France’s private speed camera cars: Where are they, who drives them?
There are currently around 225 private vehicles covering eight departments and operated by several companies
France’s privately operated speed camera cars are gradually being rolled out across the country
sdecoret / Shutterstock
Private speed camera car numbers are on the rise in France, with 250 expected to be in operation by the end of the year.
The cars currently operate in Grand-Est, Normandy, Brittany, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Pays-de-la-Loire, Centre-Val-de-Loire and Hauts-de-France.
In 2022, these speed detection vehicles will also be introduced to roads in Ile-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Occitanie, meaning that they will be present in all 12 regions of mainland France (excluding Corsica).
In these departments, infractions will not be punished until 2023, but elsewhere, motorists are already being penalised, with the prefecture of Deux-Sèvres, for example, reporting an average of 322 fines being handed out each month.
Read more:Are there any clues to identify private speed camera cars in France?
Across France there are currently 202 police-operated and 225 privately operated speed camera cars, according to Auto Plus.
There are several companies which recruit drivers for these vehicles: Mobiom, GSR, OTI France, Ineo Infracom and Securitas.
Mobiom – a subsidiary of the Challancin group – operates across Grand-Est, Normandy and Brittany.
GSR has 65 cars covering Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Centre-Val-de-Loire and OTI France has 43 vehicles in Bourgogne-France-Comté and Pays-de-la-Loire.
Finally Ineo Infracom, a subsidiary of Engie-Solution, and Securitas cover Hauts-de-France with 33 vehicles.
Eventually, the whole of France’s speed camera vehicle fleet will be privatised.
These companies generally offer €22,000 gross per year. Employees must be prepared to work nights, weekends and public holidays but will only generally be required to drive for five-and-a-half hours each day.
Drivers must have at least 10 points on their French driving licence, as well as a clean criminal record and a “rigorous” attitude towards the job.
Candidates must have three years’ of driving experience and would ideally have a background in the field – perhaps as a driving instructor. However, they do not need to have worked in law enforcement.
The route that independent drivers follow is determined in advance by the local police force, and authorised by the prefecture. There are no bonuses given related to the number of fines issued either to the private firm or the driver internally.
Related articles
Private speed camera cars to be expanded across France
France set to send out millions more driving fines after Covid lull
