Touring season approaching, France?

[embee]

SInce it's the season to be jolly (sorry, wrong one) jollying off abroad, this is a topic of ongoing discussion elsewhere and I thought it might be useful info to pass on here.

What prompted it was the issue of the gendarmes now enforcing the long existent but seldom applied law about reflective stickers on helmets (potentially Eu135 on the spot fine for not having them, applies to any rider whatever nationality)

The DEAVILLE FORUM has a member who has lived in France for some years, and he posted up his lates take on the biking situation over there, so here it is.

HELMET STICKERS
The stickers on helmets law has been in place for quite a long time, longer than I've been in France. The stickers are a b@st@ard to try and remove and you will need some sort of alcohol (as well as a scotch) to get them off - hence the damage to the helmet. They will check you have stickers in place if you are stopped.

BREATHALYSER
Breathalyser Test Kit law (éthylotest) in France has been subtly changed. In fine French fashion the law still stands, they just changed the amount of the fine to…

0€.

Yes you read that correctly… 0€!

I’ll leave it to you to decide if it’s going to be enforced and whether you need to carry a kit when visiting France.

HI-VIS
Hi Vis has caused a bit of a furore in France. Basically, last year a law was passed requiring riders to have reflective material on their clothing (shoulders and back) which could be seen from behind. As of 1st January 2013, this law has been scrapped. Though due to the French drivers’ propensity to use mobile phones in their cars, fiddle with their GPS, radios and MP3 players all while wearing earphones and totally oblivious to their surroundings, I would recommend as much visibility as possible. A very loud horn or loud pipes wouldn't go amiss either!

Note: If you break down you must wear Hi Vis while off the bike and, if there is a crash barrier, you must stand behind it if you are not attending to your bike.

FILTERING
Sense has prevailed at long last! According to FFMC – Fédération Française des Motards en Colère (the French Federation of Angry Bikers) a proposal to make Filtering legal in France has been put before the National Council for Road Safety by Prefect Régis Guyot– a copy of the proposal can be found here: http://www.ffmc.asso.fr/spip.php?article2469. As it is in French I thought you might like a very brief synopsis.

The proposal suggests that:
Filtering should be allowed next to the left most lane
Speed while Filtering should be limited
Training should be given on how to do it
It should be practised on “a reasoned and reasonable basis, not anywhere, anytime and no matter how”.

This is a long way from being law so don't filter outside of the major cities.

SPEED CAMERAS
You may have heard that the Speed Cameras (Radar) in France no longer need warning signs and or replacing them with electronic speed signs. Well, it seems that’s about to change and they are going to revert back to the old system of a warning sign at least 500m before a fixed Camera. It seems the electronic speed signs which they installed instead were, on average, lasting about 6 months before turning up their toes.

They also have "Stealth Speed Cameras" i.e. one which are nigh on impossible to see. They are installing Average Speed Cameras and they have unmarked cars driving around with speed cameras.

Now, you’ll think, “not a problem for us Brit registered vehicles”. At the moment, not really as you’ll only have to cough up if stopped by the Gendarmes and they check-up. But, the French are trying to make reciprocal arrangements with other European countries to issue fines and points. Belgium and France already have such an arrangement. How long before the UK joins in?

On the subject of Speed Cameras, in France it is illegal to have a Speed Camera POI warning on your Sat Nag. Garmin have already updated theirs, well mine has been, to “Zone Dangereuse” (Danger Zone). If you’re visiting France over the summer, make sure yours has been updated (or the Speed Camera POIs removed) or you’ll lose it if stopped – an expensive reminder.


OLD BILL AND DOCUMENTS
In general the Gendarmes are relatively tolerant. The Police Municipal are not. Whether in France for the French Moto Grand Prix at Le Mans in May, Le Mans 24 hour race in June or just to enjoy the delights of France (hic) here are some tips if you are stopped.

1. Be Polite. When approached say “Bon jour Monsieur l’agent” or “Bon soir Monsieur l’agent” first. Don’t just start talking, greet them - extremely important. It can make the difference between a fine and a warning.
2. Give them your documents in this order: Driving Licence; Passport (or ID); Insurance; V5; MOT (if required). This is because, when seeing a UK driving licence, they may just tell you to continue by saying “allez”, especially if it is just a general roadside check.
3. If you have broken the law, if or when asked, admit it and apologise. They’re not stupid; they stopped you for a reason – unless it’s a general roadside check.
4. If your French isn’t very good say to the Officer “Je suis anglais, je ne parle pas très bien français. Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement.” (“I am English I don't speak French very well. Can you speak slowly.”), they may then speak to you in English. Quite a lot speak reasonable English whether they use it with you or not - so watch what you say in English! If you don’t understand something, ask them to repeat it “Je ne comprends pas pouvez-vous répéter s'il vous plait.”
5. Foreign visitors are seen as “cash-cows” by some Police and they do have quotas, so keep to the rules of the French roads. Signs with 130 don’t mean 130mph but 130kph (80mph). They can and will crush your pride and joy for excessive speed. There is also a story doing the rounds of someone being caught doing about 150mph. The Police stopped him. Called their Captain who came out and tore up his driving licence there and then in front of him. No judge, no jury, no licence. Whether true or not, I don’t know, but the scary truth is they are allowed to do it!

FINES
Fines for minor infractions (i.e. not putting your foot on the ground at a Stop sign - don't ask me how I know this) used to be relatively small, 35€ upwards. Most have been raised to 135€. If you don't have the money on you don't worry, the Police will escort you to the nearest cash machine!

Regards,
John

My recent experience this January was:

163kph on the motorway in a hired MINI. Coming round a right bend and in a cut out a few meters back from the motorway impossible to see in time were the Gendarme in a blue Subaru Impreza. They took me to the next Aire where I spoke with them and showed them my documents. I pretty much treated the situation as outlined above, but we spoke in English. I think I said Hello Sir. Anyway we had to go to a cash point off of the motorway to withdraw cash. 90 euro fine, no points.

Sucked a bit because we were on a tight budget, but we learned a lesson. If you want to speed in France you have to be prepared to pay. No more speeding in France for me.

Makes me think twice before going across the channel. What a weird ass country. Thanks for summarising it all though.

Very useful post. Most of this I knew but the sticker is new to me. Two questions, why the stickers and where to get them? (one) And last year I took photocopies of my passport and insurance rather than risk losing the originals. Will they accept this? (two) I had all my original vehicle documents.

[embee]

I just ordered some of these off the 'bay , which is what prompted me to make this thread.

The rules for the stickers is, as you'd expect, ridiculously complicated, but in essence 4 stickers, front & back and each side. Minimum area is 12.5cm^2, the shape must either accommodate a 40mm diameter circle (but can be bigger or oval etc) or rectangle with the smaller side at least 2cm. The rule also says they must not be removable without damaging the helmet (! bizarre, but so French) but I doubt the gendarmes will be enforcing this bit too rigorously.

You must have originals of documents, but I always carry photocopies also, and leave another photocopy at home.

Originally Posted by embee

I just ordered some of these off the 'bay , which is what prompted me to make this thread.

The rules for the stickers is, as you'd expect, ridiculously complicated, but in essence 4 stickers, front & back and each side. Minimum area is 12.5cm^2, the shape must either accommodate a 40mm diameter circle (but can be bigger or oval etc) or rectangle with the smaller side at least 2cm. The rule also says they must not be removable without damaging the helmet (! bizarre, but so French) but I doubt the gendarmes will be enforcing this bit too rigorously.

You must have originals of documents, but I always carry photocopies also, and leave another photocopy at home.

Ta

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Murley.

Makes me think twice before going across the channel. What a weird ass country. Thanks for summarising it all though.

I wouldnt let it put you off. The pro's of riding abroad and exploring IMHO far outweight the negative's of a bit of French bureaucracy.

Good info there, I'd never heard of the helmet stickers before either, good job we never got stopped. Apparently some new helmet's come with them, mrs has just said the last one she got a couple of years ago came with some stickers.

[DJ123]

I went abroad 3 times last year, all through France. Even at the Moto GP with all the Police presence, talking to them/getting directions it was never mentioned to us about helmet stickers.

Originally Posted by embee

The rule also says they must not be removable without damaging the helmet (! bizarre, but so French).

You would think this would fall foul of EU free travel rules.