Welcome to France! (1 Viewer)

[Dorwyn]

We just pulled off the Péage from Spain near Bayonne, driving along narrow hilly roads slightly lost, and got pulled in to a Police check point. The trainee officer went to the passenger side of the van, then sheepishly realized that there was no steering wheel there, so came around to my side. He asked if I spoke French, and looked totally lost when I said no. So the senior officer had to take over, and asked for my driver's licence. Slight panic on my side, because I was unsure if we had the green 2nd part with us, or even if they were still issued. He studied it seriously for a while then sternly gave it back. There was a heavily armed officer holding an automatic behind him.
"He's got a gun!" I pointed, wide eyed. "Yes", he said. Ahh, I said. "Welcome to France".

 

[DavidG58]

Let them keep checking, might it be the sun tan making you look non European, travelling north from known trouble sources, (I mean north Africa not Spain ) given recent troubles I don't blame them

 

[Dorwyn]

Of course they should. They were stopping anyone. I heard that there was a scare about a missing terrorist from a bust in Belgium. Believe me, I could never pass for anything but a white anglo-saxon or nordic.
It was a little bit Allo Allo. The pompous poseur with the gun, the charming smiley lost boy trainee, the stern senior officer. It brightened my day. Especially since they didn't ask for the second part of the licence.

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[2657]

Of course they should. They were stopping anyone. I heard that there was a scare about a missing terrorist from a bust in Belgium. Believe me, I could never pass for anything but a white anglo-saxon or nordic.
It was a little bit Allo Allo. The pompous poseur with the gun, the charming smiley lost boy trainee, the stern senior officer. It brightened my day. Especially since they didn't ask for the second part of the licence.

Second part of licence has not been valid for a while now.

"Since 8 June 2015, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence isn’t valid and is no longer issued by DVLA."

From: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/driving-licence-changes

 

[DBK]

Given it is only four months since 130 people were killed in Paris by terrorists I think they can be forgiven for the lack of smiles and the presence of the big gun.

And they will pull over even the most innocent looking as there could be someone sitting behind the driver pointing a gun at him in order to get driven over a border.

 

[freddy]

I thought the paper licence was no longer valid

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[Dorwyn]

I thought the paper licence was no longer valid

I was not sure at that moment. Perhaps it was the presence of the automatic weapon!

 

[iandsm]

I am perfectly happy to be stopped and checked whatever country I am in, but then I am not criminal or terrorist.

 

[9526]

I thought the paper licence was no longer valid

The paper licence is still valid (the pink one) but as others have posted, the paper pard of the "card licence" is no longer issued.

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