French requiring breathalysers?

Has anybody seen anything concrete on this? I've googled (other search engines are available) a bit and all I can find is either manufacturers/sellers claiming it'll happen "in the spring" or people on other forums as confused as I am. I figured as some of you guys work in the old law enforcement area, one of you might actually know something. Hopefully something other than the French have had another daft idea.

IF it's true, it sounds like a very silly idea IMHO. Let's face it, if you need a breathalyser to check, you probably shouldn't be the one driving. And who is liable if it claims you're fine when you're actually three sheets to the wind?

Discuss.....

is this like a system in the car that wont let you start if you're over the limit? in practice its a good idea but people will get around it by getting a mate who hasnt drank to do it.

No, hand held - goes with the driver, not the vehicle so fun for bikers as well

Haven't heard about that but I saw they passed the Hi Viz law that takes effect for Bikers in Jan 2013.

so, every driver must have one of these? =S what happens if your meter shows a different read to the rozzers? if it ever happened?

[maviczap]

it was on the news the other day, plus you can't use **** Nav's which warn you of Speed cameras in france

well true, but it's just ANOTHER thing to remember when going to the Mrs's grandads house in La Rochelle. Bloody surrender monkeys GRRR

[DarrenSV650S]

Originally Posted by maviczap

it was on the news the other day, plus you can't use **** Nav's which warn you of Speed cameras in france

That is confusing

Yep, it becomes law this spring. Not sure if it affects motorbikes or not. It won't make a blind bit of difference unless people actually blow in them when they think they are over the limit. Even if they do blow in them, they will then go through the thought process "how likely am I to get stopped?", and they may decide to drive anyway.

The PC brigade will be outraged by this, but it's just lifelong attitudes of a generation and culture, my father in law drink drives on a twice weekly basis. The local rozzers know about it and have let him off with a warning several times. Sometimes they sit outside his mates house when they see his car there as they know he goes for there for an aperatif. If the rozzers are sitting outside when he leaves, he goes back in and has another drink. He's never been booked for it or had an accident because of it his entire life, he's not going to stop now. He is far from being the only man of his age in the village that drinks and drives, in fact I'd say it's 50% or more.

Originally Posted by tom-k6

so, every driver must have one of these? =S what happens if your meter shows a different read to the rozzers? if it ever happened?

If France is the same process as the UK, then it doesn't matter what reading either portable breathalyser shows, it only matters what the machine at the station or a blood test shows.

The PC brigade will be outraged by this, but it's just lifelong attitudes of a generation and culture, my father in law drink drives on a twice weekly basis. The local rozzers know about it and have let him off with a warning several times. Sometimes they sit outside his mates house when they see his car there as they know he goes for there for an aperatif. If the rozzers are sitting outside when he leaves, he goes back in and has another drink. He's never been booked for it or had an accident because of it his entire life, he's not going to stop now. He is far from being the only man of his age in the village that drinks and drives, in fact I'd say it's 50% or more.

Seriously Ralph I hope you're not in anyway showing apathy to your father-in-law doing this! I you are being honest in what you say then the officers concerned are committing a gross dereliction of duty and should be removed from service!

He's never been booked for it or had an accident because of it his entire life, he's not going to stop now.

Lucky him! But given time and probability it will happen and I hope to heavens that he is booked rather than he is involved in a collision because its not him i am concerned about its any potential innocent victim that gets caught up in it! Its not in anyway fun to have to knock on some innocent families door and explain to them that there nearest and dearest have been involved in an collision resulting a death or serious injury!

There is of course the possibility that I have misread what you have written

This is solely my opinion based on experience NOT a PC brigade rant.....If you choose to drink and drive you are selfish, ignorant and mindless!