French speeding tickets being sent UK licence holders

[lowdrag]

Yet all of them, I guess, will have been from fixed roadside cameras, although in some areas average speed ones are being introduced. But nearly all of the fixed cameras have a warning sign telling you that you are coming up to one, so you should have known. I do say nearly all, mark you. The others on motorways you might not see, because they are on the other side of the carriageway but can take photos in both directions.

[rdjohn]

clive_candy said:

How many's that then?

We must have covered the best part of 2k miles over a fortnight and I've had 5 so far. I'm still expecting more!

The thing is, I've not been done for speeding in the UK in almost 20 years now - I'm especially careful in anything that's less than the national speed limit - and if someone like me is getting rinsed I'd imagine there's a lot more of us.

I confess that I had a big problem with fixed cameras when I first came here. I was slowing, but not by enough. French cameras enforce at +5kph over the limit (+5% over 100kph) - much less than the UK’s rather generous 10% + 2mph

Consider a 50mph (80kph limit) - The UK issues a ticket at 58mph; France at just 53mph.

[Simes205]

lowdrag said:

Yet all of them, I guess, will have been from fixed roadside cameras, although in some areas average speed ones are being introduced. But nearly all of the fixed cameras have a warning sign telling you that you are coming up to one, so you should have known. I do say nearly all, mark you. The others on motorways you might not see, because they are on the other side of the carriageway but can take photos in both directions.

I always slow down but it seems the margin of error is much smaller.
For example 133kph in a 130 is the trigger.
It appears in our modern German barge the speedo is accurate.

[Bodo]

Simes205 said:

I always slow down but it seems the margin of error is much smaller.
For example 133kph in a 130 is the trigger.
It appears in our modern German barge the speedo is accurate.

Accurate is relative; there is a given inaccuracy required by law:

Regulation No. 39-00 ECE - United Nations said:

5.4. The speed indicated shall not be less than the true speed of the vehicle. At the test speeds specified in paragraph 5.3.5. above, there shall be the following relationship between the speed displayed (V1) and the true speed (V2).
0 <= (V1 - V2) <= 0.1 V2 + 4 km/h

In other words: all of the cars specified under this legislation display at least 114km/h when the car's sensors read 100km/h.

Add to that the error of the car's measured value and the speed trap; deduct the error margin given for the latter.

Edited by Bodo on Saturday 12th September 20:18

[ruhall]

lowdrag said:

Yet all of them, I guess, will have been from fixed roadside cameras, although in some areas average speed ones are being introduced. But nearly all of the fixed cameras have a warning sign telling you that you are coming up to one, so you should have known. I do say nearly all, mark you. The others on motorways you might not see, because they are on the other side of the carriageway but can take photos in both directions.

I'll respectfully take issue with the comment 'nearly all of the fixed cameras have a warning sign'. In my experience across the length and breadth of France I'd estimate that more now don't have warning signs; unless, of course, they've put up loads of new signs this year, which I won't have seen as my travels have been somewhat curtailed this year.

The crafty ones are where there's a sign stating cameras for next 50, 80kms etc. and of course people forget; the individual cameras aren't marked.

[clive_candy]

ruhall said:

lowdrag said:

Yet all of them, I guess, will have been from fixed roadside cameras, although in some areas average speed ones are being introduced. But nearly all of the fixed cameras have a warning sign telling you that you are coming up to one, so you should have known. I do say nearly all, mark you. The others on motorways you might not see, because they are on the other side of the carriageway but can take photos in both directions.

I'll respectfully take issue with the comment 'nearly all of the fixed cameras have a warning sign'. In my experience across the length and breadth of France I'd estimate that more now don't have warning signs; unless, of course, they've put up loads of new signs this year, which I won't have seen as my travels have been somewhat curtailed this year.

The crafty ones are where there's a sign stating cameras for next 50, 80kms etc. and of course people forget; the individual cameras aren't marked.

Are the French any more discriminating in their use of camera warning signs than we are? There are so many of them round where I live that I tend to ignore them - seems to me there's more likelihood of coming across a mobile speed camera where there are no signs. Best bet is to keep your eyes peeled - and always pay attention to the speed limit of course, need I say?

[andygo]

I have just acquired a couple last week.

I was considering putting a cherished number on the car anyway, I don't imagine the system is sophisticated enough to work that one out if I return to France in the same car.

I'd imagine the liklehood of being chased for 90 Euros in the UK to be pretty slim, but who knows? Nobody on here. it would seem.

[kbcdave]

i know its an old post but here you go:

19/09/2019

Thank you for your e-mail of 21 August requesting information under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
You asked:
I would like to know how many applications have been received from other EU states for keeper information relating to moving traffic offences that have occurred while UK citizens have been travelling in Europe since 06th May 2017 as part of SI 2017/554.
The UK has received 822,686 electronic requests for contact details of registered keepers of UK vehicles from EU Member States since 6th May 2017, via the Cross Border Exchange Directive.
How many applications for the details of EU nationals that have committed moving traffic offences in the UK have been requested by the DVLA from other EU states since the same date
This information is not held by the DVLA. The UK does not request information from other EU Member States.

[clive_candy]

kbcdave said:

i know its an old post but here you go:

19/09/2019

Thank you for your e-mail of 21 August requesting information under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
You asked:
I would like to know how many applications have been received from other EU states for keeper information relating to moving traffic offences that have occurred while UK citizens have been travelling in Europe since 06th May 2017 as part of SI 2017/554.
The UK has received 822,686 electronic requests for contact details of registered keepers of UK vehicles from EU Member States since 6th May 2017, via the Cross Border Exchange Directive.
How many applications for the details of EU nationals that have committed moving traffic offences in the UK have been requested by the DVLA from other EU states since the same date
This information is not held by the DVLA. The UK does not request information from other EU Member States.

Can this still be the case? Are we really providing other countries with details and not asking for them ourselves? Almost incredible.

[lowdrag]

Please, don't go any further! I live in France, worry about fines here, but when I come to England I am free as a bird. Average speed areas? Leave the outside lane for me please. Overhead gantries changing the maximum speed? Stupidity. I carry on at 80 mph in the outside lane and watch four cameras flash, one after another. Bridge tolls? I arrive at Dover, drive through the Blackwall tunnel and back over the QE2 bridge free of toll. I love the UK just the way it is, but as I have asked so many times- are you actually refusing to pay the French fines or are you frightened and giving in and paying them?

[grand]

I spent 2 weeks in France in August and have racked up 8 speeding tickets totalling 630 euros.
Have no intention on paying them. They can send reminders and increase the fees but at the end of the day, they only have my number plate and address.
They do not have my passport details so I won’t get pulled at passport control at Dover. I intend to change the plates on the car so I don’t get flagged on their ANPR cameras when over there next.

[ElectricSoup]

I drove over 2000 miles around France this summer, mostly on autoroutes, and haven't received a fine. What am I doing wrong? Probably setting my cruise and/or limiter at or below the speed limit which does it. Idiot. If only I could reach the heights of 630 euros in fines and have to change the plates on my car for next time. What a wimp I am.

[andygo]

grand said:

I spent 2 weeks in France in August and have racked up 8 speeding tickets totalling 630 euros.
Have no intention on paying them. They can send reminders and increase the fees but at the end of the day, they only have my number plate and address.
They do not have my passport details so I won’t get pulled at passport control at Dover. I intend to change the plates on the car so I don’t get flagged on their ANPR cameras when over there next.

I think they may have your name as well, look on the letters they sent you.

I wish they were as keen catching migrants at Clais!

[grand]

ElectricSoup said:

I drove over 2000 miles around France this summer, mostly on autoroutes, and haven't received a fine. What am I doing wrong? Probably setting my cruise and/or limiter at or below the speed limit which does it. Idiot. If only I could reach the heights of 630 euros in fines and have to change the plates on my car for next time. What a wimp I am.

Honestly have a stern word with yourself!!
Have driven through France many times and wouldn’t say this time, I was going any faster. My point was they are clamping down due to Brexit I guess. It works out cheaper to get new plates plus transfer fee than fork out over 600 euros. All I can find on the net is that I’m 90% certain fines won’t be picked up at border control.
Need really categoric advice that that is the case please.

[grand]

andygo said:

I think they may have your name as well, look on the letters they sent you.

I wish they were as keen catching migrants at Clais!

Yes they have my name, address and plate but as there is no address on my passport, will I be picked up at border control next time? That’s what I need advice on.

[Bodo]

grand said:

Yes they have my name, address and plate but as there is no address on my passport, will I be picked up at border control next time? That’s what I need advice on.

When they made a photo from the front of the car for ticket evidence, they will also know what you look like.

[lowdrag]

Not so. The french law does not allow photos taken from in front of the car to be used as proof. I have personal proof of this in that I was one month from getting back three points after three years, and we went through an 80 limit at 90. I was flashed. The photo was not allowed as evidence, and my other half took the one point on the chin and I avoided waiting another three years to get my three points back. For that is the case here ; three points does not mean three years and you get them back. It means three years without any other infringement at all and it took me seven years to get those precious three points back.

[Fatt McMissile]

lowdrag said:

my other half took the one point on the chin

Wondering if you can end up in prison in France for that like you can in the UK?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/mar/11/chris-h...

[Fatt McMissile]

grand said:

Yes they have my name, address and plate but as there is no address on my passport, will I be picked up at border control next time? That’s what I need advice on.

In France the owner of a foreign registered car caught speeding is presumed to have a "virtual driving licence" that can lose or recuperate points in the same way as a real licence. Therefore if you have received £600 odd of fines, you will have lost your virtual llicence and it is illegal for you to drive in France.
Changing the plates or car will make no difference if you remain the owner. Loss of points is held on file under name and address until you lose 12 and they write and cancel your licence. As french bureaucracy has become digital it has become very joined up, and although they may not be looking for you at the border, if you're speeding on an autoroute and you are stopped by Gendarmes at a péage, there's a strong possibility they will run some checks on you, and not just for speeding. Think of the worst case scenario including impounding your car and a day or two answering questions and you will be in it, plus costs and increased fines that will make your £600 look like chickenfeed.

So the question is, do you feel lucky?

[grand]

Fatt McMissile said:

In France the owner of a foreign registered car caught speeding is presumed to have a "virtual driving licence" that can lose or recuperate points in the same way as a real licence. Therefore if you have received £600 odd of fines, you will have lost your virtual llicence and it is illegal for you to drive in France.
Changing the plates or car will make no difference if you remain the owner. Loss of points is held on file under name and address until you lose 12 and they write and cancel your licence. As french bureaucracy has become digital it has become very joined up, and although they may not be looking for you at the border, if you're speeding on an autoroute and you are stopped by Gendarmes at a péage, there's a strong possibility they will run some checks on you, and not just for speeding. Think of the worst case scenario including impounding your car and a day or two answering questions and you will be in it, plus costs and increased fines that will make your £600 look like chickenfeed.

So the question is, do you feel lucky?

If they do stop me in the future, how do they link me to these offences if I only show my passport (which doesn’t show my address) and I have a car with different number plates?