Speeding in France

(RIP) Shenzi · Apr 30, 2005

Most of you will be aware that the clamp down continues and as it appears to be meeting with public approval it could well be permanent. This morning I missed being nicked only because I was behind a very old lady.

Recently towns in my area have introduced lots of 30kph areas and this morning they had radar set up on one and stopped just about everyone. The road I was on was very wide but passed by a school, swimming baths and a football pitch.

Sticking to 30mph is difficult enough, try sticking to 19mph!
I really don't know if this is all over France but watch out in the Midi!

Deleted account 211025001 · Apr 30, 2005

It seems to everywhere these days

Do drivers still flash oncoming vehicles to warn of speed traps over there?

Andres

Mike Werner · Apr 30, 2005

Outtomunch said:
It seems to everywhere these days

Do drivers still flash oncoming vehicles to warn of speed traps over there?

Andres

Yes

Ben · Apr 30, 2005

Iv'e just come back from a 2500 mile jaunt to France. We were concerned about all the stories but ended up doing the first 600 mile leg and most subsequent m/way legs at anywhere between 90 and 110mph. We slowed around bridges and gantries and seem to have been blessed with good luck and emptyish roads.

Near Avignon, my friend (tail end charlie) was pulled at a Peage and warned, but the young Gendarme somewhat spoilt his case by saying we'd avegaed 196kph...absolute rubbish as it was the one day we were below 85mph consisitently. Nothing came of it because he couldn't prove it, obviously.

Infact our luck held till Calais, on the return leg, when he got done for a small 50 Euro fine.

The point of this tale is to warn people about 'bent' Coppers.

We hadn't been speeding, because we were well aware of their prescence, and were following them at 90kph in a 90kph zone. they simply pulled him in, and fined him. No explanation and no ticket. He asked for paperwork and the Gendarme (who spoke great English) just said 50 now, or you 'come with us'. Simple as that.

I can well see the irony that this should happen after we'd effectively taken the piss all week. And what it adds to the debate, I don't know. Anyway, for what it's worth.

Ben

(RIP) Shenzi · Apr 30, 2005

Outtomunch said:
It seems to everywhere these days

Do drivers still flash oncoming vehicles to warn of speed traps over there?

Andres

As Mike says yes they do normally but in this case I didn't see anyone flash. On this particular road, in Agde, traffic normally does around 40mph as is usual in a 30mph limit. Trouble is, doing 40mph (60kph) puts one into the 30kph over the limit bracket which is into deep sh*t, see Mike Werners site. Scary!

Mike Werner · May 1, 2005

Ben said:
Iv'e just come back from a 2500 mile jaunt to France. We were concerned about all the stories but ended up doing the first 600 mile leg and most subsequent m/way legs at anywhere between 90 and 110mph. We slowed around bridges and gantries and seem to have been blessed with good luck and emptyish roads.

Near Avignon, my friend (tail end charlie) was pulled at a Peage and warned, but the young Gendarme somewhat spoilt his case by saying we'd avegaed 196kph...absolute rubbish as it was the one day we were below 85mph consisitently. Nothing came of it because he couldn't prove it, obviously.

Infact our luck held till Calais, on the return leg, when he got done for a small 50 Euro fine.

The point of this tale is to warn people about 'bent' Coppers.

We hadn't been speeding, because we were well aware of their prescence, and were following them at 90kph in a 90kph zone. they simply pulled him in, and fined him. No explanation and no ticket. He asked for paperwork and the Gendarme (who spoke great English) just said 50 now, or you 'come with us'. Simple as that.

I can well see the irony that this should happen after we'd effectively taken the piss all week. And what it adds to the debate, I don't know. Anyway, for what it's worth.

Ben

Overhere, cops are allowed to take in the money, and if you don't pay, they can take you in.

But the big question is, where they Gendarmes, Police National or Police Municipal ??? The latter have no right, and are the most frequent "bent". They have little training and are paid peanuts.

National Police is a bit better, and can't imagine a Gendarme being bent...

mikeoold · May 1, 2005

Mike Query
How do you recognise the difference in police uniforms.
Can you give me / us any idea how best to deal with the different types of Officers.
On my way down to my place in the Indre I've been pulled over several time but only for spot checks i.e. documents and found the police to be friendly and helpful, when i got lost going through Chatre one Officer even escorted me all the way to the ring road
Never had a bad experience in 25 years travelling in france
Cheers
mikeo

Mike Werner · May 1, 2005

It says it on the top side of their arms, and in front.

Pecking order:

1. Gendarmes are God in France. Remember that officially France is still under martial law declared by De Gaulle, and since then forgotten. Gendarmes are military, and have therefore the military ranks. They have all the rights normally associated to cops, EXCEPT one !! And that is they're not allowed to ask you to open your trunk/boot. They are armed and very well trained.

2. Customs (Douane). They are the only ones allowed to open the trunk, and they are allowed to stop you anywhere, as the Gendarmes. They are armed and very well trained.

3. Police National. National cops, but localized, they can stop you anywhere, and fine you on the spot. They are armed, and so-so trained.

4. Municipal Police. They depend on the local mayor/city hall, and have very little powers. They'll try to scare you, but often they can only stop you in their city, and then cities often have departemental roads going through them (N and D roads) which is off limits to them. Rarely armed and badly trained.

5. Suposts (sp?). They are the parttime cops, with no powers whatsoever, except they have a badge, and can try to scare you into whatever. They're used for admin, tickets, etc. No arms no training.

mikeoold · May 1, 2005

cheers mike
very useful info to have
mikeo

Ben · May 2, 2005

Mike Werner said:
Overhere, cops are allowed to take in the money, and if you don't pay, they can take you in.

But the big question is, where they Gendarmes, Police National or Police Municipal ??? The latter have no right, and are the most frequent "bent". They have little training and are paid peanuts.

National Police is a bit better, and can't imagine a Gendarme being bent...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mike, bloody good question. If i recall correctly they were infact police rather than Gendarme..but which I don't know.

Vern · May 2, 2005

Speed cameras

How many of those things are there now,and they ain't easy to see either.

Do some of them take a picture both ways?

Mike Werner · May 2, 2005

Re: Speed cameras

Vern said:
How many of those things are there now,and they ain't easy to see either.

Do some of them take a picture both ways?

Still not that many, less than 1000 over the whole of France.

The fixed radars are well marked by signs !! You can't miss them. It's the mobile ones that you can't see.

There are currently only a few (less than 10) that take photos from the rear, but practically all new ones are both front & rear facing.

But if you've got an English reg bike you should still be safe, since they haven't finished the interchange of tickets in europe law... once that's done, you can't hide..

(RIP) Shenzi · May 2, 2005

Re: Re: Speed cameras

Mike Werner said:
Still not that many, less than 1000 over the whole of France.

The fixed radars are well marked by signs !! You can't miss them. It's the mobile ones that you can't see.

Only one of the fixed variety down here that I know of and it faces forwards. The mobile units are a major problem now though.

thornley · May 2, 2005

The clamp down does continue, even small towns in my area now have regular mobile traps set up. I've never had a problem with the Gendarmes, although my wife was stopped at Calais and fined for speeding. The mobile unit sets up a couple of kilometres prior to the peage here and I'm informed makes a fortune in fines with Brits rushing for ferries on the way home. They even have a little photocopied map to the local hole in the wall. They keep the passport and driving license until you return. French Police do not accept plastic. I've been treated very well on my bikes over the last 25 years even given a cup of coffee from a flask last year on my way down in February frozen, Gendarmes are professional and direct, not liked by the locals as they see them as soldiers not Police. Beware of some of the Municipal Police they are little more than traffic wardens. All said I dont think you will have any more problems in France than you will in the U.K, probably less.

Mike Werner · May 2, 2005

Something I keep repeating; don't forget that a motorcycle gendarme is a biker first, and cop second.

Their internal rule states that the cop must show up at work on a motorcycle !!! So these guys know a thing or two what we go through when riding a bike, so they're very cool with us riders, unless a) you're being really stupid, or b) they've got their bosses watching !

Got stopped a few weeks back in Rouen coming back from the garage. In town, was doing about 70-80; Motorbike cop jumps out from behind some cars and stops me.

Tells me with a smile "if you're going to be travelling at those speeds, better turn on your lights!!" (I usually turn them off when starting the bike, and then promptly forget to turn them on - illegal in France). And then with his parting words said "off you go, and slow down!!".....

(RIP) Shenzi · May 3, 2005

Mike Werner said:
Something I keep repeating; don't forget that a motorcycle gendarme is a biker first, and cop second.

But, it doesn't always work that way, I just got nicked and fined €90! I filtered into a major road, he reckoned I didn't respect the give way sign, no point in arguing.
Of all the Gendarmes in France I found one that hates BMs, says he will be so happy when they change to Yamaha 1300s later this year? That will be one hell of a loss for BM! Apparently reliability, or lack of it, is the cause of the change?
This is the first I have heard of it, what about you Mike?

richie · May 3, 2005

Had a chat with some a year ago. Still riding K75 as the the 1100 were regularily off the road. Main problem being clutches...

Mike Werner · May 3, 2005

Shenzi said:
But, it doesn't always work that way, I just got nicked and fined €90! I filtered into a major road, he reckoned I didn't respect the give way sign, no point in arguing.
Of all the Gendarmes in France I found one that hates BMs, says he will be so happy when they change to Yamaha 1300s later this year? That will be one hell of a loss for BM! Apparently reliability, or lack of it, is the cause of the change?
This is the first I have heard of it, what about you Mike?

It happens, they are human, so you'll always find an excpetion to the rule. Maybe he had had a bad lunch, or no sex with the missus....

The Yamaha thing is not a full replacement. The Gendarme mobile also have non-BMW in their parc. They have Husqvarna and Cagiva for their off road stuff and always experiment with otehr brands, but so far they've remained loyal to BMW for the majority of their high visibility bikes...

(RIP) Shenzi · May 3, 2005

Mike Werner said:
It happens, they are human, so you'll always find an excpetion to the rule. Maybe he had had a bad lunch, or no sex with the missus....

If so I hope she continues the ban!

[/QUOTE] The Yamaha thing is not a full replacement. The Gendarme mobile also have non-BMW in their parc. [/B][/QUOTE]

I did ask and he said all the RTs would be replaced by the Yams, seemed rather odd considering the years they have run BMs.

Wreford Miles · May 3, 2005

Not France... But I've just come back from Germany and one evening we where belting back to the hotel overtaking on a solid white line on a right hand bend when a car came the other way which required me to cut in on the estate car I was overtaking.

Next thing he's stuck a blue light on the roof!

Got let of with a talking to... Nice guys German coppers

Speeding in France

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