French speeding tickets

[fourstardan]

Well it's only taken about 15 years of driving here but I was flashed at the bottom of Caen bridge SE bound at 6am on the way to Paris yesterday doing 78kmh in a 70 zone.

Cheeky barstewards tbh it was well hidden and wouldn't had been seen even in daylight.

Has anyone else been flashed here before?

How long do they take to come in? Have any cases of empty cameras like the good old days happened?

Also I'm sure it's been noted but they have taken tolls out of the A14 now which is far easier, couldn't believe the rally to Paris and back, 38 euros!

[Puggit]

Since Brexit I believe French police have lost the right to ask DVLA for your details. That hasn't stopped them asking or DVLA giving.

If you get a ticket and plan to return to France then do pay.

The A13 and A14 have certainly lost their toll booths - but are still tolled. You have to pay online.

Edited by Puggit on Wednesday 23 April 08:53

[WyrleyD]

Yep, been done once by that camera. Must have been half asleep after the night crossing from Portsmouth but a different situation to you as I was driving a French registered car and the €90 fine went to my French address after about 3-4 days. I think I was doing about the same as you speed wise.

[omniflow]

I've been flashed by various speed cameras in France, both before and after Brexit, and never heard a thing.

[fourstardan]

WyrleyD said:

Yep, been done once by that camera. Must have been half asleep after the night crossing from Portsmouth but a different situation to you as I was driving a French registered car and the €90 fine went to my French address after about 3-4 days. I think I was doing about the same as you speed wise.

It wad sneaky and now got the willies for the next few days but at least it dosnt muck up my dvla points.

A13/14 was worth the toll price, nobody tailgating, cutting inside or hogging lanes and all doing sneaky 140kmh in the 130 areas.

Paying tolls is easy enpugh but threw us at first, you get 72 hours to settle up or can do an account to do it automatically.

Now off to scoff my baguette for lunch.

[Martin4356111]

Sorry to jump on this thread but have a similar question...

What would happen if you didn't pay tolls in Italy, France etc and just hot footed it through the open lanes for prepaid/on account?

I've heard they will chase through debt collection companies but when they try to chase, they will find my car was on a Cyprus registration which will by the time they try to find me, be on a UK plate.

Trying to decide if I can save £200+ on road tolls lol!

[Car bon]

All the toll booths I go through in France have a barrier. Even the T-tag only lanes have a barrier that doesn't open until its confirmed your tag on approach.

[littleredrooster]

fourstardan said:

...I was flashed at the bottom of Caen bridge SE bound...
Has anyone else been flashed here before?

Yup - same camera flashed me last year - it's very cunningly placed! Heard no more about it.

[Puggit]

Car bon said:

All the toll booths I go through in France have a barrier. Even the T-tag only lanes have a barrier that doesn't open until its confirmed your tag on approach.

It's all changing though - as per my comments on the A13/A14 above. More and more autoroutes will be changed to barrier-free.

Current situation is quite limited though:

[Samcat]

I got flashed by one the fixed roadside cameras a few years ago - post brexit.
Fine arrived in the post some weeks later, 58kmh in a 50kmh zone.
The fine was about 40 Euros, with no points or anything. I paid it as I planned to return.
Paid online and never heard anymore about it.

[fourstardan]

I wonder if the a14 and other Route are run by the same firm. Or if theyve started on the busier routes.

Nice slap up meal tonight (fillet and foie gras) to make up for it before departing for the place we all hate to call home tomorrow.

[Caddyshack]

Martin4356111 said:

Sorry to jump on this thread but have a similar question...

What would happen if you didn't pay tolls in Italy, France etc and just hot footed it through the open lanes for prepaid/on account?

I've heard they will chase through debt collection companies but when they try to chase, they will find my car was on a Cyprus registration which will by the time they try to find me, be on a UK plate.

Trying to decide if I can save £200+ on road tolls lol!

I expect the Police would chase you down, they don’t mess about. It would surely make it worse for other people if more people did it and really it’s a bit like shop lifting or stealing, I doubt it would make the locals like us much and often they don’t like us anyway.

[s p a c e m a n]

Caddyshack said:

Martin4356111 said:

Sorry to jump on this thread but have a similar question...

What would happen if you didn't pay tolls in Italy, France etc and just hot footed it through the open lanes for prepaid/on account?

I've heard they will chase through debt collection companies but when they try to chase, they will find my car was on a Cyprus registration which will by the time they try to find me, be on a UK plate.

Trying to decide if I can save £200+ on road tolls lol!

I expect the Police would chase you down, they don’t mess about. It would surely make it worse for other people if more people did it and really it’s a bit like shop lifting or stealing, I doubt it would make the locals like us much and often they don’t like us anyway.

If you fail to pay ulez or the dart charge in a foreign registered vehicle and leave the country a European debt collection agency chases you for it but as far as I'm aware they can't do anything other than annoy you as the debt is due in the UK.

I'm assuming that it works the other way, if they untangle the number plates and addresses then you'll probably just get a strongly worded letter.

I know that they used to anpr trucks stuck in operation stack at Dover for unpaid fines.

[Time4another]

Been flashed many times pre-brexit and post brexit. Never paid one. Travel to France regularly to this day without issue.

[ferret50]

Time4another said:

Been flashed many times pre-brexit and post brexit. Never paid one. Travel to France regularly to this day without issue.

Same here!

I am satisfied that DVLA no longer dob us in to the French, and I have never been questioned when re entering France for the next trip.

I am not as certain regarding Spain, though, and as they seem to bill at 300 euro I take far more care there.