MX-5 OC Forum

Learned recently that it will become compulsory from April 2012 to carry a breathalyser test kit in your car whilst in France. Failure to do so will result in a fine so this is now something else you need to carry besides your warning triangle, spare bulb kit etc.

There is a feeling about that as spring approaches and knowledge of this requirement becomes more widespread the price of these kits will increase dramatically. I was made aware of this through another motoring forum. Anyway, now is the time to go shopping for a kit if you think you might take your MX5 to France this year.

You can buy a kit of 3 "sticks" for about £5 plus postage on various websites and need to purchase the kit that measures a breath alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05.

........and if you think I am taking the p***,  sorry just couldn't resist the pun, then google France and Breathalyser  

As an aside it will also become illegal to use any kind of speed camera warning device in your car including  satnavs that contain a database of camera locations. The fines for that will be horrendous and even TomTom are now erasing the French data from all their updates.

Happy days!

Seems like another reason , why not to go to France .

I can understand the spare bulbs and warning triange for safety reasons ,but not your own breathalyser .

What next I wonder .

 It's probably worth keeping an eye on these web sites/pages

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/index.html

http://www.rac.co.uk/driving-abroad/france/

http://about-france.com/travel.htm

http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller-info/driving-in-france/

http://www.poferries.com/tourist/content/pages/template/routes_travel_information_what_to_take_driving_in_Europe.htm

http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/guides/touring-driving/driving-in-france

As far as I am aware, apart from a statement from Mr Sarkozy recently no changes have been made to french motoring law as regards this. I'm sure the AA, RAC, Eurotunnel and the ferry companies will make noise if it does happen! Except maybe for SeaFrance, that is ....

Well, here's my source and somehow I don't think the press would be reporting this if it wasn't factual.

http://www.thelocal.fr/1920/20111201/

And the source from the other motoring forum is a French resident of UK origin. 

The law hasn't been changed yet, the due date is April 1st (and no, that's not a joke)

As suggested above, once the RAC/AA cotton onto this expect the price of these kits to rocket......

...and in the meantime I can assure you that TomTom and other sites have already removed their French camera databases.

Is there a Garlic Breathalyser Kit....

Whatever next do we have to take a string of Onions and a Beret?

HJ2:

Is there a Garlic Breathalyser Kit....

Whatever next do we have to take a string of Onions and a Beret?

Not a beret per se but I have heard that whereas  you need to carry one high visibility vest per car at present in future you will need one per occupant of the car. Haven't seen that confirmed though.

I suspect in 2013 one will be required to carry their own handcuffs too!

 I believe it's already 1 vest per occupant, I was advised to have 2 vests along with the triangle etc last year when we went.  I thought there was talk of 2 triangles as well?

 And dont forget the Hi Viz has to be to hand, as if you get out of the car to get it from the boot etc they will fine you.

As for the breathalyser guess if they stop you and get you to use one and it shows you are not over the limit they will not

believe it.

IanC:

 I believe it's already 1 vest per occupant, I was advised to have 2 vests along with the triangle etc last year when we went.  I thought there was talk of 2 triangles as well?

The vests have to be in the cockpit as well as a First Aid kit. 2 triangles are required in Spain.

Interesting to learn about the breathalyser and cam data base requirements.... on the data base you do have the option not to have the warning active but I would assume this

would be too easy.

Thank you for this information.

 Words fail me!

Malcolm

How long before we have to carry our own guillotine! Boots a bit small though.

I can not beleive that even the French would make you supply your own breathaliser (though they may try to get you to pay for the one of theirs that they use), if only because you could deliberatly buy one calibrated not to show you as over the limit.

As for the spare bulbs, high vis, first aid kit & fire extingisher I think we should all carry those over here as well.

Just to clarify, the unit is for the driver's use before he drives the car.

That's what I thought but apparently not. It's for the usage of the police after they pull you over.

Why they wouldn't use their own kit is beyond me but it seems you will have to carry an unused brethalyser at all times..

...

marpar:

Just to clarify, the unit is for the driver's use before he drives the car.

But then see my below updated message.....

...Auto Express just reported the following.....

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/276232/breath_tests_made_easy.html#

.....so maybe it is supposed to be for personal use but whatever you will still need to carry one it would seem .