Gendarmes and Fines

[hombre]

I am sure we all know that the Gendarmes (France) are a pain in the nether regions and seem hellbent on fining you for anything and everything.

However can they legally fine you for an hours (extremely minor 7 minutes over driving time looking for somewhere to park) offence committed in another country? The offence was committed in Spain but the French fined the driver!!

This wasnt me, but Im sure we have all been in a similair position before and will be again.

[brit_pete]

YES; as it is a offence to do with drivers hours,
and the FRENCH just like to take money off
drivers,did the driver write on the back of his
disk or the print out from the drivers card ,THE
reason for haveing to go over the driveing time
also did he write it in french,i have seen a list of
about 5-6 languages all saying that due to not
being able to park safely thedriveing time had
been exceeded,The problem is that they can
then say why did you not stop before your time
run out,so it is better not to either break the law
or get caught.

I HAVE BEEN DONE IN belgium €750 for forgetting
two letters on a CMR everything else was in order
i asked a germanpolice man what it would cost in
germany,the answer was as follows either a slap on
the wrist or €30-40 ,when ecvery thing else was okay.

[spardo]

Just as in any country it depends on the particular gendarme and what mood he’s in. But in France in particular they are very sensitive about not trying to speak the language.
I have on more than one occasion been stopped for a minor infringement and been told to get on my way and not do it again.
A ministry man even let me off not having an FCOS certificate one year after his first warning, ignored by me because I didn’t understand what he was on about.

[jessicas_dad]

try argueing the toss and lets us know how far you get.

[harry_monk]

Spardo:
Just as in any country it depends on the particular gendarme and what mood he’s in. But in France in particular they are very sensitive about not trying to speak the language.
:

The simple phrase “Aah, pardon Monsieur. Mon erreur. Mais voulez vous un café?” must have saved me a mint over the years…

[wheel_nut]

I doubt anyone has been fined for anything by the Gendarmes.

You may have been charged 900ff or 90 Euros MONSEWER which is a bond to ensure you attend court. Surprisingly enough, if you do attend court you may find the fine is 900ff or 90 euros.

It also happens in Spain, Germany, Poland and Albania

[harry]

When pulled by the flic I rabbit on for hours ( in French)about all the boring subjects in the world. After a while they make their excuses & leave,unless its something that has really got,em excited.Spanish the same.But not the cherry pickers.Gemans ,you are either right or wrong. Swiss you are usually wrong. Italians, ditto.Austrians look fierce but they will let you explain.I have been lucky with Benelux.Moroc´s have got greedier & greedier. Cor,could write a book abaht it ,mate.See,even you are bored now & trying to leave!

[rob_k]

harry:
When pulled by the flic I rabbit on for hours ( in French)about all the boring subjects in the world. After a while they make their excuses & leave,unless its something that has really got,em excited.Spanish the same.But not the cherry pickers.Gemans ,you are either right or wrong. Swiss you are usually wrong. Italians, ditto.Austrians look fierce but they will let you explain.I have been lucky with Benelux.Moroc´s have got greedier & greedier. Cor,could write a book abaht it ,mate.See,even you are bored now & trying to leave!

Funny.

[rob_k]

Harry Monk:
The simple phrase “Aah, pardon Monsieur. Mon erreur. Mais voulez vous un café?” must have saved me a mint over the years…

What does the highlighted bit translate as?

[spardo]

But do you want a coffee?

[rob_k]

Spardo:
But do you want a coffee?

Ah excuse me Sir, my error, but do you want a coffee?

Hmm yeah right. I can see that working… He’d probably look at you strangely and then ask you to breath into an alcohol meter.

[brit_pete]

ROB K YOU USED TO get give the guy at
the docksin France, when doing the papers a little
thank you,because if you did not,then you only
had no end of problems, and also when onthe
roads it was normal to place coffe money with
the papers, Italy was another place,also on certain
parts of the german autobahn many many years ago
the fridges drivers gave out joints of meat and the
beer wagons a drink, this was before they all got
caught and it is now very very rare to find large
amounts of european police takeing coffe money,
but it does still happen,albeit veryrarely.

[harry]

If your tacho was way out in France it used to be a Cafe Cognac!

[harry_monk]

Rob K:
Ah excuse me Sir, my error, but do you want a coffee?

Hmm yeah right. I can see that working… He’d probably look at you strangely and then ask you to breath into an alcohol meter.

It’s funny how someone who has never done a continental trip knows so much more about it than all of the people on this forum who have spent years doing it…

[kerbut]

I think the Customs man at La Jonqura made a fortune out of drivers when we all went in with Carnet de passage,permit and CMR,s and in between the papers 10ff which accidently fell into a half opened draw in his desk.

[biggusdickusgb]

i was going to mention grand cafe and petit cafe but seeing as rob knows it all, i must have dreamt it

[wheel_nut]

biggusdickusgb:
i was going to mention grand cafe and petit cafe but seeing as rob knows it all, i must have dreamt it

Whats the difference? I dont see where Rob K said he knew it all. just him asking what the highlighted bit meant

[spardo]

Yes Malc, but then he said:

Rob K:
[

Hmm yeah right. I can see that working… He’d probably look at you strangely and then ask you to breath into an alcohol meter.

[harry_monk]

Let me try to clarify things Rob.

Police officers in France typically supplement their income by taking small sums of money from truck drivers when the latter have broken the law in some way- although, as has been pointed out, this practice is less common than it used to be.

This system benefits everyone. The police officer supplements his low income with some cash, which will perhaps buy a treat for his children. As for the truck driver, well what would you prefer if caught speeding?

a) A £60 fine, an endorsement, higher car insurance for the next three years as would happen if caught in the UK, or

b) a discreetly handed over £10 (or equivalent) note, and then off you go.

Of course, it’s a no-brainer. Especially as the boss pays anyway.

But the thing is, you can NEVER actually use the word “bribe” when talking to a police officer. Blimey, that is a very serious offence.

So you do your negotiations, skating ever closer to the crux of the matter, and then one or other of you cuts to the chase, using the universally recognised euphemism to denote a desire to enter into a non-bureaucratic method of atoning for the transgression.

Coffee?

[vascoingles]

Harry Monk:
So you do your negotiations, skating ever closer to the crux of the matter, and then one or other of you cuts to the chase, using the universally recognised euphemism to denote a desire to enter into a non-bureaucratic method of atoning for the transgression.

Coffee?

Ah the art of diplomacy a very useful weapon to have when negotiating the european road system

The Gendarmes are not that bad really (did I really say that ?) a lot depends on how the driver reacts when stopped, opening the door and showering him with a load of F words is not going to endear him to you in the slightest whereas stopping the engine, getting out and shaking his hand whilst uttering bonjour can do wonders for alleviating the situation. Yes I know this sounds like creeping but when it ensures that the euros stay in your wallet and do not end up in his then it is worth it.