As from this year, it becomes obligatory for all vehicles driving to france to carry a breathalyzer or alchol level test. Opinions vary on whether the law comes into force on 30th March, or 1st July
Single use breathalyzers will soon become available in french supermarkets, chemists and garages, at a cost of around 1€ each, so the cost is minimal. Alternatively they can be bought from several companys on amazon, so you have them before heading over to the continent.
Some info i pulled of the web
French Government confirms new law
Translated from the original,
published 1st March 2012
The French government announced officially on Thursday that all cars must carry a single-use breathalyzer kit from November 1st. The move, which has been widely reported for some time, was made official in a decree on February 28th and published on Thursday. The law will be enacted on the 1st July and effective on the 1st November.
“Every driver of a motorised land vehicle, excluding mopeds, must possess an NF Approved digital breathalyzer or unused (and immediately available) NF breathalyzer kit” said the decree, published in the official gazette.
Transport ministry officials said the rule would apply equally to vehicles from outside France. Only vehicles fitted with Breathalyser Interlocks are excluded.
A fine of 11 euros will be charged to any driver not carrying the breathalyzer kits, but police have been told to enforce the regulation only from November 1st. The new law is the latest attempt to reduce France’s road accident rate. Being fined on one occasion does NOT stop a second fine being imposed later in your journey if you have still not purchased an approved kit.
Around 4,000 people died on French roads in 2011, a very slight improvement on the figure for the year before. Drink driving is believed to be responsible for one in three road deaths.
The government hopes having a kit in the car will allow people to test themselves and to give them the means to test others if they suspect they are over the limit. (The legal blood alcohol limit in France is 0.5 grams per litre. versus 0.8 grams per litre in the UK)
Click Here to see an English Translation of the actual Decree
