A friendly warning for the trip
Discussion
From one of the Ultima Car Club members who lives in France:
"Be careful guys, the word is that the Police are going to be very tough this year. Not only have they halved the alcohol limit, but after Jaques Chirac told the French Public that they were terrible drivers and should take lessons from the Brits, Les "flics" are out to get us! I have been stopped several times in my Caterham (may have had something to do with me banging down the gears as I entered the village where they were lurking!!)"
"Be careful guys, the word is that the Police are going to be very tough this year. Not only have they halved the alcohol limit, but after Jaques Chirac told the French Public that they were terrible drivers and should take lessons from the Brits, Les "flics" are out to get us! I have been stopped several times in my Caterham (may have had something to do with me banging down the gears as I entered the village where they were lurking!!)"
jpchenet said: Stig
Would it break forum rules if I copied this message to a couple of Le Mans web istes and other forums, just to warn others that may not read it here.
Naturally I would say where the message came from (might entice a few more onto the forum)
No worries - spread the word!!!
The Police in recent years have been VERY lenient to us Brits at Le Mans. A few years back (About 6) they had one Gendarmes every 40 metres down the Mulsanne on the Friday, people always used to park up there for drinks and social by Cafe Des Hunadieres. They started Breathalysing loads of people, nicking anybody doing over 40 mph and no one was allowed to overtake down the Mulsanne. My Dad got pulled that year doing 60 mph over taking in his E Type - he was hauled into the back of the Fed Wagon and issued with an 8000FF fine (£800). He got lucky a French friend who happens to work for the Gendarme in Paris got involved and got him let off. He was lucky! We got had by the law last year, we went out on the Saturday night in our support truck (Mitsubishi L200) to watch the racing. The Feds didn't like the fact we had 8 lads in the back and 5 in the crew cab.....This led to an on the spot fine of £480!!!!!!!
Everybody - Do take Stigs words of warning seriously, the French law is nasty when it wants to be.
Other wise have a wicked trip, not long now!!!!!!!!!!
Everybody - Do take Stigs words of warning seriously, the French law is nasty when it wants to be.
Other wise have a wicked trip, not long now!!!!!!!!!!
A french friend of mine recently told me that the Gendarmes go mad if they catch anyone doing 25kph over the limit on the autoroutes (i.e. 155kph) - your are looking at a BIG fine. Remember they time you between tolls - bear this in mind when hammering back to Calais after a great weekend. Can't be there, but have a good one.
better be more careful this time then
v12v8 said: Remember they time you between tolls .
This is actually an urban myth. You are not timed between tolls, but they often set up speed traps shortly before a toll which covers the whole motorway, like the ones near Abbeville and Boulogne. They don't chase you, just pull you over at the toll, hence the myth.
But seriously folks, there is a BIG clampdown on speeding, drink driving and white line crossing over here in France. Fines have been hiked by a factor of about five. Have a great time, but don't forget that the two way main road limit is only 56 mph. Keep your eyes open!!
Yes 4 years a go my brother got a 600F fine for crossing white lines, he was travelling at a fairly indecent speed too and thats all they seemed interested in (as they ignored me travelling at same speed), although they weren't happy apparently!
Last year a colleage in France informed me that the speeding fine was 400 Euros, that was last year of course so it could have increased and he didn't specify for what kind of excess over the limit they would impose that fine......
Still, I'm in the Midget this year so I'll be lucky to actually see the limit, let alone exceed it
Last year a colleage in France informed me that the speeding fine was 400 Euros, that was last year of course so it could have increased and he didn't specify for what kind of excess over the limit they would impose that fine......
Still, I'm in the Midget this year so I'll be lucky to actually see the limit, let alone exceed it
Stig - thanks for the warning !
I'll warn all the Surrey & Sussex people
who are heading down there.
To be fair - we seem to get this rumour every year
but we try to be reasonable (slow) driving thru
quiet villages.
My advice is to stick to the deserted 'D' roads -
they are great - and don't attract the police.
Go buy a decent Michelin map of france for about
£13 from Smiths - you will never have so much
fun on public roads !
Good luck everyone.
I'll warn all the Surrey & Sussex people
who are heading down there.
To be fair - we seem to get this rumour every year
but we try to be reasonable (slow) driving thru
quiet villages.
My advice is to stick to the deserted 'D' roads -
they are great - and don't attract the police.
Go buy a decent Michelin map of france for about
£13 from Smiths - you will never have so much
fun on public roads !
Good luck everyone.
Gassing Station | Le Mans | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff