Speed Camera Detection Rules in France- has anyone been caught and given huge punishment under French Rules

[Zentex]

What does the French law say?​

French laws ban drivers from carrying devices that can detect speed cameras. This covers:

• Radar and laser detectors, which pick up the signal from mobile speed cameras
• GPS systems which show fixed speed cameras that exist on a database

Banned GPS systems can include sat navs and other navigation devices that show you where fixed speed cameras are.

'Jammers' which block the signal from a speed camera to stop you being caught are illegal, both here and abroad.

What are the penalties?​

If you're caught with one of the banned devices, you could be penalised. Penalties can include:

• Fines of up to €1,500
• Confiscation of the device
• The vehicle being confiscated

Penalties can be issued if you're using the device or if you simply have it in the car, even if it's switched off. THIS SEEMS VERY SCARY TO ME !

What should I do with my camera detector?​

If your satnav can show French camera locations in France then you must at least disable camera alerts before driving in France. VERY ONOROUS HAVE FUNSTERS DONE THIS IN FEAR OF THE ABOVE FINES?

We recommend that you contact the manufacturer of the satnav for advice. It's likely that an update exists that'll actually remove camera info for France from the device.

If you have a satnav system built into your car then we recommend contacting the vehicle manufacturer in the first instance.

If you use Google maps to navigate, Google has advised that its camera detection feature turns off when you connect to data or WiFi in France.

If in doubt, follow our guidelines for driving with a mobile by switching it off and popping it in the glove box.



Appreciate Funsters advice and comments on the above scary information - what have you done yourselves?

 

[Barriesimpson]

The day will come when you won't need a Speedo as inbuilt satnag will know the speed limit on any given road and will automatically restrict maximum speeds as posted.
Speeding downhill will be restricted by automatically applying brakes or some form of electric retarder....that would be easy on an EV.
The only exception would be on German autobahns which don't have a speed limit.
Beware ....Big brother is waiting in the wings

Then will come the time when you can no longer have personal transport, and it's not far away....

 

[meanders]

But surely that where autonomous vehicles come in. In principle they will not be able to speed. Might make an interesting case if someone has one and is nicked for speeding. But your worship, the computer was in charge as approved by VOSA or whoever. The same is true of ULEZ and similar? If the navigation software fails to ask you if you are happy to pay the ULEZ or tolls, who would be liable? I suspect it will make huge hole in public finances if all the speeding fines etc were no longer being gathered. I am sure the governments and local authorities will soon find other ways of lightening our pockets though.

 

[steve69]

How could they know you even have one of these devices?...I could understand signal jammers being detected but simple speed warnings, what's wrong with those?. If your within the speed limit, why would they stop you?
And I thought driving in Wales was bad.

 

[Ridgeway]

In theory using Waze with “speed trap” alerts gives the same problem. In many European countries dashcams are still not allowed so be careful with those as well…

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[L' Hobo]

But they just tell you the limit, there is no identification of the speed cameras in the GPS.

The Garmin one I had did, which was why I had to hide it last time I was in France and started using using my phone.

 

[LesW]

The Garmin one I had did, which was why I had to hide it last time I was in France and started using using my phone.

I just disable the 'safety camera' alerts on my Garmin devices.

 

[L' Hobo]

The day will come when you won't need a Speedo as inbuilt satnag will know the speed limit on any given road and will automatically restrict maximum speeds as posted.
Speeding downhill will be restricted by automatically applying brakes or some form of electric retarder....that would be easy on an EV.
The only exception would be on German autobahns which don't have a speed limit.
Beware ....Big brother is waiting in the wings

That day has been here for, at least, a couple of years.

I had to pick up a New German reg, Daf tractor unit for Honda Racing as a favour for a friend, from near Stansted a couple of years ago.

As I took it to his paint workshop about 30miles away, the bloody thing decelerated sharply every time the speed limit changed.

We hadn't been warned of this so to my, and my friends who was following in his van close behind the truck, surprise, when the truck SUDDENLY slowed entering a village, from 50 to 30mph, he nearly ploughed into the back. This happened 3-4times!

Neither of us were very happy until we found out about this facility 2 days later.
We thought there was something wrong with the Truck!

 

[The Wino]

That day has been here for, at least, a couple of years.

I had to pick up a New German reg, Daf tractor unit for Honda Racing as a favour for a friend, from near Stansted a couple of years ago.

As I took it to his paint workshop about 30miles away, the bloody thing decelerated sharply every time the speed limit changed.

We hadn't been warned of this so to my, and my friends who was following in his van close behind the truck, surprise, when the truck SUDDENLY slowed entering a village, from 50 to 30mph, he nearly ploughed into the back. This happened 3-4times!

Neither of us were very happy until we found out about this facility 2 days later.
We thought there was soiwrong with the Truck!

When I did my speed awareness course they pointed out that everyone knows the speed limit starts where the sign is and goes up where the end of limit sign is but most drive at a higher speed until they actually reach the sign and accelerate before they reach the end. The truck is probably driving better than most of us!
If it suddenly decelerated from 50 to 30 why was it doing 50 when it reached the 30 sign!

 

[The Wino]

The day will come when you won't need a Speedo as inbuilt satnag will know the speed limit on any given road and will automatically restrict maximum speeds as posted.
Speeding downhill will be restricted by automatically applying brakes or some form of electric retarder....that would be easy on an EV.
The only exception would be on German autobahns which don't have a speed limit.
Beware ....Big brother is waiting in the wings

Would that be a problem?

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[DandJ]

What are the penalties?​

If you're caught with one of the banned devices, you could be penalised. Penalties can include:

• Fines of up to €1,500
• Confiscation of the device
• The vehicle being confiscated

THIS SEEMS VERY SCARY TO ME !

What should I do with my camera detector?​

If your satnav can show French camera locations in France then you must at least disable camera alerts before driving in France. VERY ONOROUS HAVE FUNSTERS DONE THIS IN FEAR OF THE ABOVE FINES?



Appreciate Funsters advice and comments on the above scary information - what have you done yourselves?

It's the 'could' that is the key thing above.....
You do realise that in the UK the potential penalty for using a jammer is 2 years in prison.....for me, that trumps a €1500 fine any day.
Our car sat nav is built in and doesn't show cameras...the motorhome one is a tomtom and beeps like mad. I presume it is trying to tell me there's a camera up ahead....as I'm only ever bimbling along, I ignore it.
I've lived in France for 2.5 yrs and driven the car and camper (and ridden my motorbike) extensively. I've not yet been stopped or triggered a speed camera. I see differing speed limit signs....the odd 20, some 30s a rare 40, 50, 60, 70, 80........I don't actually find it confusing...I see the number and look at the number on my dash and provided they more or less look alike...I'm good...seems to work.

 

[L' Hobo]

I just disable the 'safety camera' alerts on my Garmin devices.

I was warned by a friendly French Policeman while attending the 70 Anniversary of the DDay landing, that was not enough as that could be done by someone after you had been stopped by the Police but before they arrived at the vehicle door. I don't know?

 

[L' Hobo]

When I did my speed awareness course they pointed out that everyone knows the speed limit starts where the sign is and goes up where the end of limit sign is but most drive at a higher speed until they actually reach the sign and accelerate before they reach the end. The truck is probably driving better than most of us!
If it suddenly decelerated from 50 to 30 why was it doing 50 when it reached the 30 sign!

Because none of us follow what we are supposed to do which had you have done, you probably wouldn't have been attending a Speed Awareness Course?

PS. With the overgrown hedges along the country lanes here in East Anglia, often the Speed Limit signs are obscured but , of course because the Truck speed was being controlled by the built in SatNav, although the driver couldn't see the signs, the SatNav knew where the speed boundaries were.

 

[meanders]

The short and long of it is, if driving in France turn off any speed camera alerts to comply with their laws. Look how folks here moan about Jonny Foreigner coming here and not complying with our laws! Their country, their rules. If you don't want to abide by them, don't go.

 

[Badknee]

Another reason to avoid France.

My thoughts exactly

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[gus-lopez]

To the OP's original question of has anyone been caught .
Yes DavidG58 ,I belive. It was not in use but the support mounting was there: Fined 800€ / escorted to cash machine for payment ,if I recall correctly.

If your satnav can show French camera locations in France then you must at least disable camera alerts before driving in France. VERY ONOROUS HAVE FUNSTERS DONE THIS IN FEAR OF THE ABOVE FINES?

My sat nav shows speed cameras & counts down distance to etc. No it doesn't bother me

Same as Spain.

But different.In Spain they have the right to search the vehicle*.
In France they do not except with a search warrant or if the shift CO is with them. you are really unlucky if that happens
* Which has just reminded me Barrie that I learnt from a DGT post recently that the one vehicle that the Guardia or Trafico cannot search is a motorhome or camper van,that is legally homologated,as they are classed the same as "housing " & the right to be secure in your own home. Comes under Article 18.2 of the Spanish Constitution the law grants the right to be secure in your home.& as such they require a search warrant.

and from what I've read, even if the detection part is disabled,

as above he just had the bracket in place & when asked .told them what it was for

I've never really seen the point in laser detectors. If the device can pick up laser, it can capture the speed before the driver can react, ie, slow down. They've got range if over 2km.

They do not work like that .Radar & laser detector guns , as in hand held, the instant a signal is detected,& in decent ones it can be up to 3+miles it emits random amounts as in 300mph,22mph,124mph 16 ,etc, in such quantity that the receiving apparatus is rendered useless.it becomes scrambled. Cameras are less susceptible but decent detectors notify you far in excess of the cameras ability to photograph you

When were you last in France? It’s changed a lot with the 90 to 80 then back to 90 (but not everywhere) debacle! They seem to have installed loads more speed limit signs! Great right!

This^^^^^^^God forsaken nightmare to drive in trying to forse you on to the tolls

Every Marie has installed 20 or 30 zones, speed ‘jumps’ and or chicane’s and 70 zones seem to appear randomly

& this ^^^^^^^^^^

How could they know you even have one of these devices?.

^they can't as they have no legal access to inside of your vehicle without a warrant.

How could they know you even have one of these devices?...I could understand signal jammers being detected but simple speed warnings, what's wrong with those?.

Nothing they are scammers after money ,all of them.
When I lived in the Uk I used radar & laser detectors & jammers in all vehicles. Not so that I could speed but so that any inadvertent lack of attention,distraction or failure to drop below the linit before the sign did not penalise me.

From the initial advent of hand held radar guns I always wanted to have a system similar to what fighters have.As soon as it detects a lock on it unleashes an 6" missile,similar to a crossbow,with auto detonation.

 

[Barriesimpson]

Which has just reminded me Barrie that I learnt from a DGT post recently that the one vehicle that the Guardia or Trafico cannot search is a motorhome or camper van,that is legally homologated,as they are classed the same as "housing " & the right to be secure in your own home. Comes under Article 18.2 of the Spanish Constitution the law grants the right to be secure in your home.& as such they require a search warrant.

That's interesting, I was not aware of that.

From the initial advent of hand held radar guns I always wanted to have a system similar to what fighters have.As soon as it detects a lock on it unleashes an 6" missile,similar to a crossbow,with auto detonation.

If only.....

 

[jongood]

What does the French law say?​

French laws ban drivers from carrying devices that can detect speed cameras. This covers:

• Radar and laser detectors, which pick up the signal from mobile speed cameras
• GPS systems which show fixed speed cameras that exist on a database

Banned GPS systems can include sat navs and other navigation devices that show you where fixed speed cameras are.

'Jammers' which block the signal from a speed camera to stop you being caught are illegal, both here and abroad.

What are the penalties?​

If you're caught with one of the banned devices, you could be penalised. Penalties can include:

• Fines of up to €1,500
• Confiscation of the device
• The vehicle being confiscated

Penalties can be issued if you're using the device or if you simply have it in the car, even if it's switched off. THIS SEEMS VERY SCARY TO ME !

What should I do with my camera detector?​

If your satnav can show French camera locations in France then you must at least disable camera alerts before driving in France. VERY ONOROUS HAVE FUNSTERS DONE THIS IN FEAR OF THE ABOVE FINES?

We recommend that you contact the manufacturer of the satnav for advice. It's likely that an update exists that'll actually remove camera info for France from the device.

If you have a satnav system built into your car then we recommend contacting the vehicle manufacturer in the first instance.

If you use Google maps to navigate, Google has advised that its camera detection feature turns off when you connect to data or WiFi in France.

If in doubt, follow our guidelines for driving with a mobile by switching it off and popping it in the glove box.



Appreciate Funsters advice and comments on the above scary information - what have you done yourselves?

You're overthinking it. It's another silly one from the people who gavd you breathalyser packs, very difficult/almost impossible to enforce.

 

[DavidG58]

Yes @DavidG58 ,I belive. It was not in use but the support mounting was there: Fined 800€ / escorted to cash machine for payment ,if I recall correctly.

Pretty much right, I had left the snooper detector behind my rear view mirror but left everything at home in U.K. knowing it wasn’t allowed

Pulled out of a traffic jam on way out of Le Mans 24 hour race by police motorcycle, shown a printed in English reason for stopping , police escort to local garrison

Tried pleading I had no cash , but they would take me to cash point today and again tomorrow if needed . I gave them all €800 cash I had

They had a box with at least 20 of these sensors in, clearly set out that day looking for them

I also got a follow up letter after case went to court, topped fine up to max €1000 at the time in 2005, Plus added €115 to cover disposing of my sensor

A very expensive day

 

[Barriesimpson]

Pretty much right, I had left the snooper detector behind my rear view mirror but left everything at home in U.K. knowing it wasn’t allowed

Pulled out of a traffic jam on way out of Le Mans 24 hour race by police motorcycle, shown a printed in English reason for stopping , police escort to local garrison

Tried pleading I had no cash , but they would take me to cash point today and again tomorrow if needed . I gave them all €800 cash I had

They had a box with at least 20 of these sensors in, clearly set out that day looking for them

I also got a follow up letter after case went to court, topped fine up to max €1000 at the time in 2005, Plus added €115 to cover disposing of my sensor

A very expensive day

Bloody hell!

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[Steve and Denise]

The short and long of it is, if driving in France turn off any speed camera alerts to comply with their laws. Look how folks here moan about Jonny Foreigner coming here and not complying with our laws! Their country, their rules. If you don't want to abide by them, don't go.

I think the answer is to turn off before France and get on a ferry right past it

 

[Mleabon]

Another reason to avoid France.

They over complicate everything.

 

[Mleabon]

What about the stupid French idea at roadworks. They no longer turn green but go to flashing Amber. Stupid uneccessary and confusing.

 

[Fdhadi]

You could practice your speed limit skills with a trip to Wales.

 

[jongood]

What about the stupid French idea at roadworks. They no longer turn green but go to flashing Amber. Stupid uneccessary and confusing.

Flashing amber, meaning proceed if the way is clear seems more sensible at roadworks to me

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[L' Hobo]

What about the stupid French idea at roadworks. They no longer turn green but go to flashing Amber. Stupid uneccessary and confusing.

Strange how the French seem to understand it?

 

[meanders]

I much prefer it. The number of times we sit at a red light when you can well see what he way through is clear. Eminently sensible.

 

[jongood]

I think the dafter practice is what they now do at roundabouts. If they're going straight on they indicate left

 

[DandJ]

Strange how the French seem to understand it?

This englishman who resides in France also manages to fathom it out just fine too......as well as those occasional junction traffic lighst that are set at flashing amber late in the day/overnight so one doesn't have to sit at a red light when the roads are totally deserted....oh, and there now seem to be a few villages with solitary red lights, controlled by your speed entering the village. You obviously don't get a ticket for doing 55 in a 50....you get to slow to a stop and only do it the once, it's infuriating...the next time you religiously stick at 50. (Lots of them in Portugal)

 

[meanders]

I think the dafter practice is what they now do at roundabouts. If they're going straight on they indicate left

When I learnt to drive I was told by the instructor to indicate right approaching a roundabout unless taking the first exit, changing only when passing the exit prior to the one you want. Mind you that was nearly 60 years ago.

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[DandJ]

I think the dafter practice is what they now do at roundabouts. If they're going straight on they indicate left

My take on that...living 'here'...is that it was started by truck drivers...fed up of morons in cars trying to drive into that closing gap as they try to manoeuvre across a roundabout that does not quite have sufficient space for an artic and another vehicle alongside. Others have seen the indicator on so have followed suit, using theirs. It is made a little worse by a lack of painted arrows on the approach roads to roundabouts giving drivers a clue as to which lane they should be in.