Hello everybody,
A Happy Easter to everybody!!
I live in Spain and drive a car with Spanish plates. I intend to visit England this summer for the first time with it. Several questions:-
1) Although the EC is planning on introducing a new regulation meaning governments have the responsibility to chase up fines occurred abroad by cars registered in their countries, at the moment I can stick two fingers up at any speed camera without problems????? Obviously if I get stopped by a copper thats different? What can a copper do to me as I have a Spanish driving licence?
2) From personal experience which route is better for crossing the Channel? I am looking at Dunkirk/Dover or Calais/Dover on the Seacat. Or the tunnel?
3) As I have "European"(sic) Spanish plates I don't need to put a stupid E sticker on my car do I? Hardly anyone bothers here, and the French never do!!!
4) I have Xenon lights. Presumably I need the direction changed? But I can't do that until I arrive in England as I need to drive through France. If I arrive in the evening or night will a copper nab me on the way out of the Ferry port? Instead of going to a mechanic (how much in England?) can I change the direction using headlight stickers, as I used to do with my old Cavalier here in Spain?
Sorry for all the questions but your help would be most appreciated.
Thanks
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"coppers ... nab ... two fingers ..."
hope, if you are stopped here, you're as respectful to our police as you are, I am sure, to the Policia or Guardia Trafico. Remember, in France they are hotting up on speeders.
Meantime, I'm sure others more qualified will be along to advise on your queries - so safe driving from UK, where we still have relatively civilised driving habits compared to Europe.
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Thanks El Hacko,
I appreciate your comments. I do drive every year in England but with hire cars. I know that in England it is completely different to Spain. In France they are hard at the moment. What I really meant is if I go through a camera, but I don't get stopped, will I eventually receive an envelope in the post in Spain? In England are there now on-the-spot fines or would they confiscate my licence if I was stopped?
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These links will prove enlightening:
www.roadsafety.org.uk/information/publish/article_...l
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4292645.stm
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4053607.stm
edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=238912005
Quite a contrast to the stance taken by, for instance, the French police with UK motorists...:-)
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Your sea crossing really depends on where you are going to stay in the UK. Why drive as far as Dunkirk - it's also a longer sea crossing - when Calais or Boulogne are nearer?
Speedferries are much cheaper, and Boulogne is not so far to drive.
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I'd certainly eliminate Calais until such time as all berths are back in use. The Norfolkline service from Dunkerque is excellent. No frills, the ships just have a bar, restaurant and observation lounges with a good forward view. Lots of outside deck space as well, a facility sadly lacking on Seafrance Rodin and other new ships. I've paid £98 for a July return and there have been better offers since.
Can't comment on Speedferries as I'd need a very small fare indeed to venture onto a Seacat again.
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What's the problem with the Seacat?
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What's the problem with the Seacat?
Uncomfortable, noisy. Rough riding and nauseous on anything other than a millpond. Little or no outside space for leg stretching. All IMHO of course and based on one trip with hoverspeed in 2000 plus a friend who reports a nightmare journey on Newhaven-Dieppe.
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Q.1.
Yes as you state at the moment no provision for chasing you having had your photo taken but it would be possible for the SCP to stick the number of a foreign vehicle onto certain police files which could pick up the number plate as an offender for a Plod pull under ANPR non standard and be then dealt with. Unless of course you had left the Country.
On committing an offence and stopped by Plod then under S 25 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, general arrest conditions could kick in as you would fail to supply a satisfactory address for service of summons, so overnight free B&B and Court. If darn sarf you might even get PU ( a stout chappie) to look after you....
There is much taking place in relation to the punishment of foreign drivers who have on summary offences escaped prosecution in the past. The Road Safety Bill currently before Parliament is proposing ways to deal with Johnny Foreigner. Examples:
a) Deposit immediately paid at the road side after an offence of a sum equal to a FPN or likely Court fine. Returnable if Court find NG.
b) An ability to issue a FPN to a person with foreign driving licence (impossible at the moment).
c) New system of endorsements that will do away with UK paper Counterpart and also enable foreign authorities within the EEC to be informed of transgressions/disqualifications.
Wheels are grinding ever faster within EEC on legislation so that States have a harmonised approach to road traffic prosecution, fine collection and disqualification. What applies in one state will apply elsewhere.
Q.2
Pass.
Q.3
It is an offence not to display country of origin natiuonality plates when abroad.
Q.4
Don't motor factors/ Garages etc have for sale lens deflectors converting dip to the left instead of right.?
If not arrange to land in UK in daylight so that matters can be attended to before half an hour before sunset.
DVD
PS
www.grayace.com/dex/bunny.html
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Thanks for the reply but 2 points:
1) My plates have the EC circle on the left with the E. What I don't know is if I need to use the old traditional style sticker as well.
2) I heard somewhere that on Xenon lights beam deflectors don't work. Is that true?
Thanks
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Sorry to digress slghtly, but locally to where I work there is a 4x4 vehicle being driven around with number plates written completely in what in my ignorance I can only describe as a 'foreign, Middle-Eastern looking script'. Is this legal?
Oz (as was)
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Q1). Someone in my village has driven an oldish Merc (so it looks the part) on foreign plates for years.
I guess it would useful if you look Spanish, have a Spanish name and can speak the language (and forget English) fluently.
Q2). I seem to recall that some vehicles simply have a switch for canging the Xenon lights to the opposite side of the road - maybe yours does?
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Thanks for the reply but 2 points: 1) My plates have the EC circle on the left with the E. What I don't know is if I need to use the old traditional style sticker as well.
No, you don't need another sticker. Your plates are legal throughout the EU. I have the same but with GB encircled.
Unfortunately, the cross of St George is not acceptable, nor the Welsh or Scottish symbols, so had to make do with the accursed EC logo rather than stick a GB sign on the bodywork.
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4) I have Xenon lights. Presumably I need the direction changed?
Depending on the car, changing the direction of the beam is as simple as popping the bonnet and moving a lever at the back of the headlights.
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Zarl1
Q1.
You have the Europlate (dual plate) so no need for anymore stickers.
Q2
Pass.
Robbie
Used to be but on 28.12.2001 HMG announced it was to permit the display of national flag and national identifiers other than the EEC stars on plates. OK for UJ, Scot Saltire, Red Dragon.
But no footie crests etc allowed.
(Come in N Ireland 3pm)
DVD
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Robbie Used to be but on 28.12.2001 HMG announced it was to permit the display of national flag and national identifiers other than the EEC stars on plates. OK for UJ, Scot Saltire, Red Dragon. But no footie crests etc allowed. (Come in N Ireland 3pm)
Does that mean I can get new plates, with a national flag and GB beneath, and they will be legal throughout the EU?
I was informed they would not be legal in France.
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Its a 2001/2002 Mondeo, Dave. Do you happen to know?
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Its a 2001/2002 Mondeo, Dave. Do you happen to know?
ok, it's not as simple as *just* moving a lever. Looks like you have to do some other work prior to that:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=13653&...e
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Dwight Van Driver has comprehenmsively and correctly answered most of your questions and here are my two pence worth:
1. If you get flashed by a speeding camera then obviously the system wont be able to send you out a usual ticket through the post - so your vehicle registration will be held centrally by the 'Central Ticketing Office' of the Force concerned. The same would be if you got a Parking Ticket and fialed to pay it.
So if you were stopped for a routine traffic violation (like say...you weren't wearing yours eatbelt or your lights were not ina ccordance with UK Road Traffic Law) and your palte was run through the Police system (note: this is NOT the same as a DVLA check) then up your registration would pop as having an outstanding fine.
Now this might be an opportune moment to introduce the Theft Act 1968. In this act there is a section which refers to 'Avoidance of a Lawful Debt'. Thing to remember is that the Theft Act (and it's subscections) carry a power of arrest.
So, you have committed an offence, you have not 'paid' or made any attempt to pay the fine - therefore it is a lawful debt.
Catch my drift? You'd be surprised how many 'German' and 'Arabic' registered vehicles and their drivers get swept up under this legislation - it's sweet, its to the spoint and above all it has a statuatory Power of Arrest.
As for the headlights, you might get away with black stickers regardless if yours are xenon or not - but yes, you could be stopped and 'stuck on' for having a car which violates the legislation that covers construction and use of motor vehicles (likely offence might be causing undue dazzle since this can be a ticket). It just depends on the Officer who stops you.
Mya dvice: be respectful to our laws and law enforcers and above all, be polite! :) Do unto toehrs as you would want them to do unto you - and welcome to the UK!
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The Speedferries seacat would be your best bet. I use all the cross channel routes regularly. The train is pretty good, if a little pricey. You can get a return for £50 for a car booked through the Speedferries website. Only takes 50mins each way, so you're not on it long enough to feel ill if you're concerned about feeling seasick.
The roughest crossing I've ever been on was the Irish Ferries Seacat from Holyhead to Dublin once. It was so rough, the loading ramp was oscillating by six feet. I stopped before driving up it as it didn't look that safe to me. I eventually did load, and during the crossing a wave smashed one of the craft's stabilisers leaving us bobbing about for about an hour whilst the damage was assessed. That WAS a bad one!
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Thanks for all your help.
I have one further question and a rave!!
Are the new headset Bluetooth hands free systems legal in England when you're driving? I was thinking about a Parrot CK3100 hands free (the best on the market?) but if you use a headset (and if you feel that doesn't make you look stupid!!) perhaps it is a better idea because they can be used anywhere, not just in the car!!
Also could someone explain the abbreviations you use in this web page, for example IMHO, IIRC?
The rave. Although as we all know that it is the governments that take the biggest part of what we pay for petrol/diesel the petrol companies play one or two tricks don't they? It's incredible that they keep a straight face when they say they don't make money selling petrol when they make billions from refining it!! They forget that many of them own the complete process extraction, refinery and then commercial. Of course, each one will be a different company legally, but they have 100% vertical integration (thats when one company owns the complete process from start to finish - for you non-economists out there). They then say it is a free market!! - well, I used to work in an oil company and the local bosses used to get together in a very private restaurant to discuss prices at a local level. Completely off the record of course. We have a taxi cooperative where I live and what a surprise that each year the lowest quotation they get is from a different supplier!! Each supplier takes its turn in order to avoid free market competition!!
As an economist I don't see how the World Trade Organisation allows OPEC to exist. Presumably they just have no choice. The reference price is just a joke, because as a tanker is making its way from Arabia the oil on board is being bought and sold until it gets to Europe.
Basically both the companies and the governments know that people need to buy this product and if you have to go 20 miles to work it will cost you either more or less but you have to go. Almost all other products as the price goes up consumption goes down. The environmental argument is just an excuse. If it was so important why not put taxes up 200% and try to stop people driving to work!!!
Before the anti-car brigade reply to me, I would like to point out that I am fervently anti the 4x4 school run or indeed most vehicles being used. Why kids can't walk/bike/bus to school like we all did years ago beats me. What do you think?
Sorry about the rave!!! It went on longer than expected!!
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Also could someone explain the abbreviations you use in this web page, for example IMHO, IIRC?
IMHO - in my honest/humble opinion
IIRC - if i remember correctly
SWMBO - she who must be obeyed
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