Bear in mind this was the beginning of last year ... Seems that they have relaxed some laws as they were peeing off lots of people. I do believe they still enforce the high-vis jacket laws if you are stopped.
On what basis do you believe that they are enforcing the hi-vis jacket law? The law also states that as well as a helmet you must wear approved motorcycle gloves.
It's only a tiny tube like a lip-balm, one use & throw away. It's not like the size of geiger counter!
I knew nothing of this law being introduced until I read your post Bob T. So I checked on it, and your correct, it seems certain countries prosecute the registered keeper (France being one) where as the UK prosecute the driver ?
I didn't think it would be Gunz, but still say wtf. So you have to carry a breathalyser, and hi vis vest? Are bikes still cobbled at 100hp, or is that a thing of the past? The authorities here are a bit over zealous (a lot maybe), maybe they're not that bad after all.
100hp limit is gone. You may think that the authorities are a bit over zealous, but we do not have the amount of speed cameras as your little island and have many more open roads with little traffic on them. If you had read the previous comments then you would see that there is no penalty for not carrying a breathalyser, so you don't have to carry one.
A lot of the coffin dodgers (particularly English) over here used to insist on driving with reflective vests nailed to the backs of their seats when that piece of legislation became law, just on the off chance a gendarme would pull them and sentence them to life without Werthers Originals/high waisted trousers or some such other unspeakable punishment. Likewise the breathalysers, spare bulbs etc. These days no-one gives a flying and the only place you'll see them is in your hire car whan you pick it up at the airport. There is a law here though about stepping on the cracks in the pavement, so watch out for that one and if you can, enjoy your visit!
The UK arrangement is that (1) the registered keeper is legally obliged to state who the driver was at the time in question (on pain of punishment for refusing to say). Once it is established who the driver was, then (2) that driver can be prosecuted. Although a fine from (e.g.) France follows the driver home to the UK, provided it has already been established who the driver was, the UK registered keeper is not obliged to inform the French authorities who the driver was.
I was hoping you'd shed some light on it Peter, but what about the fine, how would they pursue that. (Other EU countries I mean) So I take it, you, the registered keeper, would be prosecuted for not disclosing who the driver was, but not for the driving offense ?
I was hoping you'd shed some light on it Peter, but what about the fine, how would they pursue that. (Other EU countries I mean) So I take it, you, the registered keeper in the UK, would be prosecuted for not disclosing who the driver was, but not for the driving offense ? p.s. The article I read about the agreement, suggested that as the French prosecute the registered keeper, they could prosecute us, but the UK couldn't reciprocate as we prosecute the driver (once they establish who they are). And on another point of law Peter, is it correct that if you commit a crime, you can refuse to answer on the grounds it might incriminate you, without penalty. But you can not refuse to answer who was driving, on the grounds it might incriminate you ?
Let's not muddle together two rather different situations. 1. A French policeman has stopped you for an offence in France, has taken note of your driver details, and has issued a speeding ticket (or whatever) with a fine to you as the driver. That fine follows you home to the UK, and if you fail to pay up it can and will be enforced. The days when you could ignore it are at an end. 2. In France you have triggered some kind of automatic, unmanned camera which images your numberplate. French authorities can trace the UK registered owner, but if the registered owner in the UK fails or refuses to state who was driving the vehicle at the time (which for a UK offence would result in a penalty), the registered owner cannot be penalised for failing to respond to the French authorities. This because the French and British systems are not fully congruent.
Not much use if you want to ride around France. Perhaps the Spanish are also part of this Europe wide agreement.
Europe-wide schemes for recovering road fines aren't the issue. God knows we could do with some means of bringing appalling European drivers to book in this country after they've committed offences and then scarpered. Its how hostile and pettifogging the local police and laws are in the first place. The Spanish don't persecute motorists in general and bikers in particular with the same zeal as the the French and I'm reliably informed by a biking client that one of the best and least troublesome places to ride in Europe is Portugal. Something I've yet to try out. If I was going to Spain I'd like to ride through France to get there because I like the place but as this thread shows French regulations and attitudes to bikers take some keeping up with for those of us who don't live there or visit regularly - especially when those who do don't seem to know what the rules are either. The impression left, rightly or wrongly, is one of harassment and I'm afraid that puts me off. One thing I'm still unsure about is whether offences committed in France (or elsewhere in the EU) can put points on your license in the UK.
No, points are not added to a UK licence as their point / fine system is different to ours. Just a note as to fines 'following' you home, this I believe doesn't happen anymore as the French fine you on the spot. If you have no way of paying at the roadside they seize your vehicle until which time you can pay.
There is the aspect of wearing a hi viz when broken down could stop you being hit by a truck As to riding in Europe, I found Portuguese police very relaxed and few and far between. I dont like Spanish police and French police are fair. I was pulled for speeding through roadworks and had to sit in a tent in a layby and watch a video about roadworkers safety....in the UK I'd have got 3 points
