Breathaliser In France

Nope. I go every year and never took anything other than myself, bike and docs. Beware of a 1299S, an HP4 and a R1 Yam travelling to the Alps via Troyes at speed.

 

Don't know what the legalities are requirement wise but I have one given to me by a couple who owned a Gites we stayed at in Brittany. They advised me to have one so I have taken it ever since.

And a hi vis for break downs etc, which is enforced at times. We got a major roasting for not wearing one whilst looking at a map at the side of the road. No fine luckily but I think that was more because we acted like we didn't understand him (which wasn't totally untrue) and I think he gave up. He was not happy though

 

I think they are only about £1-2 now & you can get them from bikersworld. I'd prefer carrying one then getting a on-the-spot fine from police nationale.

 

From what I understand it is an offence not to carry one but they are not prosecuting

 

You don't have to have now, that law was abolished.
Just a Hi-VIS if you can carry one. Make sure you carry copies of insurance and reg document

 

Thanks, Actually I was going to use my hold one's after a few beers to see how close I got (without riding)

 

Yes you do need to carry one, but there is no fine/penalty for not having it! Very French, they realised that the law was stupid, but rather than bother getting rid of the law it was easier to make it no penalty.
Hi-vis is also required but we don't carry them and nor does anyone in our local, French, bike club.
You don't need spare bulbs either.

 

One law they were enforcing last year to all bikers (except french reg'ed bikes), was the high reflective stickers on helmets. They were handing out 135 euro fines like candy.

 

Were you yourself pulled for not having the stickers? I ask this because neither my wife nor I have them and have lived here since 2004. The only time they seem to be mentioned is in internet rumours spread by Brit bikers.

 

I just take docs. Nothing else. Been travelling over to France annually for an alpine adventure on superbikes for at least 10yrs. Only go stopped once in that time, however we were speeding and returned (via a trailer) 750euro lighter each and with a 6mnth ban. 1 yr and 1 day later we were back. Just be respectful. (cough cough)

 

dont even bother with the hi viz.

 

As said before it is a legal requirement but no one who I know carries one.
Other advice:
Try to eat at lunchtime rather than the evening, that way you will eat good value French food rather than something cooked up for tourists in a tourist area. There is a vast difference believe me.
Fuel on motorways is very expensive, find the nearest supermarket as that is how 95% of French drivers buy fuel.
If you speak a little French to the cops should they stop you for anything, be polite and use what French you can speak. You will find that most of them are very human and many are ex-bikers. Just shrug your shoulders and speak English to them and they might have a very different opinion of you.
If you have any problems with a UK card at an unmanned fuel station then ask a local for help as they love bikers and will refuel your bike on their card in return for cash.

 

Presumably you will be carrying some kind of waterproof jacket to put over leathers in case it comes on to rain. So it might just as well be bright yellow as any other colour. How perverse would it be deliberately to take a dark over-jacket!

 

To be fair Pete, my leathers have yellow hi viz stripes on em. Plus a big neon yellow 46 on the back.

 

No I was stopped and checked but I had mine on. My mate wasn't so lucky. It was a checkpoint just outside of Calais port.

 

I'm going next month. Haven't heard the sticker law. Sounds nuts to me.

 

Just remember that the UK has signed up to cross border motoring fines not so long ago. If you get flashed or commit any other motoring offence in the EU then the fine will follow you home as the DVLA will forward your details to any EU enforcement agency.
No idea on how they will extract the money from drivers, but that is another subject.
I will be perfectly safe with my French registered car and bikes in the UK though as it seems due to the way the UK fine people it does not work in the other direction.