France isn’t to bad fine wise – 11 Euro’s for the breathalyzer thing (we we’re dumb and paid 5 quid at Folkeston, then found they were 3 Euro’s at the other side!)
I’ve also found that France tends not to send the speed camera fines overseas – have set off a few in last 12 months and nothing has ever come through.
The big rip off is the motorway tolls – they are daylight robbery! (Nice to Montpellier was about 40 Euro’s each way!) – I guess they figure they are raking in enough from the motorways to not have to care too much about the speeding fines.
If driving to Europe, France (even the breath kits) is in no way the biggest ‘gotcha’ though – just be very careful going into Austria, and to an extent, Switzerland. You have to get a tax sticker in advance (about Euro 9 IIRC), and if you don’t have one – which is automatically looked for by camera over the motorway, the fines start at 400 Euro and go up to 4000. Which is completely out of proportion to the offense and just a tourist trap / rip off.
I drove to Austria a while back, saw the ‘this is toll road’ signs in Germany, so asked at the services – who said it didn’t apply to cars. Then went through mountain roads in Austria before rejoining the motorway and saw a ‘this is a toll road ‘sign, so asked at the hotel - who said it was pay in advance or get a big fine. Rang the road operator, who confirmed I had passed a checkpoint without paying, and there was no way to pay retrospectively, so fine was coming – with no way to intercept it. They also added taht I should have checked their rules in advance as 'everyone' knows about the Vignette system. A 600 Euro fine arrived yesterday, going to 3000 if not paid in 28 days , or if I ask for a hearing and lose! (which as they are, IMO, butt plug wearers is what will happen if you don't pay their rip of fine without going to court)
What utter wankers!, At least in Frogville there is a toll booth, so you know if you choose to go through the automatic lane you have committed an offense. And in Australia, if you go onto a toll road, you can ring and pay up to 24 hours later before a big fine kicks in. In Austria, you either know about it, or you get a dry shafting!.. (The people are nice, but the Govt policies are very tourist unfriendly)
Switzerland is much the same, but the fine is about Euro 50 apparently – which isn’t quite as bad..
End rant on overpriced French motorways and asshole Austrian motorway tourist traps..
