[Oli]

I am off to the south of france in a couple of weeks time (Ardeche area), I am travelling overnight, so the roads should be clear, what is a safe speed to travel at to avoid interest from the police, or should I stick to non-TOLL roads?

Thanks in advance

[Cafe.Racer]

The only time I've gendarme with radar guns they've been on the non-toll roads...

Travelling over there, especially on the toll roads is soooo much better than over here, you tend to stick to the speed limit - it's about 85 so you feel like you're "making progress" anyway.

If you do go on tolls, head straight for the card only booths on the peage, seems the French would rather queue and pay cash!

[Serjames]

Yeah, but remember they nab you on the time between tolls, so queuing might be a GOOD idea...

[ShereKhan]

Originally Posted by Serjames

Yeah, but remember they nab you on the time between tolls, so queuing might be a GOOD idea...

Thats a myth

[Ragman]

Originally Posted by ShereKhan

Thats a myth

Agree.

I've done the journey down to Dordogne / Perigord five times in last 7 years and have never been questioned about average times even after good long (overnight) 110 blasts.

Did once see an A8 and Porsche 911 get pulled over by gun-toting Gendarmes - they had however been travelling *way* in excess of the 110 that I was doing at the time - possibly racing - this was in daylight coming back autoroute blanche after skiing in 1999.

Just done (June) the same trip and stuck at 90 - 95 ish, saw some Gendarmes - slow up to 85 - 90 ish not a problem.

[peppernick]

We cut through France at around 100MPH on our trips to Nurburgring. This should give you enough time to slow down to 'acceptable' speeds if you smell a cop. Make sure you remove all your radar detectors, they are highly illegal in France and can get you into serious trouble.

Once, we (2 M3s) passed a copper in a peugeot at around 120MPH. They jumped for the chase, sirens blaring. However, at 160MPH, it's a good chance you'll outrun them

[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by ShereKhan

Thats a myth

Agree ... Some sprightly cruising between peages has never raised an eyebrow.

The added POI fixed speed cameras to my DVD makes for perfect stealth mode - totally factory standard if they do spot check me. And I am yet to find an indicated fixed camera on the toll roads I've used.

D.

[Oli]

Thanks chaps.

So basically set my cruise to 160MPH, and no one will catch me anyway!

[Evil Diesel]

I've never seen a fixed camera on the tolls but they are everywhere on the A roads. Not like ours either - 8' tall and luminous fucking yellow - theirs are short, grey and fat (like most of the blokes there)

[NathanJT]

I was pulled at a radar speed trap on my way back from Limoges in February.

I was doing 190kph (~120mph) and had to pay €90 for the pleasure. But what the hell, I made up over 2 hours on the way back! LOL!

I've been flashed by the roadside cameras many times as well, but to be honest the further south you go the less likely the locals are to do the paperwork for it to come back to you in the UK!

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by peppernick

We cut through France at around 100MPH on our trips to Nurburgring. This should give you enough time to slow down to 'acceptable' speeds if you smell a cop. Make sure you remove all your radar detectors, they are highly illegal in France and can get you into serious trouble.

Once, we (2 M3s) passed a copper in a peugeot at around 120MPH. They jumped for the chase, sirens blaring. However, at 160MPH, it's a good chance you'll outrun them

if you get caught doin 160 over there you cant lose your uk liscence can you??

can they impound ya car?


Carlos

[Hotcoupe]

I got done doing 120mph on my way back from the Sth of France 2 yrs ago.
I was caught between the last services & the port at Cherbourg, a known spot for the Gendarmes to catch you, so I found out on my return to the Uk!
Instant 6 mth ban (on French Roads only) 90 Euro fine on the spot,driving license confiscated.
I was not allowed to drive my car to the port to return to the UK,I only managed to get home after much hassle in getting my wife's driving license faxed across to France.
Even after getting home I received further demands from the French authorities for more money and haver never to this day received my driving license back. In the end I had to report my license as lost and got a new one that way.
As someone has already mentioned, the further south you go the less interest there is from Gendarmes, just be very wary on your return north, especially when getting near the ports.

[squeezebm]

French Bastards

[Cafe.Racer]

Yeah, nearly always a Gendarme on the A26 (I think) on the way back to Calais.

I did see one right down on the South Coast, near Beziers a couple of years back. It was at the height of the busy season, though.

[dxb335d]

gendarme???

do you prenounce that ''tossers''


carlos

[Steve A]

Originally Posted by squeezebm

French Bastards

my 3rd favorite saying

Originally Posted by dxb335d

gendarme???

do you prenounce that ''tossers''


carlos

Carl i didnt realise you could translate french.....well done

[- Paul -]

Isn't it tosseurs?

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by 1stnewcar

Isn't it tosseurs?

i was translating directly into englais

[miopyk]

We just got back from a 3 week jaunt to Italy and came back through Mont Blanc. Had my picture taken on the Autoroute down to Geneva and on the A26 through Reims.

Made a point of smiling for the second one which was pointed out by the Sat Nav before we got to it.

There are a few more cameras on the A26 as you get closer to Calais, both north and southbound but as you're probably going to be safetly back in Blighty by the time they process any pictures I wouldn't worry about it. There is no reason to pay any fines sent to you for these as the offence took place abroad and they cannot enforce any fines over here unless they go for a civil action through the County Court and then you would need to defend it.

Finally the elapsed time checks are true but I gather they are less frequent these days. I know someone that was caught at the last peage on the A26 before Calais a couple of years ago this way. They had a cash machine on site so that he could withdraw the money and pay the fine. I believe Autocar also ran a story where they got caught the same way when testing the then new e46 M3. I believe they were let off though cause the cops were more interested in the car.

I am aware of Brits who have also been stopped doing the speed limit. The first question they were asked is if they had a laser detection device. If they answered yes, they were asked to produce the device for inspection whereupon it is immediately confiscated and the driver arrested. The fine is apparently 750 Euros and licence confiscated with a six month ban from driving in France.

Hope this helps

Miopyk

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by miopyk

We just got back from a 3 week jaunt to Italy and came back through Mont Blanc. Had my picture taken on the Autoroute down to Geneva and on the A26 through Reims.

Made a point of smiling for the second one which was pointed out by the Sat Nav before we got to it.

There are a few more cameras on the A26 as you get closer to Calais, both north and southbound but as you're probably going to be safetly back in Blighty by the time they process any pictures I wouldn't worry about it. There is no reason to pay any fines sent to you for these as the offence took place abroad and they cannot enforce any fines over here unless they go for a civil action through the County Court and then you would need to defend it.

Finally the elapsed time checks are true but I gather they are less frequent these days. I know someone that was caught at the last peage on the A26 before Calais a couple of years ago this way. They had a cash machine on site so that he could withdraw the money and pay the fine. I believe Autocar also ran a story where they got caught the same way when testing the then new e46 M3. I believe they were let off though cause the cops were more interested in the car.

I am aware of Brits who have also been stopped doing the speed limit. The first question they were asked is if they had a laser detection device. If they answered yes, they were asked to produce the device for inspection whereupon it is immediately confiscated and the driver arrested. The fine is apparently 750 Euros and licence confiscated with a six month ban from driving in France.

Hope this helps

Miopyk

hope you had a good time abroad mate

so u rekon there is no way they can nail you when your back in the UK?

Carlos

[miopyk]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

hope you had a good time abroad mate

so u rekon there is no way they can nail you when your back in the UK?

Carlos

First time I knew I had my picture taken a few year's ago I checked with a relative who's a copper and his view was they can't touch you over here. The offence was commited in their country and they have no jurisdiction over here. So unless they want to go through the process of extraditing you back to France I think you'll be in the clear.

Just don't get caught by a speed trap gun. They hate speeding Brits over there.

Miopyk

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by peppernick

We cut through France at around 100MPH
Once, we (2 M3s) passed a copper in a peugeot at around 120MPH. They jumped for the chase, sirens blaring. However, at 160MPH, it's a good chance you'll outrun them

[QUOTE=NathanJT;1292071]I was pulled at a radar speed trap on my way back from Limoges in February.

I was doing 190kph (~120mph) as well QUOTE]



[QUOTE=OliH;1291900]Thanks chaps.

So basically set my cruise to 160MPH QUOTE]


when i mention ive gone over 70mph i get my aRSe mullered from you guys (not you guys in particular but other members) you guys aint got go greif for it