Rob G Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 Hello all,Vehicle spot checks by police are obviously quite common here - certainly much more so than in the UK. By some miracle, in our nearly three years of living here, despite seeing many such checks, neither my wife nor I have ever been stopped. (I have to admit that on occasion we have both resorted to deliberate avoidance tactics - i.e. taking an immediate diversion upon seeing the spot check and finding an alternative route!)We saw a spot check yesterday afternoon on the way to a friend's birthday party. The first thing we noticed was that it was being done by CRS, rather than police or gendarmes. Anyone have any idea whay this might be? Just extra CRS with time on their hands?Anyway, I'll get to my main question. On this one occasion, I had done something I almost never do - I had left my bag at home containing my passport and driving licence. (I usually always carry with me a "man bag" purchased specifically for this purpose.) As a result, the only papers i had with me were the insurance certificate and "caret grise". Luckily, we weren't stopped, but this did get me wondering - if we had been stopped, would i have been introuble for not having all the required papers with me? Or would it have been like in the UK, where you are given so many days to present your paperwork at your nearest police station?Surely there are times when even French people set foot outside the house without all their papers?Thanks in advance,Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 Rob - Take a look at:Driving licenceshttp://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1341262/ShowPost.aspxBeing stopped by gendarmeshttp://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1170574/ShowPost.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted September 15, 2008 Author Share Posted September 15, 2008 Thanks Cathy - very interesting.... but not quite the answer to the question I asked. Although I suppose one could infer that failure to produce all papers = likelihood of a fine, especially if the policier is having a bad day and there's an r in the month... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 If you fail to produce the required documents at a roadside check, you commit an immediate offence punishable by an 11€ fine. You then have five days in which to produce them at a police station/gendarmerie. If you fail to do that, then you get another fine - this time it's 135€.......[:-))] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted September 15, 2008 Author Share Posted September 15, 2008 Thanks, SD, for your rapid and precise answer. S'pose it's easier to always have the old "man bag" about one's person, then.Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weegie Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 Just as a point of interest, in the UK the offence is also committed at the time. However, the HORT/1 process was brought in as an administrative measure as there wasn't the same "mind set" (can't think of a better way of describing it) amongst citizens of the UK. I suppose one of the differences is that the French are accustomed to the requirement for ID at all times whereas it is not, yet, a requirement in UK.If one fails to "produce" within the 7 days and a summons is issued the offence is failing to produce at the time and/or not having driving licence/insurance/mot As I said just for interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 I've been stopped for a 'controle' many times, usually late at night in or around Melle. Sometimes a breath test too but normally just documents. On one occasion I had forgotten my driving licence, it was in my other coat (actually I have more than two coats, [:P] so being pedantic I should say in another coat [;-)] ) The officer didn't make any great fuss and I was allowed to proceed without a fine or having to produce it later.Another time they made a great show of 'checking' my UK driving licence; they took it to the van and made what I'm sure was a pretence of calling-in the details, and after 3 or 4 minutes they came back and said it was OK. Who would they check with? I'm sure they don't ring the DVLA!!I have to say that the gendarmes have always been very polite and courteous, and I can't think of a good reason for diving down a side road to avoid a checkpoint. Surely that would be seen as acting suspiciously?Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 Mr Clair has been pulled over several times, usually on his way back from work in the middle of the night. He has a UK licence and before he got his resident card, used to carry a photocopy of his passport. That was not questioned the one time he presented it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 Do people really carry their passports everywhere they go? My licence is in my wallet which is always with me, so that's never a problem, but carrying a passport everywhere would be a real pain. My pockets already bulge, and I don't like man bags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted September 20, 2008 Share Posted September 20, 2008 I don't carry my passport because it's not necessary. Like you, I have my licence in my wallet which I take with me whenever I go out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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