Driver fined for smoking at wheel

A WOMAN who was fined €22 for smoking at the wheel has written to President Sarkozy to say she has no intention of paying.

Chantal Missègue, a health worker from Bordeaux was fined on January 13 while driving through the city’s suburbs back to her home in the village of Castelnau-de-Médoc.

According to article R412-6 of the Code de la Route a driver must be ready to carry out all manoeuvres necessary without any delay – meaning both hands must be on the wheel at all times.

Technically this outlaws eating, changing radio stations and CDs and even changing gear.

A further part of the article also warns against any restrictions on a driver’s vision that could even make blinking or sneezing at the wheel illegal – certainly blowing or wiping your nose is out.

According to the newspaper Sud Ouest Ms Missègue has written to President Sarkozy and the departmental director of the police asking for the fine to be dropped.

The president of the automobile club of the south west, Claude Chambonnaud, said the fine was “legal but unreasonable” and asked how far the police were going to go.

“How can you change gear or lower the windows?” he asked.

The departmental director of the police, Albert Doutre, told France Info radio that the fine was “not proof of an excessive rigidity” in the police but admitted the officer had been “over zealous”.

He said the fine should be put in the context of 175,000 that were issued for more appropriate offences.

According to a poll by TNS Sofres in 2008, one driver in three admitted using a phone while at the wheel and one in four said they had driven after drinking more than two glasses of wine.

76% admitted they did not slow and stop at amber lights, 65% said they had done 65kmh in built up areas.

Photo:Joka2000(busy)