Have you ever been stopped by the gendarmes?
Discussion
If you have, were you asked to produce:-
1) light bulb set
2) breath test kit
3) fluorescent jackets
4) first aid kit
5) headlamp deflectors for UK cars
6) red plastic triangle
No, I thought not. I live in Normandy and I've been stopped a few times (and busted a couple of times) both before I moved here (on the way to le Mans and holidays etc) and since I started driving french-plated cars, and I've never been asked for any of those things. And yet we are all obliged to carry all of those things.
ID, yes, insurance details, yes.
Just sayin'....
1) light bulb set
2) breath test kit
3) fluorescent jackets
4) first aid kit
5) headlamp deflectors for UK cars
6) red plastic triangle
No, I thought not. I live in Normandy and I've been stopped a few times (and busted a couple of times) both before I moved here (on the way to le Mans and holidays etc) and since I started driving french-plated cars, and I've never been asked for any of those things. And yet we are all obliged to carry all of those things.
ID, yes, insurance details, yes.
Just sayin'....
The general checks on motorists at weekends are probably done by gendarme réservistes who need to be given something to do and who are maybe more formal than their full-time colleagues.
I get the impression that most of the weekday checks are aimed at a particular motorist who they believe is likely to be over the alcohol limit/uninsured/no CT and who they know will be passing the checkpoint. I once saw a gendarme leap out of the bushes onto a main road to stop of a particular little white van.
The "Checkpoint Charlie" type stops follow an incident, first time I've been directed by a machine gun!
It's noticeable that as the car gets older the more likely one is to be stopped. I've been stopped a few times for a paperwork check and breathalised once, but never asked to show my vest/triangle/ethylotest/bulbs. Private cars do not have to carry a first aid kit in France. As with much of French life, there's an assumption that the driver is a responsible citizen who obeys the law........
Steve
I get the impression that most of the weekday checks are aimed at a particular motorist who they believe is likely to be over the alcohol limit/uninsured/no CT and who they know will be passing the checkpoint. I once saw a gendarme leap out of the bushes onto a main road to stop of a particular little white van.
The "Checkpoint Charlie" type stops follow an incident, first time I've been directed by a machine gun!
It's noticeable that as the car gets older the more likely one is to be stopped. I've been stopped a few times for a paperwork check and breathalised once, but never asked to show my vest/triangle/ethylotest/bulbs. Private cars do not have to carry a first aid kit in France. As with much of French life, there's an assumption that the driver is a responsible citizen who obeys the law........
Steve
Stopped once on Autoroute Dunquerke to Lille, on to slip road for passport check.
Stopped Near Boulogne Licence check
Stopped near Narbonne, although in a 7.5 tonne truck on a Bank Holiday. 7.5t is legal on a Bank Holiday, but they took some convincing, I was frustrated with them I threw every piece of paper I had at them, showed they the plated weight, chassis plate the lot.
In the end they gave up and I got back on my way.
Only time I've had to show a registration document is at the garage when the car was serviced and they like the registration document when you ahve new tyres fitted. Please dont ask me why, French logic I suppose.
Stopped Near Boulogne Licence check
Stopped near Narbonne, although in a 7.5 tonne truck on a Bank Holiday. 7.5t is legal on a Bank Holiday, but they took some convincing, I was frustrated with them I threw every piece of paper I had at them, showed they the plated weight, chassis plate the lot.
In the end they gave up and I got back on my way.
Only time I've had to show a registration document is at the garage when the car was serviced and they like the registration document when you ahve new tyres fitted. Please dont ask me why, French logic I suppose.
Hi,
Most of the times, policemen don't even bother controlling cars that are registered abroad (language barrier).
Éric Masson
Le Pop said:
If you have, were you asked to produce:-
1) light bulb set
2) breath test kit
3) fluorescent jackets
4) first aid kit
5) headlamp deflectors for UK cars
6) red plastic triangle
No, I thought not. I live in Normandy and I've been stopped a few times (and busted a couple of times) both before I moved here (on the way to le Mans and holidays etc) and since I started driving french-plated cars, and I've never been asked for any of those things. And yet we are all obliged to carry all of those things.
ID, yes, insurance details, yes.
Just sayin'....
IIRC, only items 1, 3 & 6 are mandatory. I do not know any legal reference to item 5.1) light bulb set
2) breath test kit
3) fluorescent jackets
4) first aid kit
5) headlamp deflectors for UK cars
6) red plastic triangle
No, I thought not. I live in Normandy and I've been stopped a few times (and busted a couple of times) both before I moved here (on the way to le Mans and holidays etc) and since I started driving french-plated cars, and I've never been asked for any of those things. And yet we are all obliged to carry all of those things.
ID, yes, insurance details, yes.
Just sayin'....
Most of the times, policemen don't even bother controlling cars that are registered abroad (language barrier).
Éric Masson
I was stopped a couple of months ago in the middle of the day and breath-tested. No request to show anything mentioned on the list, including the ethylotest - all of which I carry, as it happens. No request for documents and he didn't even ask why the car had a spacesaver spare on (I was heading for the tyre shop).
I've been pulled over a couple of times in the past 10 years for a document check. I was also pulled over once by the Douanes (customs) when I was driving a UK registered car north on the main route up from Spain. They were polite but not friendly. I don't smoke...
I've been pulled over a couple of times in the past 10 years for a document check. I was also pulled over once by the Douanes (customs) when I was driving a UK registered car north on the main route up from Spain. They were polite but not friendly. I don't smoke...
Only once by gendarmes: 2am on a Saturday morning for a breathalyser test. Fair enough.
Blew 0mg. Quick check of documents, exhaust and tyres, a compliment for the condition of the car, and I was on my way.
I get stopped on practically every border - and sometimes within them - by customs. UK, Belgian, Swiss, French...it's probably the "old BMW" effect (unfortunate associations). I'm just grateful none of them have taken it into their heads to dismantle the thing.
No-one has ever checked for the various gubbins we're all supposed to carry.
Requirement to have working bulbs, yes.
Requirement to carry spares?
I've researched the Code de la Route pretty thoroughly, and there's simply no foundation for this as far as I can see. I'm happy to be corrected, if anyone can provide a reference beyond "this website says so, and it was confirmed by a bloke in a pub who once dated a gendarme's sister".
Blew 0mg. Quick check of documents, exhaust and tyres, a compliment for the condition of the car, and I was on my way.
I get stopped on practically every border - and sometimes within them - by customs. UK, Belgian, Swiss, French...it's probably the "old BMW" effect (unfortunate associations). I'm just grateful none of them have taken it into their heads to dismantle the thing.
No-one has ever checked for the various gubbins we're all supposed to carry.
emss said:
IIRC, only items 1, 3 & 6 are mandatory. I do not know any legal reference to item 5.
3 & 6. I don't know of any legal reference to 1).Requirement to have working bulbs, yes.
Requirement to carry spares?
I've researched the Code de la Route pretty thoroughly, and there's simply no foundation for this as far as I can see. I'm happy to be corrected, if anyone can provide a reference beyond "this website says so, and it was confirmed by a bloke in a pub who once dated a gendarme's sister".
I have posted this on another thread but no harm in here.
This happened yesterday.
Two cars travelling sensibly have a moment of madness and open the taps a bit straight into the path of a speed gun. (207kph) Both cars pulled over although the Police only had a reading on the lead car. Driver of lead car immediately banned and told fine would be 750 euro's. Fortunately there is a spare insured driver to drive the car and prevent it from being impounded.All drivers and spare driver breeathalysed (all zero reading). Both cars escorted to Police station at St Omer. After an hour or so driver of lead car told fine has been doubled to 1500 euro's and banned in france for 6 months.Driver of second car is not charged with anything but is splitting the fine with lead driver. Drivers provided with a map to the nearest cash machine whilst passports held by the Police. Fine was paid but still took another hour before all could get on their way.
I wil add that the Police only wanted to see ownership records (V5) and drivers licence... oh and the money.
Quel Surprise... brace yourselves for more of these this weekend...... Open season for Brits on the A28 this weekend.. after all they do have their Inter Department competition of "most collected fines" and a Christmas Party to pay for.
If you want to drive at "silly speeds" carry at least €2000 on you and have a reserve driver it'll make your detainment a little shorter.
If you want to drive at "silly speeds" carry at least €2000 on you and have a reserve driver it'll make your detainment a little shorter.
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