UK culprits get French driving fines in post
From May 6, drivers of UK plated cars will start to get fines through the post at home for certain traffic offences committed elsewhere in the EU.
A new regulation (2017/554) aimed at improving cross-border exchange of information on road safety-related traffic offences, means that French authorities will have up to 12 months from the date of the alleged offence to request the driver’s details from the DVLA.
The French must provide the date, time and place of the recorded offence as well as the registration number and category of the vehicle and, if known, its make and model.
In return, the UK will be required to supply: the name and address of the person who was the owner of the vehicle at the time of the alleged offence; that person’s date of birth; and the make, model and chassis number of the vehicle.
The offences are drink driving; driving while under the influence of drugs; failing to stop at a red traffic light; failing to use a seat belt; failing to wear a helmet on a motorbike; using a mobile telephone or any other communication device while driving; speeding; and use of a forbidden lane.
