What to Do.... [Excessive speeding in France] - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

IanGreening · 23rd September 2006, 11:02

My cousin who lives in England called me on Tuesday from France because he needed 1,500 euros for a speeding ticket. He said he was doing 172 in a 130 zone. He was coming from Modena, Italy and was in northern France but very late for the ferry to England so he had to speed. The gendarmes or whatever pulled him over and told him to pay 1,500 euros. He didn't have the money and his 2 cards were maxed. The cops got an attitude and took his license and towed his car to an impound lot in some small town. My cousin has been in a hotel since Tuesday and doesn't know what to do because he can't get the 1,500 together and if he tells my aunt and uncle they'll take the car and sell it since it's not the first time the car has got him in trouble.

What should he do? I've been talking around and people are saying he must of been doing more than 172 because they can't fine you 1,500 euro just for 42 kilos over the limit. 1,500 euros is like $2,000! Not good.

Phantomias33 · 23rd September 2006, 11:08

I can't speak for France, but I've been being bad in Porsches and over your cousins limit in Germany and it wasn't that much. I think it was a point and about 150 Euros.

JC5000 · 23rd September 2006, 13:21

Hi, it seems that speeding fines are very high in France - see following clip from http://www.day-tripper.net/drive-infrance.html. I think he's just going to have to pay up...

Please note the following info is from 2004!

Quote:

Police collect fines on the spot. Alcohol between 0.05 - 0.08, 135 euro (maximum fine 4,500 euro). A 30% reduction for minor offences may be granted if paid on the spot or within 24 hours. If you feel you are not at fault, you will be asked to pay a deposit (amende forfaitaire). A receipt must be issued showing the amount paid. Similar rules exist in Belgium.

Quote:

Speeding fines - the average fine is about 135 euro. Ranging from 750 euro (Exceeding limit by between 20 - 40 km/h), to 1,500 euro (50 km/h more than limit).

2004 - Penalties have increased substantially and are being enforced more vigourously - be careful. (90% of drivers stopped recently outside Calais on the autoroute were English.)

bonehead · 23rd September 2006, 14:10

Wow. Pretty steep. Not an easy situation. But I would look at it this way. Is this kid repeatedly getting himself into trouble with this car? Is he a good kid in general or a big trouble maker? If a lesson is in order to knock some sense into him, maybe this is the perfect opportunity to do so (and save yourself $2000). Of course, he is family, so it would be very difficult to just leave him high and dry.....okay, I don't know what I'd do. Good luck. Let us know what happens.

andrewsherman · 23rd September 2006, 14:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwbonehead

Wow. Pretty steep. Not an easy situation. But I would look at it this way. Is this kid repeatedly getting himself into trouble with this car? Is he a good kid in general or a big trouble maker? If a lesson is in order to knock some sense into him, maybe this is the perfect opportunity to do so (and save yourself $2000). Of course, he is family, so it would be very difficult to just leave him high and dry.....okay, I don't know what I'd do. Good luck. Let us know what happens.

Bonehead's reply is spot on. Without knowing a lot more about your cousin, his history, your realtionship with him, how honest/reliable he is, etc., it would be really difficult for us to give you good advice.

trol · 23rd September 2006, 14:33

I agree fully with the sentiment above, I have been called on similar circumstances by my cousins in past, it transpired that the first one lied about his situation and my relationship with him destroyed in the process (he still thinks its because he still owes me the money). Unfortunately for the second guy, which I trusted a bit more, this episode meant I excused myself out of helping him out in a deal that went south (and that I rightfully thought was unsalvagable), but my relationship with him still intact. So it all depends on your level of trust, circumstances and your willingness to forget the money (atleast for a very very long time in the best case).

OT: What is up with the new york/eastcoast crew? up so early on saturday morning? secret to our alleged successes?

andrewsherman · 23rd September 2006, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by trol

OT: What is up with the new york/eastcoast crew? up so early on saturday morning? secret to our alleged successes?

Pure and simple obsessiveness! Actually, this is late for me. I get up at 6:00 during the week so my body clock gets me up relatively early on the weekends as well.

bonehead · 23rd September 2006, 23:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by trol

OT: What is up with the new york/eastcoast crew? up so early on saturday morning? secret to our alleged successes?

Had to get my new wheels mounted! And I had to go to work

Danish-M · 24th September 2006, 07:29

France is cracking down hard on Brits speeding on their roads these days.
He probably has to just pay up.
What car was he driving?