Record number of driving fines in France confirmed in latest official report
43 million fines for driving offences were recorded, a rise of 500,000 year-on-year
Overall, half a million more driving and parking fines were issued in France in 2023 compared to 2022
Ajdin Kamber/Shutterstock
Fines for driving offences reached record highs in 2023, with 43 million issued, show the latest figures from the national infractions authority.
The latest annual report from the Agence nationale de traitement des infractions (ANTAI) shows figures for the most recent full year available (2023). It shows that in 2023, there were 43 million fines issued, compared with 42.5 million in 2022.
It found that the record figures were due to:
The increasingly-widespread use of electronic fines
The increased use of forfaits post-stationnement (FPS, parking fines after the event for unpaid charges), as well as the increase in the number of amendes forfaitaires délictuelles (AFD, more serious driving offences).
In contrast, while speed cameras still recorded more than 24.6 million offences, this was a 3.7% year-on-year decrease.
Automatic parking fines soar
Automatic parking fines contributed to considerably more recorded infractions, the report found. These types of fines have been rising since some street (and local car park) parking became the responsibility of local authorities in 2018.
The number of infraction notices from these sources rose by 6.6% in 2023, the report shows, up from 12.9 million in 2022. In 2018, the figure was lower than 2.5 million.
Automatic mobile terminals recorded 13.5 million offences, and 359 more local authorities adopted electronic ticketing.
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More serious offences
There were also 357,000 amendes forfaitaires délictuelles. AFDs were created in 2018 to relieve the pressure on the French courts, and punish offences such as driving without a licence or insurance, or driving while under the influence of drugs.
The issuing of AFDs increased by 24% in 2023 compared with 2022, with the offences of driving without insurance and driving under the influence of drugs making up 85.6% of AFDs (up 23.8% and 13.1% respectively year-on-year).
“The increase in the number of AFDs for criminal offences demonstrates, if proof were still needed, of the value of ANTAI's contribution to improving the effectiveness and quality of public action in the area of safety,” said Laurent Fiscus, prefect and ANTAI director, in the report.
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The figures also show that parking and driving fines are becoming overwhelmingly digital; three-quarters of payments are done digitally in 2023, and 76.2% of driving fine disputes were made online.
