Topic: Stupid French Regulations.

[LesterPiglet]

http://ukfrancebikers.com/2013/03/16/france-compulsory-reflective-stickers-on-all-helmets/

[Xnavylfr]

I know here in the USA we can purchase colored reflective tape. I have a 3/4 shell helmet that has a base color of black and I covered 75% of the surface with BLACK reflective tape. During the day at a short distance away you can't see it, but at night it REFLECTS great!!!


Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[simon#42]

thanks , never had any problems with this in the past but am going to corsica in two weeks so better buy some i suppose .

[Killer Canary]

And in a lot of states they can't even make the riders wear a helmet!

[vfourfreak]

Hey Les,

I rile a little at the "frogs" bit, I'm morphing after 10 years here. But yes, these rules are juste merde. There is another one equally stupid, that says you have to have a breath test kit with you at all times (exception 50cc bikes , probably cos 14 year old kids would never drink). But FOR WHAT ? So lets say you have a scoop at lunchtime and decide to drive home. Hmm am I over the limit you may ask yourself ? So you blow into your breath tester thingy, satisfy yourself that you are OK, so on you go. Except now you are breaking the law, because you have no useable breath tester kit with you, and the plod can fine you. So you need to carry two kits, or never ever drink and drive. I choose the latter, but the law here is absolute fubar !
Fin du rant.

Kev

[LesterPiglet]

Apologies Kev. It's a term of endearment.  So many stupid rules the French have. Fluro jackets, warning triangles et al.

[simon#42]

Hey Les,

I rile a little at the "frogs" bit, I'm morphing after 10 years here. But yes, these rules are juste merde. There is another one equally stupid, that says you have to have a breath test kit with you at all times (exception 50cc bikes , probably cos 14 year old kids would never drink). But FOR WHAT ? So lets say you have a scoop at lunchtime and decide to drive home. Hmm am I over the limit you may ask yourself ? So you blow into your breath tester thingy, satisfy yourself that you are OK, so on you go. Except now you are breaking the law, because you have no useable breath tester kit with you, and the plod can fine you. So you need to carry two kits, or never ever drink and drive. I choose the latter, but the law here is absolute fubar !
Fin du rant.

Kev

hi kev  , i never drink , do i still have to carry two breath testers ?

[kghost]

Mate, here in Australia your helmet has to have a sticker certifying compliance with ADR ( australian design rules)

Which of course is different then DOT/Snell/Euro or any other known helmet test certification in the universe.

So you can't buy a helmet over the Internet, or import it from another country, etc.

Means you pay a premium and miss out on great helmets no one can be bothered to certify in Australia.

Because obviously Australia knows something about protecting heads that no other nation knows.

It amounts to a tax for being a motorcyclist in Australia.

[vfourfreak]

Hey Les,

I rile a little at the "frogs" bit, I'm morphing after 10 years here. But yes, these rules are juste merde. There is another one equally stupid, that says you have to have a breath test kit with you at all times (exception 50cc bikes , probably cos 14 year old kids would never drink). But FOR WHAT ? So lets say you have a scoop at lunchtime and decide to drive home. Hmm am I over the limit you may ask yourself ? So you blow into your breath tester thingy, satisfy yourself that you are OK, so on you go. Except now you are breaking the law, because you have no useable breath tester kit with you, and the plod can fine you. So you need to carry two kits, or never ever drink and drive. I choose the latter, but the law here is absolute fubar !
Fin du rant.

Kev

hi kev  , i never drink , do i still have to carry two breath testers ?

Yes Simon,
If you drive in France, even as a tourist, (including all the Islands like Corsica) and your bike is over 50cc capacity, you need to have 1 breath tester available for inspection by le Plod. I f you don't ever drink then you will never need to use it, so that one will do.
If I drive my car down the road to the supermarket (2 Km) here is what I MUST have with me :

Driver's Licence
Identity papers
Insurance documentation
Fluoro vest (within the car, NOT in the boot)
Alcohol tester
Warning Triangle
Registration document for car

This is why so many French men carry hand bags, to store all that crap. On a bike the requirement for the vest and triangle is waived, I think.

Otherwise, I love France. Except for politics, but that's the same all over.

Kev

[simon#42]

thanks for that kev , have just bought a couple on ebay !

[vfourfreak]

Just be sure they quote the French NF something or other number (Normes Francais) like the British Kite Mark. If you get stopped by our finest in blue, that is what they will look for. I can get you the number if you need it. I'm sure they will be on sale in the ferries etc

And Les, it's cool no offence taken, I'm not that French just yet, probably never will be. Just a Paddy enjoyin' the sun here !

And the bikes, and the sea, and the stuff that goes with sea and sun.

[robvangulik]

According to our Dutch autoclub (ANWB) the enforcement of that law (which is in effect since July 2012) is postponed indefinitely as the French minister for foreign affairs doesn't agree and wants to sccrap the whole thing

[LesterPiglet]

" French Interior Minister, Manuel Valls, had decided to scrap his predecessor’s ludicrous proposals for all motorcyclists to wear any form of reflective clothing while riding their motorbike or scooter.
Unfortunately, there has been for some time another (stupid) piece of legislation forcing all bikers in France, whether residents or visitors, to wear a helmet with reflective stickers on, and this one has not been scrapped.
Bikers caught wearing a helmet without stickers may face a 135 euros fine payable on the spot and 3 points taken off their licence.
The police have recently been enforcing this rule quite severely in Paris and other locations throughout France".

[vfourfreak]

There was definitely a period where the requirement was "shelved" but the last solid information I received was that for a period the police can check, and if you have no alcohol tester they can give you a verbal warning. But by now that period of grace should have expired. As far as I know, it is now a requirement.

I'm open to contradiction, and if anyone wants me to go get the absolute truth on the matter I will and post it here.

Kev

[vfourfreak]

The requirement to wear jackets with air bags was also seriously discussed. Well, I for one do not like the requirement to go around with a bomb on my back.
But seriously, I do not think it is France. I believe the EU in Brussels do not like motorbikes and are resolved to outlaw them into obscurity. Call me mad if you wish, but I think this is what is coming down the road. We may need  to wear trainer wheels and conform to 80Db limits soon.

Then I will sell my house and contents, buy a yacht and sail away.

Kev