to in Blighty

The police are increasing patrols and speed traps, but you're still much, much more likely to get nicked in the UK than here, and as retroman says, they often let bikes off with a warning, depending on circumstances....

But at least a real live cop is able to use discretion, don't get a lot of that from a Gatso on an empty road

Iain

 

[adamski49]

.... so there I am, bowling along at about 130 on a D road towards somewhere I can't recall, as straight as an arrow, middle of nowhere, no traffic or junctions, visibility superb.

Little demon on one side saying "faster, faster", little angel on the other side saying "don't drop the soap"

Fortunately for me no gendarmes as 210kph in a 90kph zone = Bonjour Monsieur Ben Dover

 

[sven]

Re: Re: But still a long way off....

When I got caught a month or two ago, they not only were hidden from my view, but also from the oncoming traffic, so no warning !!

Same tactic used by North Wales police when I got nicked in Anglesey in '99

 

[Chatton]

Don't they take VISA?

A year or so ago a group of us were on the way to Le Mans on the N138, south of Alencon and there was a particularly nice swooping section and a solid line, the first three bikes got past the traffic but the last two didn't and they crossed it.

As we got to the top there were about 20 Gendarmes in a big layby. Some with binoculars (!) and they watched us past and had the last two! They fined them both 150 EUR and as they didn't have the dosh, the "cashier" took VISA....... Very professional.....

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

As the forum members who live here in France will know this type of push by the police happens every year about this time then dies off. This particular clamp down is probably due to pressure from Brussels. France has the highest number of road deaths in the western world, well over double UK with a similar population and considerably higher than Germany with a much larger population. The most dangerous department (county) in France is the one where I live, 34 Herault, here the standard of driving is abysmal.
The plod of course get it all wrong. They set up radar traps on long fast roads, usually in the same place every time so locals always know they are there. If it is raining or even looking like it might they will not be there.
We have people coming through our village at 60mph on a daily basis, overtaking anywhere at all and a large majority under the influence after leaving local restaurants. They can do this with impunity, unless they have an accident there is absolutely no chance of them being pulled.
This may seem like heaven to some but if you have family out there using the same roads it is a major concern.
Anyone coming to France should read Mike Werners posts on the radar they use.

Bob

 

[guitarman]

On the trip to the Picos I was very aware of the new crackdown and kept my speed down through France. The weird thing is that I really enjoyed pootling along the Bis routes at 60 or so.

Taking in the scenery, getting over 50 to the gallon and generally feeling relaxed and enjoying myself.

That's it, I am definitely getting old Now where did I put that Harley brochure ?

Cheers

Dick

 

[Possu]

Re: Re: But still a long way off....

But there are ways out of these tickets.... [/B]

I'm sure I remember reading on the Adventure Rider site that you'd been caught speeding in France & were due for a ban & then reading you'd escaped the ban?

How did you manage that? Friends in low or high places

Steve

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

Not like a few years ago then ...?

When me n me mates - 3 of us on 3 bikes - 950 guzzi,860 GTS and a 900 honda - i guess it was about 1981 ? - went over , we were still under the impression it was ok to not wear helmets in France ANYWHERE !!.

Further south than Le Mans the 'casques' came off and we had a great time.
We even got stopped going out of town and told to put our helmets back on ?!

Turned out that moped riders were ok in town without helmets but no-one else.

AAAh - those were the days -blissflull ignorance and no speed traps..

God - i'm sounding old

 

[Chatton]

Not like a few years ago then ...?

When me n me mates - 3 of us on 3 bikes - 950 guzzi,860 GTS and a 900 honda - i guess it was about 1981 ? - went over , we were still under the impression it was ok to not wear helmets in France ANYWHERE !!.

Further south than Le Mans the 'casques' came off and we had a great time.
We even got stopped going out of town and told to put our helmets back on ?!

Turned out that moped riders were ok in town without helmets but no-one else.

AAAh - those were the days -blissflull ignorance and no speed traps..

God - i'm sounding old

Ah thems was the days...

I had a similar experience in SPain. Camping outside Figueras we spent a happy few hours in the Dali Museum and then road back. helmets in the top boxes.... about 20m past the out of town limits sign we got pulled by the silly hat men (Guardia Civil) and fined 100pts each... At that time anyone on any size bike could ride without a helmet in town but outside not....

The fine was a joke as there were about 220 pts to the quid!

 

[Mike Werner]

Re: Re: Re: But still a long way off....

I'm sure I remember reading on the Adventure Rider site that you'd been caught speeding in France & were due for a ban & then reading you'd escaped the ban?

How did you manage that? Friends in low or high places

Steve

Yup... only in France. A friend of a friend works for the local government. He gave me back half my points. It's a one-off, never to be repeated, but I escaped that one by a hair's length !! I envisgaed myself already on a moped...

 

[Possu]

Re: Re: Re: Re: But still a long way off....

I envisgaed myself already on a moped...

A safer option for other road users I heard Lucky sod

 

[Mike Werner]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: But still a long way off....

A safer option for other road users I heard Lucky sod

:sunshine

 

[Howie]

france

had two trips in france this year , June and July for 10 days at a time.

no speed cops at all seen , just great people ,great food , great scenery and roads.

I love the place

Howie

 

[Mike Werner]

Re: france

had two trips in france this year , June and July for 10 days at a time.

no speed cops at all seen , just great people ,great food , great scenery and roads.

I love the place

Howie

Maybe you didn't see them.... but they might have seen you ..

 

[Howie]

speed traps

Maybe you didn't see them.... but they might have seen you ..


__________________
Mike Werner



YUP , I was with a couple of UK traffic cops , however if they did see us , it just reiterates what great people they are !!!
kind regards

Howie

 

[Chatton]

Les flics had a nice little hidey-hole int he trees just after the Béthune junction on the A26 a few weeks ago as I cruised back home after a few days chacking out the champagner house after reading Belgian John's thread. (Thanks John - my favourite was Castellane in Epernay BTW.).

You can tell this junction as it has a F1 hotel on the side just after you pass going north. They seemed to be looking for particular cars though as they has a few Espace type sh*thouses on the hard shoulder a bit up the road.