Legal requirements in France......advice please (1 Viewer)

[MichelleRyall]

What a flipping palaver. We have all the above and the bloody kitchen sink. Never been stopped yet.....always a first time I guess. What needles me is that we jump through hoops yet the rules don’t seem to apply to locals. We had to wait for 40 minutes to get out of our campsite in France on Friday. A construction delivery truck was blocking the road, 5 minutes he said....bloody liar. We waited patiently watching all the health and safety rules that we follow in GB such as bollards around the rigger legs, hard hats, high vis jackets, clearly marked out working area and no toddlers running around the site whilst they were craning the delivery pallets.
NONE OF THE ABOVE HAPPENED !!!!!!! Don’t even mention the smoking whilst working.

 

[SpeedyDux]

The other rule that is taken very seriously is NEVER cross a solid white line down the centre of the road. EVER. Even if you have to follow the tractor for kilometers, you mustn't overtake if that means crossing a solid line. La Loi de Murphy means there will be a Gendarme who sees this.

 

[Chris]

I couldn’t get my car repaired in France a few years back because I didn’t have the V5

Luckily they eventually accepted an email of it.

What’s the point of such a stupid rule?

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[2657]

I know of at least two places near to where we lived in the UK that were used as easy 'process' by the local plod, convenient hiding places right next to 'stop' signs.

Possibly not done now as most unlikely to see a pedestrianised policeman

 

[yodeli]

spare spectacles if you use them

Hi Norman!

I'm afraid not.
There was a law which doesn't exist anymore only for people having lenses, which mentionned to have a pair of spectacles in case the lenses had to be removed (too much sun, drying, hurting...).
It's not the case anymore.
And if you wear spectacles then you don't need another pair.

Here is the answer of a lawyer on the matter

maître sophia albert Le 28-02-2013 à 21:46

( Barreau de AVIGNON )
Cher Monsieur,

L'arrêté du 4 octobre 1988 du ministre des transports et qui prévoyait qu'en cas de port de lentilles pour un trouble de la vue, le conducteur devait avoir sur lui une paire de lunettes a été abrogé.

L'arrêté ayant remplacé celui-ci ne prévoit plus cette obligation.
La possession de la paire de lunettes dans ce cas n'est devenue qu'une recommandation et plus une obligation.

Il faut contester.

Cordialement

 

[yodeli]

Yes only one triangle , no, no spare spec, and finally NO, no breathalyzer

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[yodeli]

Illegal to have Sat-Nav warnings of Speed Cameras in France - can result in heavy fines. If you use one make sure it is up-to-date (and ,if necessary, disable the Speed Camera warning whilst in France). Tom-Tom updated their offering to warn of "Dangerous Road Section Ahead" and changed the warning tone so that it is not the same as that used for Speed Cameras (sorry....I should really call them "Safety Cameras"). The French think the change from a Speed Warning to a Dangerous Road Section Warning is perfectly acceptable and a good laugh!

Perfectly right !

 

[yodeli]

Pas necessaire je pense

Ah bon, et si quelqu'un te parle en argo tu fais comment LOL !?

 

[normanandsue]

Hi Norman!

I'm afraid not.
There was a law which doesn't exist anymore only for people having lenses, which mentionned to have a pair of spectacles in case the lenses had to be removed (too much sun, drying, hurting...).
It's not the case anymore.
And if you wear spectacles then you don't need another pair.

Here is the answer of a lawyer on the matter

maître sophia albert Le 28-02-2013 à 21:46

( Barreau de AVIGNON )
Cher Monsieur,

L'arrêté du 4 octobre 1988 du ministre des transports et qui prévoyait qu'en cas de port de lentilles pour un trouble de la vue, le conducteur devait avoir sur lui une paire de lunettes a été abrogé.

L'arrêté ayant remplacé celui-ci ne prévoit plus cette obligation.
La possession de la paire de lunettes dans ce cas n'est devenue qu'une recommandation et plus une obligation.

Il faut contester.

Cordialement

Thank you Frankie for clearing up this point for me. Over the past 9 years I have been travelling to France I have always made sure I have an extra pair of driving glasses with me, not just because it is no bad thing, but because I mistakenly thought it was the Law.

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[yodeli]

What’s the point of such a stupid rule?

Love it when you go all grumpy Chris

 

[spitfire]

I couldn’t get my car repaired in France a few years back because I didn’t have the V5

Luckily they eventually accepted an email of it.

What’s the point of such a stupid rule?

1. To prove you are the owner and it isn’t a stolen vehicle
2. To ensure they are fitting the correct part for your vehicle

 

[Chris]

1. To prove you are the owner and it isn’t a stolen vehicle
2. To ensure they are fitting the correct part for your vehicle

I don’t accept that. I am sure it’s the reason but it’s still a stupid one in my opinion.

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[normanandsue]

1. To prove you are the owner and it isn’t a stolen vehicle
2. To ensure they are fitting the correct part for your vehicle

I had my mh repaired in Portugal this year and they did not need my V5, I know that's not France but it is on mainland Europe. I think you maybe came across a jobsworth.

 

[yodeli]

I had my mh repaired in Portugal this year and they did not need my V5, I know that's not France but it is on mainland Europe. I think you maybe came across a jobsworth.

In fact some do and some don't . For Max , I was asked my "carte grise" which is the official paper of the MH.
For the Skoda , I've asked , do you want my carte grise to find the part? No he said, I found it with your plate. So I guess internet changes every single day and offers more and more possibilities. Some use them, some don't.

 

[Munchie]

I had my mh repaired in Portugal this year and they did not need my V5, I know that's not France but it is on mainland Europe. I think you maybe came across a jobsworth.

Nope! On our last van we needed a new strut for overcab bed. Caravans Limousin demanded V5 even though i had old part with part No on it.

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[ToBoldlyGo]

I noticed that the Chunnel are still displaying the need for two Breathalisers. Is that because they're stuffed with a load of stock they can't shift.

Oh, are they not a legal requirement anymore? I just bought 2 .. :}

 

[spitfire]

I don’t accept that. I am sure it’s the reason but it’s still a stupid one in my opinion.

Regardless if we think rules are stupid in any country if it is required it is required

 

[nicholsong]

Oh, are they not a legal requirement anymore? I just bought 2 .. :}

There is a law that says they are legal requirements but when it came to passing the law fixing a penalty it was never done, so even if one does not have one there are no consquences so I doubt whether the police are interested.

Geoff

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[Podney]

Podney

You queried the need for passports.

The reason they are needed is that in France and many countries one has to carry a valid ID document at all times. Most Continentals satisfy this requirement by carrying a National ID card, but UK does not have one, not even the voluntary scheme which was terminated.

So a passport is the only way to identify oneself. A bit impractical if one is in shorts and a T-shirt(or on a nudist beach). I suspect that in most cases if one were asked for ID a photocard Driving Licence would be accepted, but personally I would prefer to back that up with the offer of seeing my passport in the MH, but would not risk bullsh*ting about that.

So it is best to take the passports.

Geoff

Actually it was my attempt at sarcasm,which obviously failed miserably!! We always take passports. Thanks.

 

[Podney]

Well,thanks everyone!
So,the final list is as follows:

Bulb kit
Beam deflectors
High viz jackets
Original V5
Original MOT
Original driving license
Insurance docs
Original passports
First aid kit
Disable speed camera warning on Satnav

10 to remember.

Now Im going to make a list of other stuff needed e.g. leccie adaptors etc................Anybody like to start me off?

What makes you think I like a list?

 

[chrisandcarole]

Thanks everyone for you input as we are venturing over to France in June with the van for the first time,
so this makes for interesting reading.
Chris

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[Just smiffy]

And what ever you do @Podney dont Park next to one of these....

 

[WSandME]

11 EHIC

 

[Larby]

Have you thought about gas, electric, water, where to stay, how to pay?

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[MichelleRyall]

Well,thanks everyone!
So,the final list is as follows:

Bulb kit
Beam deflectors
High viz jackets
Original V5
Original MOT
Original driving license
Insurance docs
Original passports
First aid kit
Disable speed camera warning on Satnav

10 to remember.

Now Im going to make a list of other stuff needed e.g. leccie adaptors etc................Anybody like to start me off?

What makes you think I like a list?

Toilet paper, wine, beer and bottle opener

 

[joka250]

Not sure of validity of this but I was advised a couple of years ago that now we don't have RFL disc on screen carrying a copy of receipt can save a lot of hassle . Additionally the paperwork issued at MOT time is now in affect a receipt not a certificate , don't know how this squares with the authorities .

 

[nicholsong]

Podney

Have you got refillable gas cylinders? If so add adapter to list.

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[Reallyretired]

Regardless of legal requirements I carry a spare pair of specs in all our vehicles. Once broke a pair at a paintballing and SWMBO had to come and get me.
In the MH several spare pairs with various tints as I am the only driver.

 

[Lot lover]

As regards RFL, we don't have them for cars so gendarmes would probably not expect one.

For anyone unable to get repaired without a V5 you are required to have it with you, so why didn't you?

I carry spare specs because I might need them. I still have my breathalysers that are now many years out of date.