Three cars confiscated as French police helicopter helps spot speeders on national route

A police helicopter was used to help ground officers detect traffic offences on a major French national RN road last week - an operation that resulted in three vehicles being confiscated.

The helicopter was deployed to help police forces patrolling the RN31, which runs between Rouen and Reims north of Paris, on Friday (September 13). 

Officers detected four major speeding offences with the help of the helicopter, which came from the Amiens Gendarmes. 

Drivers were also stopped for other offences including not wearing a seatbelt, and for using a mobile phone when driving.

Three of the four drivers stopped for speeding had their vehicles taken away.

“The visible [police presence] in the area clearly helped to reduce speeds on this route during the operation,” one police officer told local media Actu. 

It is unknown whether police will regularly deploy a helicopter along the route, although it is one of the most dangerous in the regions it traverses. 

Helicopters are often used for this kind of work but more frequently on French motorways. 

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