Driving in France this year??

Hi,
Is it as bad as the stories I've been hearing? Getting pulled over and having your car confiscated until your hearing, because you have a sat nav with speed camera alerts installed.
They don't seem to be worried about having spare bulbs, but you must have a warning triangle, first aid kit (recommended), fire extinguisher, GB sticker, light diffusers.
... and from July you'll need to bring one (obligatoire) or TWO (recommended) breathalysers.
Anyone actually been pulled over, or is this just anti-french rhetoric??
Thanks,
Steve

Some things are advised not oligatory, but one thing you must have is a reflective vest which you don't mention. The breathalyser thing is coming in in July but the Police will not enforce it until after October apparently.

We've got one of those in our box of tricks! ... as well as snow chains, a decent torch and some gloves. Putting chains on in the snow can be harder than it sounds, and is much harder than doing on the driveway at home as a practice run. We've also got a paper map in case TomTom lets us down... and a small fold up army type shovel. Fingers crossed we'll never have to use any of this stuff, but it could make a huge difference.
Luckily we've got compartments under the carpet where most of this stuff hides away.
The only other worry is the car brakes coming back DOWN the mountain, as a couple of years ago they where literally smoking at the valley. Not sure what to do about that though, apart from engine braking (although that was in a Chrysler Voyager, so a very heavy car)

Have been driving in France for the past couple of years touch wood have not had any trouble. As for the breathalyser I did not no that myself

remember you need a reflective vest for EACH occupant and If by SAT NAV, you mean a GPS (that has the little warnings about the speed cameras), no problem. What is illegal in France is a radar detector...why not avoid France as much as possible ...I always do

daved wrote:remember you need a reflective vest for EACH occupant and If by SAT NAV, you mean a GPS (that has the little warnings about the speed cameras), no problem. What is illegal in France is a radar detector...why not avoid France as much as possible ...I always do

Actually, those SAT NAV's with the little warnings about fixed speed cameras....are now a problem, because they have been illegal for several months. Most European Mapping Database updates now carry the correct software for the country you are visiting :roll:

Remember to carry your Reflective Vest in the car, not in the boot. Most folks seem to hang them off the back of the front seats.

Have been driving in France 4 or 5 times a year with no problems.A thing to remember when approaching a toll station especialy towards Calais on the weekend, they will have a mobile speed trap, and waiting in the long line of brits waiting to pay their fines is not a good way to end your holiday,
Goff

daved wrote:remember you need a reflective vest for EACH occupant

No, that's incorrect, one reflective jacket is compulsory, it's up to you whether you carry more. I can recommend the AA website http://www.theaa.com for motoring advice, they have a comprehensive section on the law for France and other countries. :)