France looks to digitalise traffic fines

Traffic fines are set to go digital, under French government proposals, allowing drivers to receive, pay, and / or contest penalties through a secure online platform.

The plans were confirmed by the Public Accounts Ministry and reflect a wider push towards cutting paper waste.

While there is no confirmation that this will fully replace paper fines, the ministry said the DGFiP (central tax authority) is carrying out a review "aiming to offer users a secure space dedicated to fines". 

“In the meantime, those involved in the fine management chain are already working to improve the reliability of fine notifications to users based on the identity information available to the tax authorities,” the ministry said.

It added that this system, which would require care with regard to laws around personal data and tax confidentiality, aims to help ensure fines are sent to a person's current address.

While all residents (and some non-residents) should make an annual tax declaration, in which they confirm their address, some people forget to promptly notify a change of address to the vehicle registration authorities, the ministry said.

Fines from automated traffic controls, eg speed cameras, are currently sent to the registered owner of the vehicle, using the address recorded in the système d’immatriculation des véhicules (SIV). 

If the fine is sent to the wrong address, recipients may not receive it, or may receive it later, thus missing a chance to pay at a lower rate.

The information was given in response to a question by MP Karl Olive, who asked about the possibility of a dedicated online service for fines that people could log into using FranceConnect. 

Mr Olive said this would represent a simplification for users and would "reduce risks linked to the loss of fine letters". Access via FranceConnect would work well as it is already known to be a secure and reliable method of self-identification for many online public services, he said.

We note, however, that FranceConnect cannot be used by people (such as many second-home owners) who have never worked in France or been in its health system.

At present, a person must receive a paper fine notice and only then can they pay it, by cheque, telephone, at certain tabac shops or online at amendes.gouv.fr. It is not possible to have a dedicated personal space on the latter site, which is used only for paying one-off fines.

As the DGFiP is responsible for the impots.gouv.fr website where people make online tax declarations, it is possible the new space could be accessed via this, however this has not been specfied nor has it been clarified how poeple would be notified of a digital fine (eg. via the email address held for them by the tax authorities).

There has so far also been no clarification as to how the latest plans may affect those who do not pay tax in France or those whose vehicles are registered abroad. 

In the latter case, drivers with cars registered in neighbouring countries with information-sharing agreements with France are sent fines in the post. 

Postal fines are also sent to some other countries, including the UK, however France's driving authorities Sécurité Routière, told us the reason for fines sent to the UK is where the registered owner of a car (including hire companies) notifies that a foreign resident was driving the car at the time of an offence. 

Since Brexit the DVLA does not allow the French authorities access to the addresses of UK drivers, yet despite this 62,780 fines were sent to UK addresses in 2023 alone.