You might find this info interesting....
This was sent to me by a friend but I can't establish the source of his information.
EURO WARNING
Tuesday 4th May
Be aware of the conequences of committing motoring offences abroad.
Leave your radar detector at home...
The RAC Foundation is warning drivers that an increasing number of
British motorists are being caught speeding in France.
Over the Easter weekend, 110 UK motorists caught speeding on the A26
south of Calais incurred on the spot fines while seven Brits detected
driving substantially in excess of the limit and two drink drivers were
arrested and bailed to appear in court. According to reports, these
drivers also had their licences and cars confiscated until their hearings!
In the future, offending drivers may meet even more serious deterrents
if proposed new legislation is adopted by the British Government.
French authorities claim that ten per cent of all motoring offences are
committed by foreigners and are desperate to bring down the high levels
of road fatalities and injuries - double those in the UK. While serious
offenders are prosecuted through the courts, the majority of
misdemeanours - like speeding - are dealt with by on the spot fines of
up to £200.
But now the French want to get even tougher on British drivers who speed
and flout the law and have approached the UK Government and other
European neighbours to sign up to a convention which would extend the
powers of punishment to include penalty points and potential
disqualification when motorists return home.
The Home Office is thought to be considering the plans sympathetically
having already agreed to an Act stipulating that a British driver
disqualified in a European country should also lose their licence here.
It's not just drivers in France who should exercise caution on the roads
this year either. In Spain, from July, that age-old motoring chivalry -
warning on coming drivers of the presence of police ahead - could leave
UK visitors in hot water too as it becomes an offence to do so then. It
will also become compulsory to have a reflective vest in the car for use
in emergencies.
Radar Detectors
The ban on speed detection devices, widespread throughout mainland
Europe, also extends to Spain from the summer when the installation and
use of a radar detector becomes an offence.
Drivers with speed detection devices fitted to their cars can face a
jail sentence, a driving ban, having their vehicle confiscated or paying
a huge fine if they take them to many parts of Europe.
While the radar and laser detectors, which warn motorists of speed
enforcement equipment in the vicinity, have been legal to own and use in
the UK since 1999, many other European countries ban them and impose
stringent sentences for having them fitted in the vehicle - even when
they are not operational.
Punishment for carrying or using such a device can vary from possible
imprisonment in Luxembourg and the Republic of Ireland, to the loss of
licence and car and a fine of up to £1000 in France.
* Definitive information on the legality/illegality of using the
devices in individual European and Scandinavian countries is
difficult to establish but France, Belgium, Greece, Austria,
Turkey, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Ireland, and Norway all operate
bans and will shortly be joined by Spain.
* The harshest potential punishment is levied in Luxembourg where a
custodial sentence of between eight days and three years is
possible. The Republic of Ireland also deals harshly with
offenders and a six month prison sentence is possible.
* France, the country most likely to be visited by Brits, can
deprive you of your car, licence and up to 1500 Euros if you are
caught with a speed detection device.
* Speed detection devices were illegal in the UK until 1999 when a
decision by the High Court reversed the ruling, although the
Government is proposing to make secondary legislation to ban their
installation and use once again - creating an offence which would
attract a maximum fine of £1000 and six penalty points.
* Users tend to be high mileage drivers - typically business drivers
who travel in excess of 22,000 miles a year, have high annual
incomes, who live in rural or semi-rural areas and drive high
performance vehicles.
* 60 per cent of those who use speed detection devices say that they
have become safer drivers since purchasing detectors and three
quarters indicate that they are more aware of speed limits in the
areas in which they are driving.
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