Any problems with the French Gendarme (Police) confiscating?

TomDavison · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 10:50 am Post subject:

I take them very seriously. I just can't get my head around the difference between the satnav telling me a camera is coming up, and her indoors sat next to me doing the same from a road atlas.

classy56 · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 11:46 am Post subject:

finisterre · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 02, 2006 Posts: 16

From the Daily Telegraph's 'Honest John' section (12/05/07):

Watching the detectors

In France, GPS systems that indicate the position of speed cameras are legal (see article R413-15 of the French highway code). They are classified as “avertisseurs” – warning devices providing information that is in the public domain and available on www.viamichelin.com. Any device that can detect radar or laser signals from speed cameras or guns is illegal. They are classified as “détecteurs” and the presence of such a device, whether in use or not, is a serious offence that can lead to a large fine or even confiscation of the vehicle. GPS systems that combine laser/radar detectors should not be taken to France.
R.P., Hove

# Some devices do both and a lot of gendarmes either don't know the difference or don't want to know. There was a recent prosecution involving a motorist who used camera location sat-nav – he was acquitted because he proved his device complied with the law. If you want to take your sat-nav to France, go to this link (it's in French): www.controleradar.org/detecteur-de-radar.html. Print it out and carry it with you to convince sceptical flics that your kit is legal in French law. Via Michelin now sells European sat-nav devices with the latest speed trap locations. Prices start at £199.

vroomfondel · Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 12:23 pm Post subject:

Thats a useful link.
There must be loads of French drivers using e..g TomTom with camera warning from the French GPSpassion forum. In fact I know two personally
In fact I got stopped for another matter by a motorcycle flic at the entrance to a peage. He looked at the satnav which clearly showed speedcams but his only comment was that the route was rubbish.

entwood · Regular Visitor Joined: Jul 31, 2005 Posts: 117

The detector link in the above post has a small error .. Sad

won't open due to one too many . correct one is :

www.controleradar.org/detecteur-de-radar.html

this one is a also usefull...

http://www.controleradar.org/detecteur-radar-gps

Regards

Entwood

gareth71 · Regular Visitor Joined: Oct 07, 2004 Posts: 146

Anyone know of an online source for the French highway code (particularly the section mentioned by finisterre)? I've found this site - http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/ - which apparently hosts it, but my French isn't good enough to find my way around that site effectively!

Hemlock · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 6:47 pm Post subject:

Hemlock · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:12 pm Post subject:

[quote="Hemlock"]

And from the French Embassy in London:

Speed camera detection device in France.
Following a lot of letters and emails sent to the Embassy regarding legislation in France on speed camera detection devices, please note that, under articles L413-2 and R413-15 of the French ‘Code de la Route’ (highway code), it is strictly forbidden to have such devices in cars in France, regardless of whether or not they are in use (see below: penalties can include fines of up to €3,000, confiscation of the device and of the vehicle).
This legislation does not apply to satellite navigation systems (SatNav or GPS). These can tell motorists only the location of fixed speed cameras, data which is already in the public domain.
MOTORISTS SHOULD ALWAYS ABIDE BY THE LAW AND KEEP WITHIN PERMITTED SPEED LIMITS.
For your own and others’ safety, drive within the following speed limits. Please note that France has reduced limits in wet weather.
Towns and villages: 50 kph (31 mph)
Other ordinary roads – dry weather: 90 kph (55 mph); wet weather: 80 kph (49 mph)
Voies rapides [dual carriageways, etc.] – dry weather: 110 kph (68 mph); wet weather: 100 kph (62 mph)
Autoroutes [motorways] – dry weather: 130 kph (80 mph); wet weather: 110 kph (68 mph)
You must always adapt your speed to the driving conditions.
Links [in French]: www.securiteroutiere.equipement.gouv.fr
www.legisfrance.gouv.fr
www.interieur.gouv.fr
www.defense.gouv.fr/gendarmerie/
Article L413-2
CODE DE LA ROUTE (Partie Législative)
M.

gareth71 · Regular Visitor Joined: Oct 07, 2004 Posts: 146

'Mercy Buckets', Hemlock. ;)

Will be printing those out and keeping them in the car when I go next week, just in case I encounter a mardy Gendarme whose missus hasn't given him any for weeks ....

Hemlock · Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 12:23 am Post subject:

[quote="gareth71"]'Mercy Buckets', Hemlock. ;)

Vous êtes très bienvenu. Apprécier votre voyage
M.

classy56 · Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 5:24 am Post subject:

sloveridge · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 12, 2006 Posts: 1

The French Embassy to the UK has posted information to its web-site outlining French Law regarding Speed camera/GPS navigation devices. See the following link:

http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Cannonball-racers-arrested-by-the.html#sommaire_1

In short, camera detection devices (Radar or laser) are illegal. GPS devices that conatin a database of locations are legal.

999tommo · Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 4:37 pm Post subject:

Anyone trawling through french websites may be assisted by Google Translate.....http://www.google.com/translate_t

If you copy the url of the website page you are viewing into the relevant field on Google Translate, and select the appropriate language change, it makes things alot easier to read. Sometimes it doesn't work though.

Worth a try Question

(I was trying to get the link above shown in red but it didn't work - can anyone assist?)
_________________
Tommo...

Regularly absent, but still here in spirit !

gareth71 · Regular Visitor Joined: Oct 07, 2004 Posts: 146

That last link (to the French embassy website) seems to prove conclusively, then, that GPS-based speed camera warning devices *are* legal in France. Nice to finally have some concrete proof - thanks for posting the link.

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