Breath test kits

Just a reminder, that you will be checked for the above kits, a legal requirement in France, and I am told, that we may be checked as we disembark the ferry in Cherbourg

How many are needed in a truck?

Compulsory two



From January 2012 , it is illegal to hold French speed camera alerts on your satnav device. If you have a camera update subscription with your satnav manufacturer, it will automatically remove French camera data from your device; otherwise you'll have to manually delete the data or risk substantial fines and possibly points on your license and/or confiscation of the equipment. (I'm not sure how the police can check compliance, but that's the situation.) In addition, all advance warning signs are being removed from French roads, so you'll need to be aware of that. (Note also that similar laws are in force in Germany, Switzerland and Ireland.)

The other change is that from 1st July, French law requires to you to carry 2 single-use breath test kits in your car at all times. They are available from a number of outlets in France, including pharmacies, supermarkets and Tabacs, and from the ferry companies. Prices vary from around €1 to €2, and they will need replacing at roughly 2 year intervals. And also note the point at the bottom of this page about the NF logo.








More detail on the camera data ban:

It has always been illegal in France, as well as many other countries, to carry devices which work by detecting radar or infrared beams. All such devices must be removed from the vehicle before entering France. Devices such as satnavs, that simply use Global Positioning by Satellite (GPS) to locate cameras, are still legal in most countries in Europe except for Germany, Switzerland and Ireland, but France has now banned them as well. As stated above, all data relating to speed cameras in those 4 countries must be removed from satnavs.

There are some issues associated with the above changes, at least in France. For example, the Automobile Club de France has supplied the following information to the Caravan Club:

The police cannot force the driver to present his GPS and they cannot get inside the vehicle to direct the driver. They may ask to show them the GPS if it’s removable, but the driver is entitled to refuse without risking a fine.

This begs the question therefore of how the police can possibly enforce the regulation. There's also a question over the use of road atlases which show the location of fixed cameras. It's likely future editions will be prohibited from including the information but it's difficult to see how existing publications could be outlawed. In any case there appear to be ways round the ban. For instance it is suggested that apps on smartphones are unlikely to be affected as the police don't have the right to inspect your mobile phone without the local equivalent of a court order. However it is illegal to hold a mobile phone whilst driving (even if you're not actually making a call) so you'd need to have the phone somewhere where it could alert you without needing to be held.

And apparently satnavs and even old-style GPS radar detectors can still warn of "risk zones", and one presupposes you wouldn't find a fixed radar camera anyway else! It is thought this is the route that will be taken by most manufacturers of GPS-based devices. Radio stations, which previously asked listeners to phone in with details of speed cameras, now ask listeners to phone in "zones de risque" rather than "radars".

Note that in Switzerland, you can be fined for having prohibited data on your device even if the device is switched off and not in use.








More detail on the breath test kit:

From 1st July 2012 all vehicles driving in France, including foreign visitors, must carry at least 2 single-use breath test kits. The idea is that drivers must self-test each time they return to their vehicle after drinking alcohol and must be able to produce an unused kit to the police on request. (Note that if the police require you to provide a sample of breath, they will supply their own kit.)

Kits are available in all pharmacies and probably most supermarkets and Tabacs, and cost around €1 to €2. They are also available from the ferry companies (though you might have to pay more there!) Given the average Frenchman's disdain for authority, it'll be interesting to see how this regulation will be treated but it would be prudent for us Brits to comply.

The police have been asked not to issue fines until November; between July and November they will simply give verbal warnings. However, beware of individual police officers who might choose to ignore that request - get the requisite kit is my advice! One other point - all the kits have 'Use by' dates on them, typically 2 years from manufacture, so you'll need to replace them at the appropriate time.

Finally, whether you buy your kit in France or the UK, make sure it bears the NF logo which indicates that the kit is approved by the French Government. Without that logo you risk a fine regardless of where you bought it or how elaborate it is.

It does say the 1st July for the breath test kits!!

Think that was 1st July 2012

Tony AA has always thought he was younger than he really is.

The main point is that the breathalyzer kits form part of the scrutineering and are a requirement.

The main point is that the breathalyzer kits form part of the scrutineering and are a requirement.
....as is beer for the organisers and pies for the marshalls

Magpie wrote:

The main point is that the breathalyzer kits form part of the scrutineering and are a requirement.
....as is beer for the organisers and pies for the marshalls

Correct as always.
Its nice to know at least one of you 'orrible lot actually understands.

What even us non drinkers need them

Mark Avo wrote:

Magpie wrote:

The main point is that the breathalyzer kits form part of the scrutineering and are a requirement.
....as is beer for the organisers and pies for the marshalls

Correct as always.
Its nice to know at least one of you 'orrible lot actually understands.

Not one of yer 'orrible lot cos we aint goin' this year

And that's the sad thing.

The only one who understands isn't playing this year... Typical

m109a3uk wrote:

What even us non drinkers need them

In stitches here - having just read Tony AA's post. Mind you, and to be fair, the words were correctly spelt and sort of in the right order - so the treatment must be working.