Just a reminder for all those going to France.

[Parisien]

.......excellent......................in the circumstances benny...........what else could you have done!


P

 

[BennyD]

Not a lot really. I scratched my head a bit before I came up with that cunning plan! Giving him the fingers was the icing on the gateau!

BTW you can buy magnetic GB plates on the ferry. They work well and don't leave a mark when removed.

 

[RSM Masser]

When going to Le Mans, the law is out in force, Up until last year, France, did not have access to the UK DVLA database, it might be wise to check if that is still the case.

Also if you get caught with a radar/speed detector in the car, even though its not in use, its a big fine €1,000 or something like that, so best to leave it at home, they will strip the car down if they suspect you have one or you just get arsy with them and p!ss them off.

Le Mans coming up so my well be worth a timely reminder to the Brit Invasion - a friend of mine was 'done' in the UK a couple of years ago for speeding in France - caught on a camera! so not so sure about the garlic crunchers access to DVLA

The French old bill are definately anti British, when it comes to fines and speeding offences, more so if they catch you without the Hi-Vis, spare bulbs etc etc - we may well believe this is because of their previous white flag policy, however as a two wheeled hooligan on UK and French roads not once did the Gendarmerie ever question my rather small number plate on a motorbike - something the British Police have threatened to impound my bike for!

 

[lozcb]

Not the first time have Brits left in a bit of a hurry through Dunkirk! It's a bit naughty but; I called the insurance and told them I had hit a brick in the road and thought I had damaged my steering as there was a bit of A wobble from the front. They despatched a tow truck, put me on the back and took me to Dunkirk. I drove off the back and straight onto the ferry. The insurance company called me the next day to see if I had incurred any further costs and I told them I had merely changed the wheel and all was Ok. I offered to pay for the tow, as my no claims wasn't protected, and they said they would forward the invoice to me when it came through. It never did, and 1 year and a day later it was written off. Result! Never underestimate the power of lateral thinking!

Would of crossed my mind to have let my 13 year son drive till we were out of site , bet he would have loved the chance heheheh

I have just recently done 120 miles on the back of a tow truck in Northern France not nice


regards loz

 

[Parisien]

Speed sorta kills..........................but no one ever been hurt by a small no plate............................bound up in the paranoia and utter suspicion the UK government has of all its quasi-criminalistic subjects............





P

 

[RSM Masser]

Speed sorta kills..........................but no one ever been hurt by a small no plate............................bound up in the paranoia and utter suspicion the UK government has of all its quasi-criminalistic subjects............





P

Its not the speed - its the sudden stop at the end

 

[2b1ask1]

Not the first time have Brits left in a bit of a hurry through Dunkirk! It's a bit naughty but; I called the insurance and told them I had hit a brick in the road and thought I had damaged my steering as there was a bit of A wobble from the front. They despatched a tow truck, put me on the back and took me to Dunkirk. I drove off the back and straight onto the ferry. The insurance company called me the next day to see if I had incurred any further costs and I told them I had merely changed the wheel and all was Ok. I offered to pay for the tow, as my no claims wasn't protected, and they said they would forward the invoice to me when it came through. It never did, and 1 year and a day later it was written off. Result! Never underestimate the power of lateral thinking!

That's a super bit of thinking Benny, can only imagine the expression of being royally stuffed on the cops face...

 

[dem maser]

Very good thinking......

 

[BennyD]

Thanks guys, it was an expensive score draw. Le Mans fans, let's be careful over there! I might be paranoid, but that doesn't mean they aren't out to get us!

 

[safrane]

Lets put some prospective onto this lads...and not just because my other half is French.

We are very critical of our own laws on motorist, cameras, high insurance, conjested roads, low-life stealing cars and burning them out round the shopping centre car-park...let alone the concerns about none EU vehicles crashing into cars on our motorways.

We do not have a right to go to Europe and turn their roads into our ex-pat race tracks...and if we [and I include myself] have to face the consiquences if we are caught. Given the fact that Le Mans is turned into a automotive play ground each year the police and the locals are very accepting of the shenanigans and are not too heavy handed...there is NO way it would be accepted here in the UK.

So lets extend a hand to our EU cousins and enjoy their roads and rules...just like they enjoy working in our service industries as there is no work in their countries ;-)

 

[Parisien]

Good post Peter.....................as you say local plod would come down on you like the sword of Damacles...................they used to joke.....GB was best to earn money in.....but you went to France to enjoy the pleasures that wealth would bring.....


Last line was better than funny.......








P

 

[BennyD]

Safrane, you do make a pretty convincing case and some of the points are, of course, correct. However, when you have been fined and left stranded, and banned at the side of the road for 25 mph over the limit in the wide open countryside, it's easy to form the impression of heavy handedness, especially when the french car in front, travelling at the same speed, was allowed to go on his way. What happens when a french driver exceeds the speed limit by 25 mph over here? In a word, nothing. Most of the time it comes under the heading of "Too difficult" and they are warned and released. They are never banned at the side of the road whatever their speed. If we are going to work with our 'continental cousins' we should have the same rules, but, as ever, the french seem to do it the french way for the benefit of the french. As a cynic, with regard to Le Mans, perhaps the french realise that if they persecute British race goers they might stop coming and the event would eventually suffer.
Before anyone forms the impression that I am a xenophobic racist I don't hate the french per se, more the french attitude and that comes from bitter experience.

 

[Parisien]

Benny.......equally valid points.....................when its one law for one group and another for the natives.................always unfair..........

As in Italy.....been told there are 3 prices for everything.........................1 for locals......2......for tourists of Italian origin...then 3 for the foreign tourist...................not nice, not fair but as was said by the guy treating George the VIth at his office in the Kings Speech...........my house my rules....


P

 

[BennyD]

P, absolutely correct, and therein lies the problem I have with the french. There is nothing you can do about it really, apart from think badly of them, and that privilege cost me 140 odd euros. And a whole lot more as a tax payer!

 

[ENZ525]

Rules are Rules...whether in this country or elsewhere...if you break them, then expect the consequences...
if you get away with it, then in my opinion that is a bonus...doesn't matter if someone else gets the same or not.

 

[Parisien]

But seeing them applied in an unfair way undermines the whole point of having rules...........................and people act accordingly......laws and rules are only as good as their correct enforcement, otherwise they breed resentment and worse!


P

 

[BennyD]

Rules are Rules...whether in this country or elsewhere...if you break them, then expect the consequences...
if you get away with it, then in my opinion that is a bonus...doesn't matter if someone else gets the same or not.

Enz, just a thought; What would happen if a young mother, with 2 kids on the way back from a skiing holiday, got caught travelling at the same speed? Would she have been banned and left stranded at the side of the road? If so, would that be acceptable? If not, isn't that sexism at work and If so, isn't that against several EU directives/ laws? I agree with paying the price if you get caught breaking the law but those laws should be applied consistently and without favour.

 

[ENZ525]

I am not saying that being banned or stranded or both is nice...I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy...BUT
if you know what the rules are, you break them, and get caught...then TOUGH...mother with 2 kids, father with 3 cats, whatever, whoever, I don't care...
and Yes, the rules should be applied fairly...but we all know that is not the way this world works, we each have to do what we think is best for us.

 

[BennyD]

I agree ENZ and I did what I had to do to get home and that probably bordered on illegality. However, seeing the rules being enforced in such a cynical, and unfair, way did not, and still does not, endear the french to me. Consequently, I have a very low opinion of the french attitude which I tend to vent when the opportunity presents itself!

 

[ENZ525]

I think that was a master stroke, bordering on genius...cannot see why it would be bordering on illegal...