-
New UK/France border checks: visas, residency cards and which queues?
The Entry/Exit System does not concern everyone, but the delays it causes might
-
Platisme, masculinisme: The French words added to Larousse dictionary
The 2025 edition includes some words that come straight from English, as well as many environment-related terms
-
Reopening of France’s A13 motorway delayed as new cracks discovered
Traffic built up on neighbouring roads - but the empty lanes were not completely deserted…
Court rules on radar 'finger' case
Prosecutors had called for driver who made gesture to face prison term
It is not possible to offend a machine, a court has ruled after prosecutors recommended a motorist who gave two speed cameras ‘the finger’ face a prison term of up to four months.
As reported in March, prosecutors in Roanne, Loire, had recommended the jail term for ‘insulting behaviour to a public servant’ as camera centre staff in Rennes must by law view the photos to determine if speeding charges could be laid.
The 46-year-old driver, from Regny, Loire, had admitted speeding and giving a ‘doigt d’honneur’ to two automatic speed cameras at Saint-Forgeux-Lespinasse, Loire, and then Bessay-sur-Allier, Allier in May 2015.
Handing down its ruling this month, the court agreed with the defendant's lawyer, who had argued that "contempt of a machine does not exist in law".
But the defendant did not get away scot-free. He was fined €800, of which €600 was suspended, for trying to obscure his number plate, and also sentenced to several months in prison for a drink-driving offence committed in 2017.
Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France