Hello

Whilst traveling to the alps I overtook an unmarked car. He showed his blue light. I slowed down and he passed me.
I’ve since received Violation Notice.
The fine is 90 Euros, increasing to 135Eurosthen again to 375 Euros.
They spelled my surname wrong by using 1 incorrect letter.
Is enforceable please?
What are the consequences of ignoring it? Eg return visits to France

Thanks in advance.

It almost certainly will have no effect on the legality.

What it will do is make it much harder to tie you to the offence, especially if you aren’t driving that car again.

I noticed my name is spelled on wrong on the owners documentation.
I should have mentioned that it is my car.

What "owners documentation"? The V5C hasn't got anything to do with being an owner.

V5C registered keeper

So that’s where they copied it from, doesn’t change the fact that unless your in the same car how will they tie the offence to your name.....

Was it a rental car, or your own, GB registered vehicle?

Get the V5C corrected, that can only help and you should have it correct anyway.

Well if the French police ever stop you in future, expect to be marched to a cash machine and pay up. If you don't think this is a likely occurrence, you could bin all the paperwork and it's unlikely anything will ever come of it.

French motoring penalties are handled by the Central National de Traitment in Rennes.

If a penalty is not paid within the stated time a confirmation of the higher penalty will be issued. A foreign vehicle will have a ghost record set up for the car registration and the registered keeper at the Central Processing Centre.

In the event of a stop with the same car in the future the worst case scenario is the risk of arrest, a 72 hour seizure of the car and the outstanding penalty being enforced in court. Paying on the spot would not be an option as it was never available for an automated camera offence.

Description of CNT Centre National de Traitment

If you want to pay and avoid any possible conflict on future visits.................

The payment period runs from the date of the notice of contravention and is longer for foreign offenders. To pay the amount of the reduced penalty you have 46 days or 61 days in case of payment by credit card on the internet

If not paid within the time period the amount of the fine will be increased and you will receive a notice of an increased penalty with new deadlines of payment.

Re-reading this there is something unusual about it. France has been operating speed cameras in unmarked cars (radar mobile/mobile) for some years and these are capable of recording in both directions and multi-lane whilst moving. As these are operated by private contractors your reference to a blue light seems to suggest that it was a police/gendarmerie car but, if so and most unusually, you were not stopped and processed at the time. Perhaps you triggered a fixed camera and the blue light car was a coincidence?

If you could post the Avis de Contravention with your personal information removed it will identify the details of the contravention. Alternatively, what method of recording and type of equipment (appareil de contrôle) is stated and what is the location (coordinées geographique) listed?

I think you are correct. I expect it was an unmarked car that was playing with me. He hogged the lane for a long while which is unusual in France, when he pulled over he accelerated so I had to speed faster than I would of to pass him. Then put his blue light on. I slowed he then over took. I watched him do the same to 3 others.

I've since received a 2nd one which was definitely a camera and they are very similar.

I've paid them both.

Thank you all for your replies.

As reported above the Avis de Contravention will state the exact place and type of apparatus with method of capture.

Interesting! Journalists reporting on these unmarked camera cars state they cruise at just below the posted limit to entice following cars to pass and, in doing so, the limit will be exceeded so that the overtaking vehicle's speed will exceed the margin of tolerance permitted. Seems you were caught with this rather unscrupulous practice by private contractors operating these cars.

Translated explanation here Mobile-mobile operation

Original in French here Mobile-mobile operation

Private contractors operate these cars? More information about that, please. That is potentially scandalous.

--Churchmouse

It's also not a subject for a live advice thread.

PM sent

Judging by comments on other forums, the French authorities have done some kind of bulk data request to the DVLA. We've just received one this morning.

Violation notice date 28/2/19
Date of offence: 27/8/18
86kph in an 80 limit

I'm trying to do some research to find out if they are subject to any time limits, but don't want to be stopped when we drive back to France in 3 weeks

The penalty will increase if not paid and eventually go up to the maximum of €450. With still no payment the matter will go before a court and the penalty confirmed as an outstanding debt. This could be 12 months down the line. Your details will have been placed on a ghost record when the first Avis de Contravention was issued on 27/08/18

The way the French margin of tolerance works indicates that you were caught at 91kph which was reduced by 5kph to the 'vitesse retenue' 86kph for processing the penalty.

Well, someone was caught at 91kph... sarahg1969 has not said who was driving at the time.

How does France deal with the RK being possibly different than the driver? It would be useful to see the (redacted) documents, but the OP needs to start a new thread.

--Churchmouse

In France, the 'registered keeper can name the driver if they were not driving. Failing to nominate another person leaves the RK liable for the penalty. There is no FTP in France for private individuals but, since January 2017 companies and hirers have to nominate the driver of their vehicles. Prior to that they could pay the fine without nominating the driver.

Specimen penalty notice here

Avis de Contravention

As posted in the other French speeding thread.

You can pay or contest a fine online, and all in English too!

https://www.antai.gouv.fr/?lang=en

This might be an opportunity to remind folk that over a year ago the limit in France was reduced from 90 to 80 on all roads where there is no physical barrier between opposing carriageways.

I'm told that some roads have yet to have their previous 90 signs replaced with 80's but that does not absolve you from exceeding 80.

Unfortunately (but not surprisingly) as a tactic to reduce road deaths it's failed as they are actually up 4% in the first 3 months of this year compared to 2018!

There was never a general requirement for 90kph signs as it was the default limit on single carriageway roads. The reduction to 80 kph retains the default status for which no signs are required

Where there are three lane section with two lanes in one direction (crénau de dépassement) 90kph is the default limit on the two lane section. Where these are considered especially dangerous 80kph can be imposed and signs are required.

Good description of speed limits HERE

From the link above


"Tthe State Council told the government that there was no need for signage for sections maintained at 90, because the definition of these sections is sufficiently clear in the Highway Code to not require signs.

In respect of Road Safety, it is also estimated that 90kph signs are not essential. On the other hand, the installation of signs is strongly recommended to road highways managers. Therefore there are now many 90kph signs at the beginning of the overtaking lanes".