Radar Detectors in France - Heavy Penalties

[Nacnud]

Just recieved this - can anyone confirm it's true?

PENALTIES FOR ROAD TRAFFIC INFRINGEMENTS IN FRANCE. The French Government has recently introduced severe new penalties for road traffic infringements, including possession of a radar detector. If caught - whether or not the device is being used - drivers are liable to a prison sentence of up to two years, a fine of 30,000 euros, confiscation of the device and confiscation of the vehicle. Details of this and the other new penalties can be found on the France pages in the Travel Advice section of www.fco.gov.uk

[Liszt]

DON'T TAKE IT

If you do get found with one, even buried in your luggage it will be destroyed normally in front of you and you'll get a fine.

[gt5s_1985]

Ditto. Been illegal for years. Been getting more and more serious about it for years. I stopped using mine years ago because the fines for speeding are much less severe than the fines for using a detector...

[neilsie]

yep - www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590&a=KCountryAdvice&aid=1013618385929

[blondemoment]

mmm. In France a couple of years ago, we had just pulled out of the secure car park & stopped to load our luggage, when two gendarmes stroll up, and look ALL over the car, and we can see the snooper sitting on the dash!

And, guess what? They didn't notice it! I think it was our lucky day. It's never been abroad since!

[Alanq]

What about GPS based systems? Best left behind in case French plod don't know the difference I guess?

[Jimmer]

Have been thinking about a "plumbed-in" GPS system recently (eg Origin B2), surely the Gendarmes can't nab you for something that is legal in one EU state (GB) and cannot be removed?
The implication is that because of the French part of the journey, we will be deprived of legal devices in the UK on our journeys to/from the port. I will certainly be using my Snooper on the way to Dover (I'm not risking the M25 without it), then will bury it before boarding the boat. If I had a hard-wired device, would I have to leave the car at home to avoid the force of the French law?
Is there a definitive answer (calling all PH briefs!) out there?

[glenn wheeler]

I am no brief, but i do know that commonality of laws has not arrived in europe yet, so called eu trade laws that are european law are totally ignored by france so i dont think they would give two hoots about our rights to possess such devices on their soil.

[gt5s_1985]

That being said, how visible is it? If it were my car, my money, my jailtime I'd probably not worry about it if I could put the system out of sight while in France. I've received, um, several speeding tickets in France and they've never searched my car looking for a detector. I've even received a ticket while having the detector in the glove box.

I leave my detector at home these days because it isn't worth the risk of using it. But if it is out of sight, unless you have SERIOUSLY peeved off Monsieur Gendarme, he won't search your car looking for illegal stuff.