Fines

Speed camera caught out as driver escapes fine at 179km/h in France

The radar trap’s maintenance report was missing, making its proof invalid

180,000 unpaid fines for no-barrier French motorway section

The system is under strain a year after introduction with the operators setting up a ‘crisis team’ to deal with the backlog

SEE: annual fine levels captured by road radars in France

Fines for actions caught by automatic radars totalled almost €1 billion in 2022

Nice trials video software to fine drivers who block cycle routes

City is testing software that automatically detects vehicles parked on bike paths

Victim of identity theft in France receives over €10,000 in fines

The resident in southern France first received a suspicious fine during lockdown in 2020, and appears no closer to solving the ‘real nightmare’ of a situation

French speed cameras collect €859million in fines in 2021

A driving association claims that 58% of fines relate to speeds less than 5km/h above the limit, accusing the government of simply ‘replenishing its coffers’

French banks to pay fines for late repayment of clients’ fraud losses

A new law will mean customers receiving a small additional sum from banks if they do not immediately reimburse them for money stolen from their accounts

Driving in Europe? These 20 countries send speeding fines to France

France is in discussion to extend this also to the UK via a bilateral agreement

The southwestern French town where dog mess could cost owners €750

Bergerac has introduced ‘the heaviest fine in the country’ to ensure its public spaces are ‘clean and welcoming’

Does law ban dogs from restaurants and cafés?

We went to a café and were told by the owner that there is a law that now prohibits dogs from restaurants (even outside) and anywhere food is being served. If the establishment is found to have allowed dogs in they will be fined €250. Is this true? S.E.

Can you be fined for not signing insurance vignette?

I received an email warning that you can be fined €180 if you have not signed the insurance sticker attached to the inside of the car window. Is this true?

Former French Interior Minister jailed for unpaid debts to the state

Claude Guéant was originally sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay considerable damages in 2017 but has been unable to keep up with the payments due

Do people in France pay their fines and are they enforced?

Figures for 2018 show up to €1billion in missed payments for fines issued in France

French heat pump firm fined €460,000 for home cold calling despite ban

Almatys called hundreds of thousands of households, ignoring a 2020 law which prohibits this practice

Town hall in Vosges to fine drivers without winter tyres this year

Elsewhere, drivers will not receive penalties for non-compliance with the new winter tyre law until winter 2022

France set to send out millions more driving fines after Covid lull

Numbers of fine and point withdrawal letters had dropped due to the pandemic but this is not expected to last. What are the rules for drivers who have foreign licences?

The 10 most expensive cities to park your car in France

City parking rates are rising as local authorities try to reduce car use. We list where to find – or avoid – the highest city parking fees in France

New winter tyre rules take effect on some French roads from November

Vehicles in 48 mountainous departments must be fitted with winter tyres or snow chains between November and March, under a law which aims to improve road safety and avoid hold-ups

France lockdown: Checks step up at airports, stations and motorways

You now require an attestation form showing a 'compelling reason' for travelling more than 10km from home

No more speeding fines in post for UK cars in France

Full Brexit means the exchange of speeding drivers' details has stopped. UK-plated cars topped the list of foreign-plated vehicles flashed in the latest figures available

France Covid curfew: More than 3,000 fines issued by police

More than 19,300 checks have been carried out in total since the curfew which is "being respected" overall

Drivers in France can now contest parking fine before paying

Drivers who receive a parking fine in France are now legally allowed to contest the fine before paying it, in a U-turn on the previous law.

France introduces €200 spot fine for drug use from today

The measure, which has been tested in some French cities since June with over 500 fines issued, is now being rolled out across France.

Number plate ‘cloning’ is on the rise in France

Pay-then-contest parking fines system is ‘Kafkaesque’

The new parking fines system used by many local councils in France has been labelled “Kafkaesque” and “ineffective” by a state official whose role is to stand up for the public’s rights.

Do British drivers get fines for speeding in France?

Does the UK now share driver details with France if a British-registered car is flashed for speeding in France? Does the owner of a British-registered car have to pay if they receive a French fine at their home in the UK? A.M.

Game of drones on France's autoroutes

Police issue a fine every two minutes during two-hour drone operation at an accident blackspot

Gilets jaunes protester fined over illegal demos

Éric Drouet claimed he had 'no role as an organiser or leader' in planned protests on December 22 and January 2

Van driver fined €368 for littering on French road

A driver on a French road has been required to pay €368 after being caught on film throwing fast food packaging out of his van window.

Polluting cruise liner in Marseille fined

A cruise liner captain and his bosses have been fined €100,000 for polluting the air in Marseille by using heavy-sulphur oil.

France fines white goods brands €189m for price fixing

Six major white goods brands, including Electrolux and Whirlpool, have been fined €189 million by French consumer agency la DGCCRF for their role in a secret price-fixing agreement.

Families warned on French bike rules to avoid fines

As summer continues and families take to their bikes for days out, cyclists in France are warned to pay attention to the state of their bikes and rules of the road to avoid fines of up to €375.

Google fined billions for 'abusing Android dominance'

Internet giant to appeal against massive European Commission fine

Radars will flash at 80kph even if signs still say 90

Speed limits change to take place from July 1

Hérault deploys drones to guard against fly tipping

The Hérault department is deploying drones to guard against the growing problem of fly tipping and to protect the biodiversity of the region, with fines of up to €75,000 possible for offenders.

Luncheon voucher use earns boss a warning

Many workers use them for shopping or to pay for meals out

First private speed radar cars hit French streets

Motorists' association launches legal bid to stop roll-out of privatised unmarked cars equipped with speed radar

Towns impose first ever parking fees for motorbikes

Parking your scooter or motorbike on the street is about to cost you for the first time ever, as two towns become the first in France to impose parking fees for two-wheeled vehicles.

Parking fine blitz as numberplate patrols take toll

Change comes now that the system of parking fines was passed to local councils to run – and, often, increase the fines

Town clamps down on litter and fly-tipping

Anyone who leaves bags of rubbish on streets faces fines of €368 in capital of Drôme

More drivers pay for parking as fines rise

260,000 fines were issued during the first month of changes being implemented

Unit for owning up to tax evasion closes

A service allowing tax avoiders to own up and avoid heavier penalties if found out, has closed, having collected €8 billion in tax and penalties

Parking fines set to jump as mairies take over

Local authorities are set to share in a €1billion windfall as they are given the right to set penalties for non-payment of parking tickets

Outcry over book donor litter fine

A literature supporter in Paris who left books in the street for people to read was told to pay a €68 fine for littering.

Higher penalties if you own up to foreign bank accounts

Penalties have been increased for people who own up to having bank accounts abroad that they had not previously declared.

43,000 Britons are fined in UK for speeding in France

More than 43,000 British drivers were caught breaking the law on French roads last year and were sent automatic fines averaging €100.