Miffy Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 While driving in France last week we had our photo taken by a speed camera at Toulouse. We were driving on a 3 lane motorway at 110kph but were so busy discussing the plots of land we had been viewing for our new home project that we had not noticed the speed limit had reduced to 90kph. We had seen the sign warning of the camera but did not realise we were travelling too fast, our own stupid fault. I wondered if anyone could tell me what the penalties and procedures are in these instances. We are back the UK now and would like an idea of what to expect.Could anyone tell me what I should expect to happen now ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Bradford Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 Hi Miffy,The French and English Police have a policy of passing on details of speeding offences in order that you can be dealt with in your own country. However, this might not be enforced in the UK, for one reason or another. We were in the same position before we moved out here and I was fully expecting to receive the penalty through the post. It never came. That's not to say that things haven't changed in the last year. I don't know how long these incidents are kept on file here, if at all, but I wonder if you happened to be stopped here by the Gendarmes next time, would/could they could fine you retrospectively? You could always contact your local speed camera department of the Police and ask them what their policy is and the time frame they have to act within.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miffy Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 Thanks Paul,I guess I'll just wait to see if anything comes in the post Miffy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimg Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 hiwhile im sure details are exchanged, ive never heard of regulations, allowing enforcement in uk, and even if there was, the uk requires you to be notified with 14days, if you arent stopped at the scene.i think you might be ok, as the dvla, have enough troubles enforcing uk speederskim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 From April this year,EU countries agreed to exchange registration details between countries;so it would not be UK police chasing you but a letter from a French policeman.Having said that,it is unlikely that anything will happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miffy Posted October 1, 2007 Author Share Posted October 1, 2007 Thanks for your replies.I will live in hope that we do not receive anything. Will let you know if we are contacted.Miffy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy57 Posted October 1, 2007 Share Posted October 1, 2007 I got flashed by a camera back in July this year and as yet have not heard anything. Had spend 3 hours on the auto route at 80 mph and had been on the D road for about 5 minutes and came into a 50kph limit which I dropped down to. But I crept back up a few kph, still under 55 though, so they don't give much leeway.Only got 1 flash, is it the same as the UK cameras? need 2 flashes to record your speed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 It's only Gatso cameras that flash twice-Truvelo and the two other approved makes only flash once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 You only need two flashes for ones with stripes on the road where the distance moved between the two photos has to be calculated-never seen stripes in France but you are unlikely to be charged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 I wonder if the system is joined up enough to flag this up when re-registering an offending UK vehicle in France [blink] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Almost 30% of all fixed radar speed offences in 'transit' countries such as France and Germany are committed by foreign registered vehicles, and up until recently, there was no formal method of identifying and pursuing the offenders. It's a similar situation in most mainland EU countries - that's why the EU cross border traffic enforcement initiative was introduced to bring about a common platform for prosecutions.Since January 2005, France has had an informal agreement with Luxembourg whereby it sends the registration numbers to the Luxembourg police who then provide the contact details for the owner. The French then send off the speeding ticket in the post. The UK has been a long time signatory to this initiative, and in March of this year, the UK Road Safety Act (2006) was enacted giving the Secretary of State powers to authorise the DVLA to provide driver and vehicle licencing details to other EU traffic authorities. Once this information exchange mechanism has been formalised, it's likely that the French will start sending off speeding tickets to UK based drivers.The next stage is to introduce arrangements to allow foreign traffic offences involving points or licence suspension to be enforced through the driver's home courts, although the current lack of EU wide harmonistion of penalties means this is unlikely to appear in the short term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Not a chance!! EDIT: Sorry SD, my comment was not directed at you but at ErnieY's post before regarding a possible hook-up with speeding and car registration. That's what I think has no chance of working, too many Gov. departments involved! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.foreman Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 This site shows where speed traps are http://www.securiteroutiere.equipement.gouv.fr/data/radars/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eos Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 In a slightly different vein, a friend's husband regularly travels abroad for work, usually necessitating hiring a car. On his last trip to Germany a junior colleague, eager to impress on his first trip away for the company, offered to make the hire car arrangements and drive his boss, my friend's husband, for the duration.On presenting his details at the hire desk, the Junior Member was told he had outstanding speeding offences on cars cars hired in Spain through the same company and that they would be in no position to offer him a car prior to sorting out the fines.I don't know if this is the done thing across the board. Anyway, JM said, not that he wouldn't speed again but that he would pay his fines in future so I'm guessing he must have had some sort of notification that he ignored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lacote0_0 Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Some years ago a well known UK TV reporter was actually arrested on entry into Switzerland for an unpaid fine . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc Posted October 2, 2007 Share Posted October 2, 2007 Some years ago,back in the 1990's,we had a Dutch speeding ticket turn up in our plant in Germany on a German registered car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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