French Speed Limits if over 3.5t

[filopastry]

or the next time you are over this side of the water you risk "deep shit" with little chance of debating your case with an armed Gendarme ... but ... if you feel lucky ......

 

[gus-lopez]

or the next time you are over this side of the water you risk "deep shit" with little chance of debating your case with an armed Gendarme ... but ... if you feel lucky ......

I always fail to understand the logic behind this? Why would you not argue with them armed or not ? If they are prepared to pull an gun on an unarmed civilian then they do not deserve to be in the job or left alive. I'll argue the toss with any of them especially if I am right /they are trying it on .
If the gun ever came out they would have to shoot me there & then because I would never ever let him put it away again having had the audacity to point it at me.

 

[Camdoon]

I always fail to understand the logic behind this? Why would you not argue with them armed or not ? If they are prepared to pull an gun on an unarmed civilian then they do not deserve to be in the job or left alive. I'll argue the toss with any of them especially if I am right /they are trying it on .
If the gun ever came out they would have to shoot me there & then because I would never ever let him put it away again having had the audacity to point it at me.

I think it is more an age related thing with policemen having guns. GB policemen have never worn guns until recently. I can remember going on holiday in the early 80's and at that time being un-nerved because of armed French policemen. Even in the 90's I found it unsettling being in Israel where lots of soldiers were going home from training with rifles on their back. Today seeing an armed UK policeman is relatively normal in London and airports in particular.
As for this issue, paying the fine early saves you money because even if you appeal you still have to pay up front and I do not particularly want to get stopped by the French police for them to demand immediate payment of a large sum at some distant time in the future of their choosing.

 

[Camdoon]

Did some off motorway driving in France yesterday (Buchy - Saumur) and as I was the one who kicked off the recent thread on being fined, I tried to keep to the speed limits. It was hard work. Motorways where possible from now on.

 

[PeteH]

I got camera flashed (thought I had better qualify that) in France and I was doing at least 10km under the speed limit. That was 3 weeks ago.
Still waiting to see if we hear anything

There used to be at least 2 camera`s on the A1, around Berwick, which did that regularly. They where deliberately set to catch trucks doing over the 40MPH limit, before the limit was raised to 50 a few years back. 2 of our drivers got Points in the early days when we first got the Aberdeen contract, after which we all knew where they where and slowed down until well past. I got flashed by same camera going to up Edinburgh in the R-V, and never heard a thing. It was suspected that at least one of 2 on the A15, where similarly adjusted, strangely after limit was raised, both had "bags" on their heads, for several months!.

As for France, they have a history of confusion, they change road numbering more often than they change underwear!. So fiddling with the Speed limits, is not so surprising. And of course it raises the "revenue stream". A bureaucratic "win win". And the politicians can (falsely) claim it to be in the name of Safety or preventing global warming or some such nonsense.

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[filopastry]

@gus-lopez I suspect you are taking my comments literally, with or without a gun the truth remains the same, the fact is that the presence of a gun tends to intimidate we Brits (many of us). To argue any point to the N'th degree gains nothing if you are right but dead, an extreme statement only meant to make a point.

 

[Allanm]

Armed or not, they are just enforcing the law and if you think they are wrong and you are right, argue the point. What are they going to do? Shoot you if you don’t see it their way?

U.K. Police have pepper spray and extending batons, are you nervous talking to them in case they spray/ hit you!

The answer is, keep to the speed limits.

The correct speed limits are shown in this thread multiple times, just ignore the ones where people have guessed.

Remember, the speed changes start and stop at the signs, not before or after. Lots of people accelerate up to the new speed as soon as they see the sign ahead and get caught out by a camera just before the new limit ( this seems to be popular in Portugal!)

Many roads, when they change from single carriageway to dual have the higher speed limits a good few hundred metres into the new section of road and this is where a lot of people are caught out.

As to people finding it difficult to keep changing their speeds to keep within the limits, I would question if they should be driving at all.

 

[Duck Truck]

I didn't realise the cameras could differentiate
mmmmmmm
maybe wear my yellow vest and join in the fun next time we go

 

[The Wino]

As the above post says if you stick to the limits you won't have a problem its just a pity the limit isn't always that clear over 3.5t.

 

[Duck Truck]

I was below the speed limit for a motorhome but obviously not for a lorry

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[Nik]

I can understand les Gillets going out with sabotage in mind,

We just drove up through France and from roughly the Pyrenees up to Normandy most of the speed cameras on N roads had been sabotaged by the Gillet Jaunes. Lots were paint sprayed over some were totally burnt out.

 

[Larby]

I didn't realise the cameras could differentiate
mmmmmmm
maybe wear my yellow vest and join in the fun next time we go

About 3 years ago this camera flashed me in left lane. Not speeding so it knew the lane and assumed lorry. Over 3.5 tonnes and caravans prohibited in left lane. Perhaps now they may persue for lane discipline as well as speeding?

 

[gus-lopez]

To argue any point to the N'th degree gains nothing if you are right but dead, an extreme statement only meant to make a point.

It is the principle, not the point.

Perhaps now they may persue for lane discipline as well as speeding?

No they can't ,at least not using the " cross border directive" as it isn't one of the 8 offences that they can ask for the vehicle details.

Having said that the French have been caught out on more than one occasion using illegally obtained information that could not come form anywhere else but French companies operating in the UK managing systems for the Uk government having passed on information.

 

[nicholsong]

Does anyone know whether the French, or any other, systems have access to the V5 weights at DVLA?

Geoff

 

[filopastry]

Having said that the French have been caught out on more than one occasion using illegally obtained information that could not come form anywhere else but French companies operating in the UK managing systems for the Uk government having passed on information.

Can this be verified or is it hearsay?

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[tuscancouple]

Having said that the French have been caught out on more than one occasion using illegally obtained information that could not come form anywhere else but French companies operating in the UK managing systems for the Uk government having passed on information.

I'd also like to see a link to where this statement can be seen and verified please.

Mick

 

[ramsthom]

About 3 years ago this camera flashed me in left lane. Not speeding so it knew the lane and assumed lorry. Over 3.5 tonnes and caravans prohibited in left lane. Perhaps now they may persue for lane discipline as well as speeding?

View attachment 297077
View attachment 297078

A couple of years ago I took the left hand lane being under 3.5T. I was under the speed limit and still the camera flashed. Heard nothing so it must have thought I was over 3.5T. To save any hassle when I travel that route now, I take the righthand lane which takes you to a roundabout where you can come back and re-join the original road.

 

[Larby]

.

 

[Larby]

Does anyone know whether the French, or any other, systems have access to the V5 weights at DVLA?

Geoff

Yes, anyone can

A couple of years ago I took the left hand lane being under 3.5T. I was under the speed limit and still the camera flashed. Heard nothing so it must have thought I was over 3.5T. To save any hassle when I travel that route now, I take the righthand lane which takes you to a roundabout where you can come back and re-join the original road.

I do that now as I have had my scare

 

[gus-lopez]

Can this be verified or is it hearsay?

I'd also like to see a link to where this statement can be seen and verified please.

Mick

Yes, Before the cross border directive was changed to a "safety" issue & the UK was not a party to it along with Ireland, no information was given out to foreign counties .
An acquaintance received a speeding fine, addressed to her as "the owner" of a UK vehicle that her son was driving at the time.
As she isn't on the V5 a bit of digging turned up the fact that the only place the car was connected to her was that she had added it to her Dartford crossing account.
I wouldn't trust them as far as they can be thrown.
It is still ongoing to my knowledge.
Secondly I recently received a "parking charge notice" from the UK for spanish vehicle registered in my name from 8 months ago attempting to scam me by making it look like it is under the cross border directive, which it is certainly not.

Contacting the DGT here elicited the info that they had not sanctioned release of any information to another EU state regarding any vehicle registered to me.
Which only leaves the two places in the UK where I have had to register vehicles . One being the Dartford crossing & the other Transport for London for the emission zone.

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[filopastry]

I assume you are saying the information came from the Dartford crossing system as you mentioned that in both instances, is this managed by a French company hence your statement "French use of illegally obtained information". If so, I would have thought this would be very naughty.

 

[gus-lopez]

I assume you are saying the information came from the Dartford crossing system as you mentioned that in both instances, is this managed by a French company hence your statement "French use of illegally obtained information". If so, I would have thought this would be very naughty.

It certainly is.Data protection rules firstly.
Only place it could have come from the first incident. & yes they manage it on behalf of the UK government. With mine I'm not sure but I have asked the question of the company attempting to 'fine' me & there client landowners. Although am not expecting anyone to admit it as it is totally illegal & breaches the data protection rules. In fact I don't even expect to get a reply.

 

[PeteH]

As the above post says if you stick to the limits you won't have a problem its just a pity the limit isn't always that clear over 3.5t.

Serious Question?.

HOW do they know? Many motorhomes start life as 3.5t, and as we know, get uprated for Payload reasons. There are Identical Motorhomes with 3.5t and 3.8t GVW`s. How does a camera know?. OR does someone have to investigate each and every Motorhome that "infringes" and back check the GVW with DVLA?. There is a OBVIOUS difference between say, a Luton" Van and a M-H or an R-V and a 16tonne truck. but other "differences" are only on the rating plate under the hood.? I appreciate that in the UK there are "real time" online means of checking, But do all the European "enforcers" have similar access?.

 

[7735]

I have been flashed many times being over 3500k (3850) but have never heard anything, I think the camera assumes I am a lorry. The photo is obviously checked but I think they see Oh motorhome! and either bin it and can’t be bothered to check the weight. If you speeding above the limit for under 3500k I think you will definitely get a ticket.
Spongy

 

[Camdoon]

Serious Question?.

HOW do they know? Many motorhomes start life as 3.5t, and as we know, get uprated for Payload reasons. There are Identical Motorhomes with 3.5t and 3.8t GVW`s. How does a camera know?. OR does someone have to investigate each and every Motorhome that "infringes" and back check the GVW with DVLA?. There is a OBVIOUS difference between say, a Luton" Van and a M-H or an R-V and a 16tonne truck. but other "differences" are only on the rating plate under the hood.? I appreciate that in the UK there are "real time" online means of checking, But do all the European "enforcers" have similar access?.

Some folk have emailed a copy of their v5's for the CritAir; there is a belief that the Dart Crossing is exchanging data with their French company counterparts and now some of us have been done speeding, the French will know all those van details. Change of plates might confuse them.

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[PeteH]

Some folk have emailed a copy of their v5's for the CritAir; there is a belief that the Dart Crossing is exchanging data with their French company counterparts and now some of us have been done speeding, the French will know all those van details. Change of plates might confuse them.

What the F-H is a CritAir?. Some sort of Air Conditioning?

 

[Camdoon]

What the F-H is a CritAir?. Some sort of Air Conditioning?

https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/en/
You pay the French Govt to let them know your vehicle details and address.

 

[filopastry]

All seems a little Orson Wells to me. Technology advances, if you do wrong and get caught doing wrong, maybe rather than spending umpteen hours searching for "who shopped me in" ... simply conform to the rules. If one breaks the rules, and gets caught ... tough.

 

[Camdoon]

All seems a little Orson Wells to me. Technology advances, if you do wrong and get caught doing wrong, maybe rather than spending umpteen hours searching for "who shopped me in" ... simply conform to the rules. If one breaks the rules, and gets caught ... tough.

I haven't once squeaked about getting caught - just that people should know how they are aiding being caught, inadvertently. Unless you are advocating putting a device in your van which monitors every time you go over a speed limit and sends the appropriate fine to the relevant authorities - now that would be a game changer.

 

[filopastry]

Not advocating anything at all each and everyone of us has the freedom to do as we wish whilst being aware of the rules that society put upon us, being caught is being caught, inadvertently doesn't come into it. It is similar to those who choose to flash headlights at those heading towards a speed camera, I personally, and I comment only for myself, do not, never have nor ever will flash to warn those who choose to flaunt the rules, intentionally or inadvertently. It matters little how one is caught, brought to justice or penalised if one is guilty one is guilty. As for the next set of questions normally posed of those who have a similar view, nope, I'm not an angel, yes I have broke the rules and yes but not always I have been brought to task.

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