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i have just finished reading the reports on the french saying it is illegal to use speed camara checks on your sat nav. I have tom tom on my phone with speed camera warning should i remove this before travelling as i am unsure of the actual french law.

can anybody help?

also if i leave this on my phone how will the police know that i have it?

Pre loaded warnings are ok.

Its the camera detectors that are illegal in France

Road angel for example

Quote: Originally posted by buckybooth on 21/6/2006

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i have just finished reading the reports on the french saying it is illegal to use speed camara checks on your sat nav. I have tom tom on my phone with speed camera warning should i remove this before travelling as i am unsure of the actual french law.

can anybody help?

also if i leave this on my phone how will the police know that i have it?

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I can tell you what some max fines are, courtesy of a French resident who posts elsewhere:

Drink/drugs driving - 3,500 euros, 3 year ban, 2 years prison
Hit and run - 60,000 euros, 5 year ban, 4 years prison
Persistent speeding - 3,750 euros, 3 year ban, up to 3 months prison
Use of a radar detector - 1,500 euros, 3 year ban, device + car confiscated
Failure to stop/give way - 135 euros, 3 year ban, 4 points
etc, etc

I can also tell you that in Paris a friend slightly overshot the line.  The policeman on a box in the middle of the road (it was a crossroads) blew his whistle and indicated for my driver colleague to move back.  The driver ignored the policeman ..... who then got extremely stroppy, undid his holster and walked to us with his hand on his pistol. It might not pay to wind up a French copper!  :-)

As far as finding out whether you have anything illegal (in France) loaded on your phone, if they want to be difficult they can be, so it generally pays to just agree and get on your way.  I was stopped some years ago and customs officers checked all my personal possesions including any papers in my wallet or the glove compartment as they were looking for lists to see if I had bought things for other people.  My goodness were they thorough!

Likewise you need to be able to pay fines on the spot otherwise you may incur a massive increase in the fine ....... I believe a €60 fine might be increased by up to €750 if what I've read elsewhere is correct - somebody on here will know for sure.

Tomtom is a map, with camera locations marked on it, so is legal - it also can't tell you about any mobile cameras.

I have a 100% failsafe way of never getting caught by a speed camera, and it costs me no money.   You can guess what it is....

stick to the speed limit

phil