Caught by the fuzz (in France)

[SunEye]

Yesterday on my way to catch the ferry from Le Havre I was a bit late and so was pressing on a bit. On the Pont de Normandie near Le Havre they had the speed limit set to 70kph (I'm sure it's usually higher). As I went up the bridge I noticed a blue flashing light and a police bike some way back. I knew exactly what was going to happen. He pulled alongside me and motioned for me to follow him. We went to the car park at the end of the bridge where there were a few police cars and several other bike and car drivers being processed.

I was told that I had been doing 153kph in a 70kph zone and I needed to pay €750. They asked me how much cash I had on me, €65, and then told me I'd be taken to a bank to get the rest of the money. So off I went in a Gendarmerie Ford Focus with two Gendarmes to a bank, where I only managed to withdraw €360 on a couple of cards before I was told by the machine that I had insufficient funds courtesy of a daily withdrawl limit.

We went back to the car park at the Pont de Normandie where I sat in a police van and watch a Gendarme make numerous phone calls and look in various books and fill in bits of paperwork. Despite me asking what was happening I wasn't told anything. What I did know was that he had trouble getting hold of the local procureur (prosectuting lawyer) to tell him what to do because I couldn't pay the fine.

Eventually they decide that €425 was ok, but we needed to go to the Gendamerie to do some more paperwork. So I followed a police car at speeds up to an indicated 100mph to an empty Gendamerie, where I was given a receipt for my money and some paperwork and told that was it, 2 hours after I was stopped and a long time after my ferry had left.

[SunEye]

I also had fun getting out of the Gendamerie because the automatic gates wouldn't work. After about 5 minutes the first set opened, possibly because the two Gendames in the building had see me walk back to the building to come and find them to open the gate. The second gate wouldn't open, but now I was outside the first gate I couldn't go back and get someone to open it. Luckily the footpath beside the gate was just big enough for the bike so I managed to get past that way.

Then I had to decide what to do having missed the ferry. So I rode to Saint Nazaire where my girlfriend was staying. I'd not wanted to leave anyway.

That was a horrible 5 hour ride in 4 hours of rain and darkness. With a front light that is frankly a total waste of space. On lit roads you can't even tell that the light is on it's so useless. On dark unlit roads more than 50mph is quite frankly dangerous because you just can see enough of the road ahead.

Now I've got to decide when to get a ferry back to the UK. It won't be tonight, it may even be next weekend.

[Grumpy]

Bab luck there, iv'e been lucky so far in my trips into europe and never been caught speeding.
I do believe the French police are far more clever when it comes to setting up spped traps compared with our police.

[Char]

you dont have the best of luck

being stopped in any foreign country is my idea of a nightmare

[buzzbomb]

Personally I try to do as little driving in france as possible heading to the Belgian border as quick as I can.

The french police seem to take great pleasure in mugging any one with a GB sticker on their vehicle...:banghead:

as we say up north, "at least **** Turpin wore a mask"...:mand:

[J.P]

Sorry to hear that SunEye.

[nuttynick]

Yesterday on my way to catch the ferry from Le Havre I was a bit late and so was pressing on a bit. On the Pont de Normandie near Le Havre they had the speed limit set to 70kph (I'm sure it's usually higher). As I went up the bridge I noticed a blue flashing light and a police bike some way back. I knew exactly what was going to happen. He pulled alongside me and motioned for me to follow him. We went to the car park at the end of the bridge where there were a few police cars and several other bike and car drivers being processed.

I was told that I had been doing 153kph in a 70kph zone and I needed to pay €750. They asked me how much cash I had on me, €65, and then told me I'd be taken to a bank to get the rest of the money. So off I went in a Gendarmerie Ford Focus with two Gendarmes to a bank, where I only managed to withdraw €360 on a couple of cards before I was told by the machine that I had insufficient funds courtesy of a daily withdrawl limit.

We went back to the car park at the Pont de Normandie where I sat in a police van and watch a Gendarme make numerous phone calls and look in various books and fill in bits of paperwork. Despite me asking what was happening I wasn't told anything. What I did know was that he had trouble getting hold of the local procureur (prosectuting lawyer) to tell him what to do because I couldn't pay the fine.

Eventually they decide that €425 was ok, but we needed to go to the Gendamerie to do some more paperwork. So I followed a police car at speeds up to an indicated 100mph to an empty Gendamerie, where I was given a receipt for my money and some paperwork and told that was it, 2 hours after I was stopped and a long time after my ferry had left.

You were lucky. I had the same fine, which I paid, an instant 6 month ban, and a court date back in France a few months later!!:mad:

[JerryT]

Bad Luck! Sounds lika bit of a 'mare. Was the speed limit clearly signed, or did they just tell you what it was after they nabbed you?

[Capo]

You were lucky. I had the same fine, which I paid, an instant 6 month ban, and a court date back in France a few months later!!:mad:

Did you go?

[Dukedesmo]

Bad luck, I had a similar incident some years ago, caught at 201kmh on the A26 between Reims and Calais, had insufficient cash for the 'contribution' and so was escorted to the nearest bank to secure the funds then sent on my way.

Thought that was the end of it until I got a letter from the French court a few months later asking for a little more - I duly 'filed' that one. ;)

But given the amount of people who've had similar experiences, you'd think the Gendarmes would invest in credit card machines, it would save them alot of time & hassle. They must have wasted at least an hour with me...

[Saint aka ML]

Two questions, first did they show you proof, two how fast were you going ;) I went over that bridge flag out on 749

[J.P]

There's one very simple way to avoid the hassle.

Stick to the speed limit. :)

[Saint aka ML]

There's one very simple way to avoid the hassle.

Stick to the speed limit. :)

Agreed, then again less fun.

I have no mirrors how would they react to me saying SMIDSY?

[urbanfireblade]

Sorry to hear about that SunEye, put it behind you and enjoy your riding.

[SunEye]

Bab luck there, iv'e been lucky so far in my trips into europe and never been caught speeding.
I do believe the French police are far more clever when it comes to setting up spped traps compared with our police.
I have done tens of thousands of miles in France and this is the first time I have been stopped for speeding. Only the second time in my life that I have been caught speeding and I've had a licence since 1986.

The gendamerie are prone to hiding when implementing a speed trap. I have seen many where you could not see them until you passed them. Many French see it as just a revenue generating exercise. In reality they are responding to the French government's desire to reduce road deaths, which they mistakenly attribute to excessive speed.

[SunEye]

you dont have the best of luck

being stopped in any foreign country is my idea of a nightmare
In the back of my mind I was fearing a Midnight Express prison experience. When I couldn't come up with the full amount of cash for the fine and the Gendarme was phoning the prosecutor I was expecting an impounded bike, a night in the cells and an appearance before a judge the next day.

I was a bit disappointed that the Gendarmes did not keep me informed of what they were doing. Although their English was poor and my French is poor I am sure it would have been possible. When I have dealt with British police they seem to do nothing else, but talk to you.

I could have phoned my girlfriend to act as translator, but I was only going to do that if things got serious. I didn't want her to pay the rest of the fine unless absolutely necessary to get me out of jail or similar.

[SunEye]

You were lucky. I had the same fine, which I paid, an instant 6 month ban, and a court date back in France a few months later!!:mad:
Yes I know I was lucky and I have the local prosecutor to thank for the leniency. If I was French then as well as the fine I would have got 6 points and possibly a ban. I do have a court date, but was told by the Gendarme that it is a formality and I don't have to appear because I have paid the fine and admitted my guilt.

[SunEye]

Bad Luck! Sounds lika bit of a 'mare. Was the speed limit clearly signed, or did they just tell you what it was after they nabbed you?
Yes the speed limit was signed, but it was lower than usual. They have a variable limit on the bridge. The 70kph limit that was in force is usually for adverse weather or work on the bridge, neither was true yesterday. When I saw the speed limit as I approached the bridge I did think that it was lower than normal. It is possible that the Gendarmerie lowered the speed limit to catch more people.

[SunEye]

But given the amount of people who've had similar experiences, you'd think the Gendarmes would invest in credit card machines, it would save them alot of time & hassle. They must have wasted at least an hour with me...
I agree. Their machines only work with Carte Bleu cards which are exclusively French. I wasted 2 hours of police time and that of a prosecutor all because the Gendarmerie don't have portable universal debit/credit card readers. If they had they'd have got the full fine out of me and in the time they saved caught more speeders.

[SunEye]

Two questions, first did they show you proof, two how fast were you going ;) I went over that bridge flag out on 749
No proof was shown to me other than the motorcycle cop who chased me and pulled me over wrote it down for me. A piece of paper that was kept securely by the processing officer, so I presume it may have been classed as evidence.

My understanding from discussing it with French citizens is that in France if a policeman says you were doing a speed then in the eyes of the law you were doing that speed and that is proof enough. Which is why I didn't ask for conclusive proof of my speed or bother arguing about the offence. I knew exactly what I had done (my speedo was reading in the region of 100mph when I started crossing the bridge) and I was caught, fair enough.

[SunEye]

There's one very simple way to avoid the hassle.

Stick to the speed limit. :)
Now that's just not fun is it ;)

To be honest I don't usually speed excessively on French motorways/dual carriageways 110/130kph (speedo reading 74/87mph) is fast enough for long distance riding on a naked bike. I usually stick around a speedo reading of under 80mph on 110kph roads and 90mph on 130kph roads.

In this case I was genuinely late for the ferry because I'd been slowed down earlier by unexpected rain and roads awash with diesel for several miles.

[Capo]

I have no mirrors how would they react to me saying SMIDSY?

With a few blows from a truncheon

[jerry]

To be honest I don't usually speed excessively on French motorways/dual carriageways 110/130kph (speedo reading 74/87mph) is fast enough for long distance riding on a naked bike. I usually stick around a speedo reading of under 80mph on 110kph roads and 90mph on 130kph roads.

wrong 110kph is actually 68mph and 130kph is 81mph

[SunEye]

To be honest I don't usually speed excessively on French motorways/dual carriageways 110/130kph (speedo reading 74/87mph) is fast enough for long distance riding on a naked bike. I usually stick around a speedo reading of under 80mph on 110kph roads and 90mph on 130kph roads.

wrong 110kph is actually 68mph and 130kph is 81mph
You are correct, but I was giving the speedo readings which Ducati state in the owners manual over-reads by 8%.

[nuttynick]

Did you go?

Did I feck! But I did get the court result in the post some time afterwards, and guess what, my fine at court was.......Yep, 750 Euros! Funny as that was what I'd already paid, you gotta love the French :chuckle:

[gary tompkins]

Agreed, then again less fun.

I have no mirrors how would they react to me saying SMIDSY?

With a few blows from a truncheon

Or possibly a face full of semi automatic pistol :eek:

Seeing as the National Gendarmerie is a branch of the French Armed Forces, are routinely armed and tend to suffer from a sense of humour bypass... do you really think it's wise to pi55 them off? However if your idea of fun is several days in a police cell, a wallet raping fine and possibly a good kicking.. feel free to taunt away.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Gendarmes_501585_fh000019.jpg/686px-Gendarmes_501585_fh000019.jpg

[uksurfer]

i'll think twice before i go up the toll road next time then to Le Havre

i think the 'i wondered how fast it would go officer' would be a bit of a issue , the lack of cars is such a temptation

:eek:

sorry to hear of your bad experience, dont let it put you off!

[SunEye]

Or possibly a face full of semi automatic pistol :eek:

Seeing as the National Gendarmerie is a branch of the French Armed Forces, are routinely armed and tend to suffer from a sense of humour bypass... do you really think it's wise to pi55 them off? However if your idea of fun is several days in a police cell, a wallet raping fine and possibly a good kicking.. feel free to taunt away.
Agreed. The GIGN who do counter terrorism and hostage rescue (think SAS) are also part of the Gendarmerie. You wouldn't mess with one of them.

The Police Nationale are a softer bunch by comparison, although the CRS (part of the Police Nationale) who do the riot control could be described as thugish, but not to their faces. They also handle lifeguard duties and mountain rescue. If you misbehave on a French beach in the summer you could find yourself face to face with a member of the CRS. In that situation I'd choose not to argue.

[Dukedesmo]

And in the cities they use skates for chasing people, well either that or this lot were on their way to a roller disco...

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/attachment.php?attachmentid=16654&d=1349773072

:mand:

[SunEye]

In the picture that Gary posted the knee high leather boots, white belt and holster, topped off by the cap does all look a little camp :gay: So much so that my French girlfriend started singing "In The Navy" when she saw it :ymca:

Obviously the style concious Gendarmerie would never be seen in the baggy trouser roller blade look of the Paris Police Nationale. As well as roller blading around the streets of Paris I wonder if they also partake in a bit of parkour when chasing criminals.

I do know that the union representing the French riot police (CRS) successfully argued it's case for its members to be allowed to drink wine/beer (not spirits obviously) during their meal breaks whilst on duty. Luckily their members only carry guns, tear gas and use water cannons, so being slightly under the influence is ok :eek:

[stef]

too late for that, but you could have stopped at mine, in caen, 50mins from le havre on your way to StNazaire.
oh well, next time you try and break the sound barrier maybe !

on a different note, i think the french gendarmerie/police have a well deserved, bad reputation.
the english traffic officers are nice from my experience. understanding, listening explaining, hugging, sensitive...
the french ones are just complete a**h****M*t****ck**gA*sb*nd**s.
and they carry a piece. and they can lock you up for 24h (or is it 48h ?) without having to justify it. and they have a quota of such lock ups to achieve.

[S4Rs MacK]

Similar experience transiting Belgium with the family in the car, when stationed in Holland a few years ago.
Dad taken into hospital so had to get back sharpish, and about 20kms short of the Belgian/French border a Belgian plated Nissan Maxim (unmarked car, didnt know at the time obviously) kept racing up behind me and then dropping back, so after a while of this I decided to give it some beans, and as i did, strangely, a couple of little blue lights appeared behind the grill and the t*8ts pulled me and signalled me to follow them to a car park, also full of other GB plated cars etc. My fine was €425 and I had €375 on me, so they made us follow them to a bank for the other 50. Then promptly effed off so I had no idea how to get back to the main road/motorway and subsequently missed my booked ferry and had to pay again for the next one. Feck£rs.
So the Belgians are up to it, as well as the French.
Asterix and Obelix have a lot to bloody answer for, bloody Galls. (if thats how its spelt...lol)

[Dookbob]

And the saddest part of this sad story is that we are part of this sad bunch of f***ed up countries. The French have forgotten that they owe us a debt of gratitude for keeping thier ship building industry viable for three hundred years or so, by sinking them faster than they could build them.

[Capo]

Wait for the referendum

[Grumpy]

I do know that the union representing the French riot police (CRS) successfully argued it's case for its members to be allowed to drink wine/beer (not spirits obviously) during their meal breaks whilst on duty. Luckily their members only carry guns, tear gas and use water cannons, so being slightly under the influence is ok :eek:

I have stopped over night in rural France, sat in the bar and the local police have pulled up, walked and walked in, they obviously knew the bar owner, proceeded to drink for France. After a couple of hours and many beers later, the coppers poured themselves into their patrol car and drove off!! :booze:

I've also been in the wrong place at the wrong time with the CRS 'dealing' with a situation..... not recommended!

[SunEye]

On my eventual way back home yesterday (extending my holiday by 6 days :mand:) I noticed that the speed limit on a very very windy Pont de Normandie was 90kph whereas last Sunday it was 70kph (good weather conditions and no work taking place on the bridge). The conspiracy theorist in me says it was set to 70kph by the Gendarmerie so that they could catch lots of people speeding.

It wouldn't have made any difference to me or my fine because I would still have been doing more than 50kph above the limit which is the top bracket for speeding fines. However I do take exception to using the variable speed limit on a section of road to deliberately catch speeders. The variable speed limit in this case (a single speed limit sign at the start of the bridge) exists to protect drivers/pedestrians/cyclists in adverse weather conditions and workers on the bridge. It is not for generating revenue for the local Gendarmerie.

I do wonder how adverse the weather conditions have to be for the speed limit on the bridge to be reduced to 70kph. Yesterday I was being blown around quite a bit and was lucky that the bridge was empty so that I could ride down the middle of the two lanes to give myself enough spare room when caught by a nasty gust. Also any faster than about 75kph was just asking for trouble. In the past 20,000+ miles of riding that is the most I've been blown around.

[LVC]

ooops.

From experience you got off really lightly - speeding in France is great fun, just need to know the right roads ;)