Had a super trip to and French GP this weekend but......

On the return journey, about 90 mins from Calais I was stopped for speeding. 155kph on a 130kph road. I was polite, apologised in the little French I know but the gendarmerie took my licence from me and asked my son to drive and follow to a police station. Kept waiting for a while then told that I had to pay a €750 fine and could not continue to drive in France and confiscated my licence. I asked how I get my licence back they said via the British Consulate.

Fine paid and we were on our way. A 1hr 45min delay and an expensive fine and I was glad to get home last night.

Question.......has anybody experienced this and know how long it takes to get your licence back or if you do get it back at all? I was going to call the DVLA but thought I would check the knowledge and experience of this forum first.

Cheers Current RRS: MY18 SVR
Previous RRS: MY15 RRS 5.0L Autobiography

I was stopped one on way back to the port many years ago but they did not take my license off me but things have changed

Apply for a new one as you have "lost" your old one?  2023 P440e SE Dynamic on order -cancelled

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jimbg,

As a law abiding citizen - in the UK, if not in France

I just called DVLA to check if confiscated licences get returned via them. Chap I spoke to was very helpful and said this year, they have seen a significant increase in calls regarding this but they do not get returned via DVLA or any other government agency. Some people seem to get them returned after a month or so but most don't. He actually suggested I do just what you suggested!

Cheers
Jas Current RRS: MY18 SVR
Previous RRS: MY15 RRS 5.0L Autobiography

I drive abroad quite a bit with the military. We are advised to buy IDPs for £5.50 at the post office (and we claim it back) and if stopped produce this instead of your U.K. license. You still need to have your U.K. license on you but if they want to confiscate your licence, that’s the one you surrender or have endorsed.

Or just tell the French Police you were in the remain campaign and Brexit is a mistake!! 2019 5.0 SC SVA (Current)
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lol

thats a huge fine what would have happened if you didn't pay, or have means to pay

Brit Plumber wrote:

I drive abroad quite a bit with the military. We are advised to buy IDPs for £5.50 at the post office (and we claim it back) and if stopped produce this instead of your U.K. license. You still need to have your U.K. license on you but if they want to confiscate your licence, that’s the one you surrender or have endorsed.

Or just tell the French Police you were in the remain campaign and Brexit is a mistake!!

npinks wrote:

thats a huge fine what would have happened if you didn't pay, or have means to pay

That’s it mate. Hit them where it hurts  Robin
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Violetpiano wrote:

Brit Plumber wrote:

I drive abroad quite a bit with the military. We are advised to buy IDPs for £5.50 at the post office (and we claim it back) and if stopped produce this instead of your U.K. license. You still need to have your U.K. license on you but if they want to confiscate your licence, that’s the one you surrender or have endorsed.

Or just tell the French Police you were in the remain campaign and Brexit is a mistake!!

Brit Plumber, what is an IPD please?

According to my local French neighbors the size of the fine is reflective of the value of the car!

A note for all to be aware of "apparently" the 90 kmph is being reduced to 80 kmph with effect 1july 2018
Again as per my Voisins

Safe and slow driving in France from now on ..... --------------------------------
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You are also lucky that at the moment the Gendarmes and UK police computers are not yet linked (this year I believe) because when they are you would also get points on your UK licence here in the UK.......... or even loose it in the UK for an offence committed in France/ Germany or Spain. Beware also of the new miniature speed cams being used by the S]Spanish police on their highways - I was in a taxi going from Algeciras to Malaga recently and the driver was speeding, triggered the cam and we were stopped at the next toll ......... he had to pay an on the spot fine. 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
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2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

I have lived in France part time since 2010 and then moved full time in 2014 where we also have gites with many english guests driving through France, we are in the south west so usually 7 to 10 hours from the north coast of France. I am also an ex police sergeant and I have never heard of a UK driving licence being seized. Also whilst I will bow to the knowledge of previous comment on size of fine depending on size of car, which again I have not heard of......750 euros seems mahoooosive, do you have a gold plated ferrari ? I have an english friend here who has a 2 year old discovery 4 purchased recently for £47,000 and his fine for speeding seemed in line with other people (usually about 100 to 180 euros.)
I don't know how far you want to take this but I would be tempted to get a solicitor to contact the French authorities and establish the grounds for which your licence was seized....they have to have a reason/grounds for doing so. Also I would question the amount of the fine as this does seem ridiculous to say the least....did you get a ticket/receipt from the police for the money ?
Good luck with whatever you course of action and at least apply for a new licence as yours is as good as lost now.

Also, just thinking about it, I don't see how they can order you NOT to drive, you still have a licence but just not in your possession due to their actions......do they have the power to do this as they have NO access to the DVLA to see if their is a problem with your licence, as suspicion of an offence does not constitute a ban without reason. Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.

Without any knowledge of the subject at all, I must say I am staggered by a fine of that magnitude just (apparently) on the whim of the police. In the UK what could you expect to get for 96.3 mph? I believe that over 100mph they'd look to disqualify you but under 100mph is normally some points and a fine isn't it? That is of course based on a maximum speed of 70mph whereas in France it is 80.8mph. And I believe that the general rule is that the police allow 10% plus 3 mph in the UK to allow for inaccurate speedometers so by my reckoning (and if that applies in France which it probably doesn't) you were doing just 8kph over the speed limit. Even without the allowance that's applied in the UK, you were doing 15.5mph over the speed limit. And that cost you £660!!!  Robin
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Gone:
Jaguar S-Type V8 4.2 Sport
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