Road check operation in south-west France: what are rules if stopped?

Law enforcement officers in the south-west of France conducted another mass roadside testing operation this week, stopping more than 100 drivers.

Dozens of gendarmerie officers were joined by sniffer dogs and a helicopter equipped with a thermal camera to conduct checks on drivers near Bergerac (Dordogne) on Tuesday (January 21), between 10:00 and 13:00.

During the operation, eight infractions were recorded: two for possession of illegal drugs, two for failure to have a valid contrôle technique (roadworthiness test), and four for failing to stop at a stop sign. 

Officers in the department conducted a similar operation in the Montpon-Ménestérol area last month, after a report from the Interior Ministry found drug use in the department had increased 9% over a one-year period.

What to do if you are stopped? 

These roadside checks can be carried out at random or, in the case above, as part of a wider operation to target a specific issue or on specific areas of the road where more accidents happen. 

If you are asked by officers at a roadside check to pull over, you should always follow their requests. Being asked to pull over does not mean the police are suspicious of you, it may just be because they are stopping as many vehicles as possible. 

On Tuesday for example, 134 vehicles were stopped.

The officers will ask you to show your driving licence, in physical format or for those who can via the France Identité or Mes Points Permis applications, as well as your vehicle registration (certificat d’immatriculation, commonly called carte grise).

Read more: Drivers can now get proof of driving licence online in France

Officers no longer need to ask for proof of vehicle insurance, as this information is held in an online database police have access to. 

Read more: How do I prove my car is insured now France no longer issues stickers?

They may also ask to check that your vehicle complies with the rules of the Code de la route (checking your lights work, tyres are not flat, etc). 

If you fail to show any of the documents you may be fined and will need to go to a local police or gendarmerie office within five days to prove you have them, or risk further penalties. 

Failure to comply with officer requests during roadside checks can lead to six points being taken off your licence and a fine of €3,750, as well as up to three months imprisonment. 

A suspension of your licence is also possible.

Read more: Record rise in driving fines in France: what offences and how caught