A Paris lawyer specialising in drivers’ rights has created an app to streamline the process of challenging speeding fines.
The Flash Radar app, launched on May 29 by lawyer Eric de Caumont, allows users to upload a photo of their speeding fine, which the company’s legal team then challenges for a flat €57 fee.
The app uses artificial intelligence technology to transform a simple photograph of the fine into a document that the company can use to challenge the fine.
Me Caumont’s firm says that most fines are dropped after this initial challenge since the photographic evidence supporting it cannot clearly identify the driver.
“Without arrest by the police, without denunciation from your employer, and without a photo that would allow you to be identified (in 98% of photographs they cannot formally determine who the driver is), you can keep your licence points,” the company states on its website.
In France drivers begin with a set number of points and then can lose them in varying amounts if they commit motoring offences.
Similar services are already available. Indeed, anyone can contact a law firm directly and ask them to help challenge a fine. However, this can cost between €200 and €500, rather than the €57 flat fee of the new app.
Few fines challenged
Since January, speeding offences of up to 5km/h over the limit no longer incur a points deduction.
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However, these offences are still subject to a fine, which can rise to €135, depending on the road.
Nonetheless, only 2% of speeding fines are challenged despite the well-publicised shortcomings of many speed-cameras, which are reportedly inaccurate to within 5 km/h.
Indeed, driving fines generated more income than ever before in France in 2023 with a record €2bn paid to the state, half of which came due to automatic speed cameras, according to a report by France's national auditor, the Cour des Comptes.
Notwithstanding, Me Caumont says he has successfully contested 30,000 deducted points in his 40-year career.
“Money should not be a reason to give up your rights” Me Caumont told Le Parisien “Mr Darmanin removed the points deduction up to 4 km/h in January, we will take care of it above 5 km/h.”
The app, available on Android and Apple, was downloaded 1,000 times on its day of launch.
