The French Police and SatNavs

[octave]

There have been press reports of British motorists being fined and having their satnavs confiscated in France. I contacted the French embassy in London and they say that the use of camera databases in France is illegal, and not only your satnav but also your car can be confiscated!
The key words in the French law are "déceler la présence" which would seem to indicate that the offence is detecting the camera. Does a database do that? I don't think so but I am not going to argue with the French police. I have removed the French cameras.

Dave Getter

[philpugh]

Although I also wouldn't argue with the French Police if they are taking action against Sat Nav systems then it seems very odd that their equivalent of the OSGB (IGN) offers maps with the positions of fixed speed cameras on them.

See the maps on the following link specifically the Regional Road maps - 2nd bullet point.

http://www.ign.fr/rubrique.asp?rbr_id=1201&lng_id=EN

I will be driving in the South of France late summer this year and I will have my Sat Nav with me.
_________________
Phil

[Andy_P]

This was all discussed at length some time ago, and a member (who I think is, or was, a UK policeman, got a definitive reply from the French Government (or whatever). IIRC, it all hinged on "detection" as opposed to "information".
I'll try to find it if I get some time later.

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