Breathalyser's in France

[fireblake]

Did the law come in?  On the boat and just wondered? 

[BIG MAC]

Yes and you need two which are NF approved...so off to the boat shop with you young man...PS if you risk it they are much cheaper in a French Supermarket

[fireblake]

Thanks Big Mac. Appreciated

[slimwilly]

Last i heard was the law was abolished,,not sure now myself,,,put that beer down now !!!!

[lew600fazer]

Err on the side of caution they are only a £5.00, better that than a €60 spot fine.

[richfzs]

You're supposed to have them - but there is no penalty for not doing. So what the point is, I dunno. Haven't decided whether I'll bother or not, next time I go to France (don't have to decide till June )

[sadlonelygit]

firstly, i'm a coach driver who goes over the water a fair bit
secondly, if you bought breathalysers, you've just wasted your money.
as has been mentioned, it is law to carry 2, however there is no financial penalty if you don't.............great laws the french!!
you only need hi vis if you're going on the motorway, you must have FA kit and spare bulbs.
obviously you need ALL your docs with you at all times (don't leave the scooter docs in the motorhome )

[BIG MAC]

If you have bought breathalysers and the Police/ Gendarmes ask you to use them then they can support your assertion that you are not over the limit and they might let you go. If you haven't and they are in the mood you will spend a feck of a long time with them deciding which rule book they want to read before spoiling your day. The French have a simple view and that is 'It's our Country and our rules' if you want to take them on be my guest...you will lose. And last time I looked there was no exemption for Coach drivers or Clarksons

[taylor]

a coach driver from my town was drinking on the bus, the people on it phoned the police, he never told anyone in the club why he was layed off, what a nob lovely bloke as well. alex named and shamed.

[midden]

The way i understand the having two is one should be used before starting your journey and kept as evidence and the second is incase stopped by the police

[sadlonelygit]

And last time I looked there was no exemption for Coach drivers or Clarksons

it's my job to know the law in the country i'm driving in, and the facts are there is no penalty for not having the breathalysers.
by the time les flics have been through my waybill, attestations, 28 days of tachos, vehicle documentation an extra 5 mins wait makes no difference to me.

[BIG MAC]

And last time I looked there was no exemption for Coach drivers or Clarksons

it's my job to know the law in the country i'm driving in, and the facts are there is no penalty for not having the breathalysers.
by the time les flics have been through my waybill, attestations, 28 days of tachos, vehicle documentation an extra 5 mins wait makes no difference to me.

The OP wasn't about how cavalier the coach driver is but rather is one required to have the breathalysers..If you were that gobby with the Gendarmes then your tyres, loading, headlamp aim and the size of your ringpiece could all contribute to the case they have on you.
In reality what you would do is say "Oius Officer je suis desolate! ici est mon breathalyser".
Of course if that isn't the case then your employers would likely be interested at your flouting the law. You say it's your job to know them? If found in breach of this particular law would your employer's insurers avoid a claim by voiding the policy? For the sake of a fiver every now and then I shall be carrying them..and advising others to do the same..and that's where we came in.

[lew600fazer]

Found this on the AA site,

Breathalysers 1 March 2012 - the French government confirmed that from 1 July 2012 drivers of all motor vehicles and motorcycles (excluding mopeds) must carry a breathalyser. The regulation will be enforced from 1 November 2012 and anyone stopped after that date who fails to produce a breathalyser when requested will receive an on the spot fine of €11.
October 2012 - the French government announced that the implementation of the sanction for drivers not carrying a breathalyser – a fine of €11 – has been postponed from 1 November 2012 to 1 March 2013.
January 2013 - the French government announced that the implementation of the sanction for drivers not carrying a breathalyser – a fine of €11 – has been postponed indefinitely.
So theoretically you are still required to carry a self-test breathalyser when driving in France but there is no current legislation demanding a fine for non-compliance.
The original official announcement stated that one unused, certified breathalyser must be produced showing the French certification mark NF. Carrying two single-use breathalysers will ensure that if one is used or damaged, you will still have a spare to produce. The breathalyser produced has to be in date - single-use breathalysers normally have a validity of twelve months.

[sadlonelygit]

Of course if that isn't the case then your employers would likely be interested at your flouting the law. You say it's your job to know them? If found in breach of this particular law would your employer's insurers avoid a claim by voiding the policy? For the sake of a fiver every now and then I shall be carrying them..and advising others to do the same..and that's where we came in.

my employer doesn't carry them either............as for insurance, it would only matter if i was under the influence.
i've tried looking at your opinion but ...............

fyi, been boarded a few times, never been asked for a breathalyser yet!

[BIG MAC]

Lovely self portrait may explain your inability to understand rules. As an ex loss adjuster let me tell you this..you are either fully in compliance with the law or you aren't..no matter how silly the law..or your opinion of it. Guys like you are what repudiation departments are all about.

[BBROWN1664]

sad git, the law says they are needed. The fact there is no fine for not having them does not make not having them legal.

In my car I have some for trips over the water, well over a year old but I'm not buying any more till they start fining people. In the van and on the bike, I don't bother carrying them at the moment.

[fireblake]

We had a great time on St Malo. Luckily the town is only a short distance from the ferry port,  but we had a little drive to Dinan (Christo's home town) Anyway I also forgot my Hi viz and spare bulbs too.  What a silly foccer.  I have all this stuff in my car but we went in my wife's car which has nothing,  not even a spare tyre.

[BBROWN1664]

Been there and done that before (leaving all the kit in the other car not St Malo)

[bigralphie]

Dinan (Christo's home town)

Please tell me there is a statue 

[sadlonelygit]

Lovely self portrait may explain your inability to understand rules.
just trying to see it from your point of view. i understand the rules perfectly. we want you to carry 2 of these but will do nothing if you don't........fact
 As an ex loss adjuster let me tell you this.......
so you are an ex box ticking professional swindler who hides behind small print.......explains a lot

your opinions are worth foc-all, the facts negate them............and the OP question was moote as he didn't have spare bulbs so would have been fined anyway.......go figure.

[BIG MAC]

Lovely self portrait may explain your inability to understand rules.
just trying to see it from your point of view. i understand the rules perfectly. we want you to carry 2 of these but will do nothing if you don't........fact
 As an ex loss adjuster let me tell you this.......
so you are an ex box ticking professional swindler who hides behind small print.......explains a lot

your opinions are worth foc-all, the facts negate them............and the OP question was moote as he didn't have spare bulbs so would have been fined anyway.......go figure.

I presume English not to be your first language. The facts are what I have cited throughout. Your GCSE yorkie eating doesn't equip you to comprehend the rules and the potential ramifications of flouting them is neither relevant or helpful to the OP but possibly part of your therapy?

[locksmith]

One of you has to let it go