French president issues social media response on fines for using phones at toll booths

French President Emmanuel Macron has thanked a social media user for posting about receiving a fine for paying with their smartphone at a motorway toll booth, and issued a video on social media in response stating he will update the law.

A young driver posted on video-sharing app Tik Tok about how they received a fine for using their mobile phone whilst driving when they used Apple Pay to pass through a motorway toll.

They were fined for using a smartphone whilst driving – illegal under French road safety laws. This is despite some motorway operators promoting smartphone-based payment methods such as Apple Pay.

The post – as well as other similar videos about the same issue – went viral on social media, leading to various news outlets including The Connexion covering the story and the legality of using a mobile phone to pay at a motorway toll booth.

Read more: Can drivers be fined for using their phone to pay at tolls in France?

News of the incident reached the president who responded by posting his own video on the app.

“Hello, I have just seen [your post], you are right,” said the president in his video filmed at the Elysée palace. 

“I think that in 2025 people should be able to pay tolls using their mobile phones. I have passed the issue onto the Interior Minister and we are going to sort it out collectively. Thanks for the alert!” he added. 

You can see his video below. 

It is currently unclear what will be done to legalise the use of a mobile phone at toll booths, but it is likely to include an update to the Code de la route (French road safety laws).

One recent change to the laws allows motorcycles to legally ride between lanes during traffic under certain conditions.

Read more: Riding between lanes now legal for all motorcyclists in France – under certain conditions