Warning!!!

[jpchenet]

I met with Andy from Team Langoustine yesterday. He told me that his partner in the business had just been to Normandy with his family and had been subjected to a random breath test. Apparently a long line of vehicles were driving through a village and of them all he was pulled over y the Gendarmerie and immediately given the test. Surprise surprise, all the other cars, which had French number plates, weren't stopped. Just afterwards, he was also followed for 8 miles by a different Police Car!

He also told me that a couple of years ago, a guy he spoke to was stopped and done for D&D. Fined €500 on the spot. PLUS, the passengers in the car were also fined the same for allowing him to drive!

Be warned people, they are looking to raise Euros and we are easy pickings! Be safe!!

[Snoring Rhino]

Sound advice Mark, I do have it on very good authority though, that the UK does NOT allow the French access to our driver records for fixed camera fines. However we can expect the usual keeness of mobile camera's, spot checks, timing between tolls and general instant fine revenue generation to pay for plod's overtime.

[JDS]

I'd like to add that the Gendarmerie has recently taken delivery of a large amount of new Scoobies (on of which stopped me the other week   ) and they are already deploying them on all of the Autoroutes I use (seen them on A16, A28, A11 and A10 so far) along with all the standard Gendarmes in the white unmarked radar cars ....



It's inconcievable that they won't be out in force on the A28 next week - drive safely guys!

PS - you may also want to keep an eye out for black Audis and grey Honda Pan-european bikes too (see the attached file!)

[Kev_mk3]

cheeky buggers 

[nopanic - neil]

I'd like to add that the Gendarmerie has recently taken delivery of a large amount of new Scoobies (on of which stopped me the other week  ) and they are already deploying them on all of the Autoroutes I use (seen them on A16, A28, A11 and A10 so far) along with all the standard Gendarmes in the white unmarked radar cars ....

It's inconcievable that they won't be out in force on the A28 next week - drive safely guys!

PS - you may also want to keep an eye out for black Audis and grey Honda Pan-european bikes too (see the attached file!)

John,

Thanks for the attached file - wow!  - Glad i have cruise control.

What worries me, how long before we get the same in the UK 

cheeky buggers 

French surrender cheeky buggers monkeys

[Kev_mk3]

cheeky buggers 

French surrender cheeky buggers monkeys

[/quote]kind of makes me glad when i drive anywhere there its at night and the front plate isnt on the car 

[geoffd]

I met with Andy from Team Langoustine yesterday. He told me that his partner in the business had just been to Normandy with his family and had been subjected to a random breath test. Apparently a long line of vehicles were driving through a village and of them all he was pulled over y the Gendarmerie and immediately given the test. Surprise surprise, all the other cars, which had French number plates, weren't stopped. Just afterwards, he was also followed for 8 miles by a different Police Car!

He also told me that a couple of years ago, a guy he spoke to was stopped and done for D&D. Fined €500 on the spot. PLUS, the passengers in the car were also fined the same for allowing him to drive!

Be warned people, they are looking to raise Euros and we are easy pickings! Be safe!!

I hate to be a party pooper, but anyone caught drinking and driving deserves all they get!

If you don't want to part with your cash then it's simple(s), don't drink and drive, and keep to a sensible speed!

I'd rather get to LM 10 minutes later but with all of my money and still in one piece....  We are easy pickings because we make it so...

[garyfrogeye]

All very scary

[Brad Zarse]

I met with Andy from Team Langoustine yesterday. He told me that his partner in the business had just been to Normandy with his family and had been subjected to a random breath test. Apparently a long line of vehicles were driving through a village and of them all he was pulled over y the Gendarmerie and immediately given the test. Surprise surprise, all the other cars, which had French number plates, weren't stopped. Just afterwards, he was also followed for 8 miles by a different Police Car!

He also told me that a couple of years ago, a guy he spoke to was stopped and done for D&D. Fined €500 on the spot. PLUS, the passengers in the car were also fined the same for allowing him to drive!

Be warned people, they are looking to raise Euros and we are easy pickings! Be safe!!

I hate to be a party pooper, but anyone caught drinking and driving deserves all they get!

If you don't want to part with your cash then it's simple(s), don't drink and drive, and keep to a sensible speed!

I'd rather get to LM 10 minutes later but with all of my money and still in one piece....  We are easy pickings because we make it so...

Tend to agree with the above, and I know JPC will as well - However the  warning is still valid, especially given that the french laws are so tight - on a short crossing, a simple "two beers at the bar" which we are used to getting away with over here, would leave you banged up over there. 

I personally feel that even having one and driving is pushing it a little bit, but I know plenty who drive on two pints of standard lager - this will perhaps provide a reminder that what we can get away with in the UK, is not necessarily so in France.

Safe journey everyone.

[LangTall]

To the PDF, those in the guardrail are reported already for several years in the Netherlands, including a location list. I pass by at least three of those reported locations regurlary, and I've never seen any of them, and passed by thos locations also several times on too high speed without being ticketed. So I don't really beleive in those.

On the other hand, doing 130 kmh with my vehicle is fast enough in France....

[jpchenet]

I met with Andy from Team Langoustine yesterday. He told me that his partner in the business had just been to Normandy with his family and had been subjected to a random breath test. Apparently a long line of vehicles were driving through a village and of them all he was pulled over y the Gendarmerie and immediately given the test. Surprise surprise, all the other cars, which had French number plates, weren't stopped. Just afterwards, he was also followed for 8 miles by a different Police Car!

He also told me that a couple of years ago, a guy he spoke to was stopped and done for D&D. Fined €500 on the spot. PLUS, the passengers in the car were also fined the same for allowing him to drive!

Be warned people, they are looking to raise Euros and we are easy pickings! Be safe!!

I hate to be a party pooper, but anyone caught drinking and driving deserves all they get!

If you don't want to part with your cash then it's simple(s), don't drink and drive, and keep to a sensible speed!

I'd rather get to LM 10 minutes later but with all of my money and still in one piece....  We are easy pickings because we make it so...

Tend to agree with the above, and I know JPC will as well - However the  warning is still valid, especially given that the french laws are so tight - on a short crossing, a simple "two beers at the bar" which we are used to getting away with over here, would leave you banged up over there. 

I personally feel that even having one and driving is pushing it a little bit, but I know plenty who drive on two pints of standard lager - this will perhaps provide a reminder that what we can get away with in the UK, is not necessarily so in France.

Safe journey everyone.

Absolutely!!

[TobyAnscombe]

Oh, and watch out for standing water

[termietermite]

Oh, and watch out for standing water

And cars on their rooves coming at you in the opposite direction.

Safe journey, one and all.

[jpchenet]

Oh, and watch out for standing water

 

[Lorry]

I've just come back from a week in France (now you know why the Euro went down 4 centimes) with little evidence of the Gendarmerie at all.  They're all practising for next week

Latest news is that diesel at supermarkets is € 1.13, and it took an English credit card, petrol was about €1.28, Kronenberg €9.89 a case (other shops €12)