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Gendarmes

Terrorv

Member
Joined
17 Jul 2016
Messages
12
Hi I do not know if this is widely known but I was not aware of it so I thought I would.post a warning. Today on my return to Calais from an amazing European trip in my 911 I was pulled over by the Gendarmeson a motorbike.It was about 50 miles.south of Calais heading north on the autoroute. Roughly 1km before the bethune turn off. I got clocked doing 150km in a 130km limit and.was fined.€45. As we were on the way home and had no cash we had to got to a nearby cash point to draw out some.money.as.they did.not accept cards. The interesting thing was there were several cars that had been pulled over and everyone of them had British plates. Read in to that what you will! I have never been pulled over by the police in 20 years of driving but rules are rules I guess. The officer did not even tell me.off just asked for €45. Seems like.a tourist tax to me. 😈
 
I got pulled off one on a bike down near Toulon. Had no cash on me so demanded I drive to the local cash machine and pay him the money. I just told him all I had on me was my (english) cheque book and could I write him a cheque. He just bollocked me and sent me on my way.
 
Mangetout, Rodney.... Mangetout!
 
The same story has been common for years. The only solution is simply not to stray anything much above whatever speed the prevailing local traffic is doing. Pretty much everywhere else that sets up traps with on the spot fines (such as Belgium) will take cards these days, but I've yet to hear of the Gendarmerie taking anything but cash?
 
My rule of thumb is to stick to the limits within 100 miles of Calais on the return run. That's always where you run the highest risk of getting caught. Of course I cannot comment on what the Gendarme does with all the cash he collects, did you get a receipt?. No, thought not. :D
 
I got caught by two motor cycle police using a speed gun and they were hidden in trees ......... I think I was 45kph over the limit and they showed me the reading ....... cost me 85 euros if I remember correctly and it was just before Sunday lunch time ....... I did say to them perhaps they should be enjoying lunch instead of nicking tourists ....... but they said I was the first Brit that they had caught that day ....... lol.

p.s. ....... yes I was speeding in a 90kph zone so it was mu own stupid fault as I was getting near Calais which is renown for speed traps and fines.

p.p.s. I did get a receipt
 
Years ago we went 'touring' on our bikes. Fuelled by stories from older lads me and some mates did europe on a GPZ900, a GSXR1100, a VF750, GPZ1100.
On the road to LeMans we were stopped by a roadblock, we had eurocheques and gave them over as payment, then rode to the next town (Alencon) and reported that our tents had been robbed that morning and all our eurocheques stolen.
 
I've been stopped a few times over the years in France and always had to pay cash, usually €100. Been marched to the cash point a couple of times as well whilst trying and failing to plead poverty.

I was stopped about 10years ago on a rally in Spain and that one cost £500!

I have heard recently that the Gendarme now impound cars that are caught doing over 100mph (160kph), don't know how true that is but don't really want to find out!
 
Terrorv said:
Hi I do not know if this is widely known but I was not aware of it so I thought I would.post a warning. Today on my return to Calais from an amazing European trip in my 911 I was pulled over by the Gendarmeson a motorbike.It was about 50 miles.south of Calais heading north on the autoroute. Roughly 1km before the bethune turn off. I got clocked doing 150km in a 130km limit and.was fined.€45. As we were on the way home and had no cash we had to got to a nearby cash point to draw out some.money.as.they did.not accept cards. The interesting thing was there were several cars that had been pulled over and everyone of them had British plates. Read in to that what you will! I have never been pulled over by the police in 20 years of driving but rules are rules I guess. The officer did not even tell me.off just asked for €45. Seems like.a tourist tax to me. 😈

It's not just Calais, its most of the ports where the English are heading to get home. Last year we were stopped in a similar manner on the Caen ring road, where apparently the speed limit changes for about 200 meters to a lower one. Lots of motorcycle mounted Gendarmes pulling over GB registered cars and demanding €135 in cash!
 
Happened to me on the Saturday just after New Year this year. I was in heavy traffic on the inside lane just following along as the outside was travelling at the same speed.
Had 2 motorbikes 'escort' us off the motorway. EUR90 fine for 'apparently' 160KPH. This would have been absolutely impossible in the heavy traffic so I argued like crazy in as much French as I could muster! :frustrated: As I drive more miles in France than I do in the UK each year, I have seen so many cars being pulled over between Calais and Reims, I do keep my speed down in that area

No photographic evidence and they said I was the "ONLY 4X4 with a yellow number plate on the back" :nooo: As 90% of the cars on the road with us were UK registered 4X4's this was total BS.
During the 20 mins or so this was all taking place, a Touareg and RRS were also pulled in for 'apparently' 160KPH and they were told they were each told that they were the only 4X4 with a yellow rear number plate on it....Monsieur le gendarme went bonkers when I wrote 'non-accepte' across the receipt :grin:

Still, it's not the end of the world TBH; the quality of their roads and relative lack of traffic are a million times better than ours so with a bit of man-maths means it's like an extra peage toll :puh:
 

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