France and helmet reflective stickers

[Whysub]

I know that in Spain you must be able to access your hi-viz from where you are sat. So no good if it's in your top box or boot of your car.

Few weeks ago I received a €147 fine through the post for speeding past a speed camera in Italy last June. My mate, who was riding alongside me at the time, never got one. Guess which one of us was riding a UK registered bike?

[Alan PBTD]

Jumping on this thread - but it is about France - anyone shed any light on the ''pollution sticker'' situation - think it's called ''Crit Air''

Not going anywhere near Paris but by September we could be hitting it in some towns / cities

Cheers

[KungFooBob]

I bought a crit air sticker for my trip last year. IIRC it cost me less than £6 delivered to the UK. It didn't arrive in time for the trip, but apparently the emailed invoice is as good as a sticker.

I just applied on the Fronch website, there was an English option. I had to send a scanned image of the V5.

...and make sure you use the official site, not a 3rd party site that adds on a not needed commission/scam.

[Alan PBTD]

I bought a crit air sticker for my trip last year. IIRC it cost me less than £6 delivered to the UK. It didn't arrive in time for the trip, but apparently the emailed invoice is as good as a sticker.

I just applied on the Fronch website, there was an English option. I had to send a scanned image of the V5.

...and make sure you use the official site, not a 3rd party site that adds on a not needed commission/scam.

Cheers ta - knew someone would know better than me. Although we're doing Dieppe / Rouen / Bayeux / Renne and St Malo they'll probably all be at it by the time we get there.

[Demannu]

Rouen......ding ding ding

I think I put a link on your/someones thread in touring section to the official site.

[Alan PBTD]

https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/ ??

[dern]

The crit was only a fiver and doesn’t seem to expire so I stuck one on the bike just in case I had time for a detour that required it.

[dern]

https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/ ??

That’s where I got mine from.

[Count Steer]

Even the French don't fit them.

I expect that the PoPo wouldn't pull you just for not having stickers, but if they pulled you for something else and they were in the mood they would do you for the stickers too.

Also, don't forget to turn the speed camera warnings off on your satnag.

There was a report a couple of years back that les Flicks were sat outside Caen harbour stopping all the British riders as they came off the ferry.

......

Don't forget you also need CE-approved gloves in France.

Funny really, my abiding memories of French bike cops in the summer are: mirror shades, short sleeved, blue shirt and NO gloves.

[Noggin]

Even the French don't fit them.

I expect that the PoPo wouldn't pull you just for not having stickers, but if they pulled you for something else and they were in the mood they would do you for the stickers too.

Also, don't forget to turn the speed camera warnings off on your satnag.

There was a report a couple of years back that les Flicks were sat outside Caen harbour stopping all the British riders as they came off the ferry.

......

Don't forget you also need CE-approved gloves in France.

Funny really, my abiding memories of French bike cops in the summer are: mirror shades, short sleeved, blue shirt and NO gloves.

Given the health and social security system here, I'd guess they got fed up with supporting people unable to work due to smashed up/disabled hands after a bike accident that they made it a requirement?

[DefTrap]

I'm not saying it never happens but in all the years I've lived / ridden / driven in France, le plod haven't once asked me for any of the myriad of things you're meant to have. Never once checked any his-vis, no warning triangle, no first aid kit, no extinguisher. Certainly not checking CE marks or stickers. They could've spent ages on my rat bike (certainly 'safe' but arguably not legal in numerous ways) but they were rather more amused by it and me.

However there are dead keen on speeding, breath testing, documents, tyres.

[Count Steer]

There was a report a couple of years back that les Flicks were sat outside Caen harbour stopping all the British riders as they came off the ferry.

......

Don't forget you also need CE-approved gloves in France.

Funny really, my abiding memories of French bike cops in the summer are: mirror shades, short sleeved, blue shirt and NO gloves.

Given the health and social security system here, I'd guess they got fed up with supporting people unable to work due to smashed up/disabled hands after a bike accident that they made it a requirement?

Possibly. I do know that once you got over the they did look very cool

I seem to remember them swarming about during the Tour doing the usual stuff of scratching around bends, one bare hand on the throttle, one pointing a finger at some miscreant...but basically going 'Mon Dieu, je suis Joe Cool'.

[DefTrap]

And I'm convinced the self-breath-test things aren't a requirement any more

[The Spin Doctor]

I'm not saying it never happens but in all the years I've lived / ridden / driven in France, le plod haven't once asked me for any of the myriad of things you're meant to have. Never once checked any his-vis, no warning triangle, no first aid kit, no extinguisher. Certainly not checking CE marks or stickers. They could've spent ages on my rat bike (certainly 'safe' but arguably not legal in numerous ways) but they were rather more amused by it and me.

However there are dead keen on speeding, breath testing, documents, tyres.

I got a long bollocking for having no GB plate on one of the few occasions I've been stopped.

I also got a long bollocking for not having the vehicle registration document on another occasion but that was down at a checkpoint near the Paul Rock-hard when the Bol was on.

[dern]

Done 500km in France today and not seen a single police man or car.

[Rockburner]

Done 500km in France today and not seen a single police man or car.

I bet they saw you....

[dern]

Done 500km in France today and not seen a single police man or car.

I bet they saw you....

Probably heard me. I forgot how loud this ktm is.

[ninja]

I go to France a lot. Usually four or five times a year. Sometimes I ride, sometimes I tow a bike on a trailer.
I have Crit Air for the car and one of my bikes. I've never been asked about it.
I carry hi viz vests, spare bulbs (for the non led lights), insurance certificate, V5.
I don't have helmet stickers, breath tests or uk stickers. I've never been asked about them.

I've been catastrophically done for speeding once. I was fined €750 on the spot. They took my driving licence and wouldn't give it back. I was banned for 6 months. I had to get someone to ride my bike to Italy so I could get home.

In my experience, they are only interested in your V5, insurance certificate and the contents of your bank account. They don't know what an MOT certificate is. They will tell you to wear gloves and shoes if they catch you in shorts and flip flops.

A lot of France is 80kmh, which is 50 mph, so 110kmh is 68mph and therefore the trigger speed for a big fine and a ban, like I had. Its really not very fast and easy to drift over it.
I like to have my fun but I'm quite selective about where I will do it now.

[DefTrap]

Yeah I've started using GPS just to remind me how ludicrously low the speed limits are. I caved in after the third auto-fine for literally a few kph over ...

[KungFooBob]

Yeah I've started using GPS just to remind me how ludicrously low the speed limits are. I caved in after the third auto-fine for literally a few kph over ...

You need a newer car.

Mine marks the speed limit on the speedo as a red line, using GPS and street sign recognition (in case of temp road works, etc..)

It also shows you a speed sign for the current zone with a 2nd speed sign for what the next zone is on your current road.