Thu 17 Jul 2008 01:27 speedcamera reading satnavs in France - rogue-trooper

Not sure if this has been posted before or not. I know (and be warned those that don't) that the French police take a somewhat dim view of camera detectors, whether they are working or not. Question is, does this extend to my TomTom which picks up European traffic cameras? Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 17 Jul 2008 01:36 speedcamera reading satnavs in France - Dynamic Dave

Nope. Perfectly legal as it's classed as a 'point of interest'. The only ones banned are the radar detector type that pick up mobile cameras. Edited by Dynamic Dave on 17/07/2008 at 01:36 Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 17 Jul 2008 01:59 speedcamera reading satnavs in France - Bilboman

Until fairly recently it was not unknown for les flics to rip out an illegal radar detector and destroy it on the spot; if removal proved difficult the car would merely be impounded and the driver's licence confiscated. Slightly more civilised behaviour now prevails - the French haven't lopped any heads off since 1977 - and the police are generally better clued up about the difference between a "navigateur" (Sat Nav, warnings of fixed points, including fixed speed cameras) and an "avertisseur" (still illegal - warns of mobile (i.e. hidden) speed traps.) The problem was that both types were legal for some years in the UK until a change in legislation a couple of years ago and holidaying Brits used to take their radar detectors with them on holiday "in all innocence". Yeah, right. Tip: Take with you a leaflet on your particular SatNav, downloaded from a French website (Search for your model using google.fr.) If Monsieur Plod does stop you, show him the advert and point to the word "Navigateur" and you *should* be OK. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 17 Jul 2008 06:52 speedcamera reading satnavs in France - R40

No need to worry unnecessarily. TomTom sell millions of their products, in France, Europe and all over the World, all with Camera locations installed on them........... ;) Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 17 Jul 2008 10:17 speedcamera reading satnavs in France - rogue-trooper

thanks all. I thought that that might be the case but best to make sure. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 17 Jul 2008 10:52 speedcamera reading satnavs in France - movilogo

In Switzerland, now it is illegal to have a device which even warns of fixed speed cameras!! Some interesting discussion on this here tinyurl.com/6gao7j Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 17 Jul 2008 11:53 speedcamera reading satnavs in France - BobbyG

I not saying it doesn't happen, but before my recent trip to France I had read warnings regarding the French police taking action on speed camera detectors headlights with no beam deflectors checking cars are carrying hi-vis vests and warning triangles checking for spare bulb kits Other than at the scene of an accident I can only recollect seeing one policeman in my whole journey and that was, believe it or not, a motorcycle Gendarmerie travelling at well in excess of my 80mph and he was only wearing his short sleeve light blue shirt, no leathers, hi-vis, jackets etc! I couldn't believe it! Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 17 Jul 2008 11:58 speedcamera reading satnavs in France - Mike H

I've been driving abroad since 1976, and haven't even shown my licence or insurance certificate since the early 1980s when it was common practice to produce them as you drove off the ferry.....not been stopped for any reason either. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Thu 17 Jul 2008 13:03 speedcamera reading satnavs in France - rogue-trooper

MikeH - all I can say is - Ha! I used to live in France and was on a C road - single track thing - going through a forest 30 miles south of Bordeaux. As I crossed a motorway bridge in the middle of nowhere I was flagged down by a Gendarme who then proceeded to check my car for bomb making equipment and firearms!!! I did ask why he was doing this and was I really someone in a Volvo 340 (white!) that was likely to be a terrorist. He mumbled something mentioning IRA, mumble mumble blah blah. I have also been pulled over leaving a autoroute service station as well as being pulled at a peage. Nothing wring - just checking. (The peage was because I had lots of booze in the back of the car but I had the correct paperwork. The autoroute service one - I had some booze in the boot but no paperwork so bumbled my way through things) Edited by rogue-trooper on 17/07/2008 at 13:05 Reply | Report as offensive | Link