19-5-2012 Update: First, don't worry too much. In spite of the heavy handed draconain threats, this appears to have gone off like a damp squib.

Link here (in French) from Coyote

Loosely translated by Google Translate, "In reality it is very unlikely that any tickets will ever be issued for GPS based systems -- French lawyers have also leapt on the fact that a policeman needs a judges warrant to examine data on a computer and GPS's devices are computers under the law.."

It seems that the law was very quickly modified (2,000 jobs at risk at French device manufacturers such as Coyote) so they are now fine as long as they are called 'road safety enhancers' and not speed limit warners. In theory they should beep now when there is a dangerous bend ahead also, but not all the software has been updated.

TomTom has also got round this by calling its warnings 'Danger Zones' (TomTom in France)

There is a document (in French) at the bottom of this page that you are advised to download and print off to carry in your car in case you are stopped by a zealous French flic who has not grasped the lated development.

Mr D Neal translated and explained the original new law in France that effectively banned some orignal fit satnav in cars.

The ban on warning radars

The decree of January 4, 2012 is partly about the ban on warning radars. Automated control systems or radar, is a fundamental tool for the safety of road users.

In total, since 2002, thanks to the mobilization of all there are almost 500 000 injured and 32 000 lives that were spared, nearly two thirds are attributable to lower speeds. There were, for the year 2009, 66% died within the vicinity of radar since their installation.

For this reason the French government decided to ban certain facilities to enable users to avoid these controls whose purpose is to act for more security on the roads.

What does the decree prohibit?

The decree prohibits the possession, transport and use of any device to alert or inform the location of roadside checks.

What is a "radar alert"?

It is any device that informs the driver in real time the presence of a fixed or mobile or a police check. It may be a specific case, a portable GPS system or integrated with the vehicle of this information, an application for mobile phones, etc..

Note that one should not confuse the radar warning devices with sensors and radar jammers, which have been prohibited since 2003.

The warning radars are they banned now?

Yes. This ban was taken by the Interministerial Council for Road Safety May 11, 2011 in order to strengthen respect for speed limits. It comes into effect January 5, 2012.

Why?

The warning radars were detrimental to road safety by allowing some road users not to respect the speed limits as near a radar reported on their journey, this increasing the risk behaviors associated with excessive speed.

Applications "warning" on some mobile phones are involved?

Yes, all devices (GPS, smartphone applications, portable boxes, etc..) Indicating the presence of radars are affected by the ban.

What will be the information disseminated by the "tools to drive"?

Some older aircraft "radar warning" will now be considered as tools for driving. They will include reporting hazardous areas along the length of the route to allow motorists to increase their vigilance and to adapt their speed according to the limitations and circumstances.

How are defined the "danger zones"?

Hazardous areas or "zones of increased vigilance," are trafficked areas that meet one or more of the following criteria: the presence of signs and signals of danger (sharp curves, intersections, steep, etc..) Limitations speed below the normal limit (eg 70 km / h instead of 90 km / h outside urban areas), road traffic accident rates in the area, etc..

A zone can also be classified as "dangerous" temporarily when an event traffic or weather-occurred accident, loss, construction, cap, fog, etc.. It is important to remember the road and the street are inherently high-risk areas. Thus, areas classified as "dangerous" should be read as areas in which the driver must exercise increased vigilance, which do not in any way excuse its obligation of vigilance and compliance outside these areas, it should in all circumstances to be responsive to its environment and other users with whom he shared public space.

Will they show changes in speed limit?

Yes, changes in speed limits should be indicated, whenever technically possible on the devices. This type of information contributes to user safety.

The new decree is not simply a disguised measure to keep the "warning radar"?

No. The "warning radars" are in fact prohibited.  It is however useful to notify users of speed limits and their entry into the danger zone.

All radars are they located in "dangerous areas" identified as such?

Yes.

Speed ??cameras are installed on sites proposed by the prefects of departments on specific criteria. The implementation of a radar and operates primarily on an area where accidents occur where excessive speeds are mainly involved. They are well installed in hazardous areas where users need to be cautious. The Interior Minister has also recently asked the prefects to verify that the installation of radar responds to this. However, the vast majority of these areas increased vigilance are not equipped with radar.

The equipment previously acquired are they banned now?


What are the steps to take in order to conform to the users?

radar warning device
mobile applications of radar warning
devices portable GPS also indicate areas of radar
devices in-vehicle GPS also reporting areas of radar

Manufacturers and builders have already been advised of the implementation of the ban to warn of the presence of radars and will be formally informed of the provisions of the decree so that they allow their customers to comply with regulations . Already, most devices driver support will be subject to an update that
will put them in compliance. For further details, please refer to the information and instructions from different
manufacturers .

Note that during a transitional period to allow the compliance of devices, including legacy, it will be asked police to exercise discretion in a pedagogical approach.

That will support the upgrade or replacement of equipment no longer needed?

The updated aircraft is the responsibility of users to which the manufacturers offer, or will propose a compliance quickly and easily.

How to recognize new devices that meet the criteria? What the label meant to identify the devices recognized by the Ministry of the Interior?

Any device warning radar is prohibited and is subject to a compliance: it is your responsibility to verify it. This compliance may in particular be certified by a certification. Indeed, some products will be a certified label. This certification by Infocert, an independent body, will take the form of a trademark "NC Software".  It is your responsibility to liaise with your supplier that will tell you what to do.

What the "assistants to help conduct" will they be useful?

Assistants, or support tools including driving indicate speed limits and the "danger zones", allowing users to increase their vigilance and to adapt their behavior according to the hazard.

The community function of some equipment it is now prohibited? Is he still allowed to point the radar? What information do we still share?

The community function, useful for hazard communication, is allowed (report of a slowdown, accident, etc.)..
The information transmitted to users on the basis of reported community will not only report the radar the "danger zones", whether or not the radar.

What are the penalties for the use of a radar warning?

Violators risk a ticket for Euro 1500 with a withdrawal of 6 points and the seizure of the device, if the devices are not brought into compliance.

The ban is it applicable today?

The ban is indeed applicable after the publication of the decree, either from the Thursday, January 5, 2012.

Will there a grace period, the time to update my equipment?

The ban applies January 5, 2012.

Users must make arrangements to get in good standing with their supplier as soon as
possible. During this period of compliance, the police will exercise the necessary discretion.

What controls will be able to lead the police and gendarmerie? they will verify the proper updating of equipment?

Will they check for a specific application on mobile phones for motorists?

Can I refuse my control mobile phone and / or my warning system?

During a traffic stop, the police may need to seek to control a device in your possession, including requisition specific prosecutor. Moreover, after an accident, verification may be made to to examine the possible
responsibility of the driver.

Provide a warning of "danger zones" does he not risk that users of alarms at once dangerously slow when entering an area posted?

The notion of "danger zone" actually allows the driver to increase its vigilance and adapt his behavior in anticipation of the presence of a risk, saving him a sharp reaction to the danger.

What money is actually used radar?

Revenues are reinvested radars in improving road safety and the development of safer means of circulation. A third of the proceeds of fines is used to maintain, upgrade and develop the automated control system. The rest is paid to local authorities and the Agency for financing transport infrastructure in France, who use them to finance work to improve the safety of users and to develop means of transportation.

Thus, in 2011, the fines from the radar amounted to 630 million euros, 530 million euros of fixed fines paid within 45 days and 100 million of fixed fines paid plus out of time.

The 530 million euros of fixed fines paid within 45 days were distributed as follows:

37% (198 M €) were used to finance the installation and maintenance of radar, treatment Radar violations and modernization of the file of driver's license,

30% (€ 160 million) contributed to the financing of local government operations to improve infrastructure and transit traffic;

33% (172 M €) was allocated directly to the AFITF (Agency funding of transport infrastructure in France). This public institution is a state agency financing of major projects to improve and secure transport infrastructure.
The 100 million of fixed fines plus paid time off were donated to the state budget in Due to the high administrative costs of these tickets.

The cost of road accidents has meanwhile been estimated at 23 billion euros for 2010.

4-5-2012: AC from France asserts that people should be warned that in France both satnav devices and mobile phones are considered to be an extension of one's private space and cannot be inspected by police officers without the local equivalent of a search warrant and a specially qualified 'officier de police judiciaire' (this means getting a judge to issue the document and will never be the case for random roadside checks). As a result the best method for anyone travelling in France and wishing to keep speed camera locations on their satnav device is just to turn it off before stopping the car in the event of a police check. The police officer cannot require that the unit be turned on again.

He offers the following document to download and print and keep in your glove compartment in case you ever get stopped and need to assert the law:

Voici les dernières directives reçues de la part des autorités sur l'application de l'Article R413-15 du Code de la Route modifié par le Décret 2012-3 du 3 janvier 2012.

Les GPS et Téléphones portables ne peuvent légalement êtres fouillés par les forces de l'ordre dans le seul but de rechercher si les contrevenants utilisent des positions radars.

En effet, selon les articles 56, 57, 57-1, 60 et 97 du Code de Procédure Pénale qui déterminent les pouvoirs et obligations des forces de l'ordre en matière de perquisition et/ou de confiscation de tout support (papier, informatique ou autre) pouvant contenir des données à caractère personnelles ou professionnelles.

Et selon les articles 78-2-2 à 78-2-4 du Code de Procédure Pénal qui déterminent quant à eux le contrôle d'identité et la fouille des véhicules.

Il est stipulé dans tous les cas que :

1) Les perquisitions ou fouilles ne peuvent se faire que sur réquisition écrite du Procureur de la République. Les perquisitions ou fouilles d'initiatives ne sont donc pas autorisées.

2) Que les perquisitions ne peuvent se faire qu'en matière de crimes ou de délits prévoyant une peine de prison ou en cas de mise en danger des personnes et des biens dans le cadre d'une enquête, ou encore en cas d'atteinte à la sûreté de l'état (Terrorisme par exemple)

En aucun cas les perquisitions en matière d'infraction punies d'une simple peine de contravention ne sont prévues par la loi, elles sont donc illégales.

3) Les fouilles de véhicules ne peuvent se faire également qu'en cas de présomption de crime ou délit et selon les modalités des articles 78-2-3 à 78-2-4 du Code de Procédure Pénal et ne peuvent en aucun cas se faire en cas d'infractions punies d'une simple peine de contravention.

A noter toutefois : Le fait de faire ouvrir le coffre afin de vérifier la présence des équipements obligatoires stipulés au code de la Route (tel que roues de secours, triangle et gilet de sécurité) ou le fait de faire ouvrir le capot moteur afin de vérifier les numéros de série du véhicule ne peuvent être assimilés à des fouilles.

Voici le seul bémol dans la loi pouvant conduire à d'éventuelles poursuites.

L'article 78-2-2 du Code de Procédure Pénale stipule dans son contenu :

Le fait que le contrôle d'identité révèle des infractions autres que celles visées dans les réquisitions du Procureur de la République ne constitue pas une cause de nullité des procédures incidentes.

Il est donc tout à fait possible de tomber fortuitement sur d'autres infractions lors d'un contrôle d'identité ou routier, même si la recherche initiale de cette infraction n'était pas à l'origine du contrôle. Ainsi le simple fait que le contrevenant soit pris en flagrant délit d'utiliser des positions faisant référence à des mesures de contrôle, peut éventuellement conduire à sa verbalisation. Dans tous les cas, il faudra prendre avis auprès d'un Officier de Police Judiciaire où auprès du Parquet pour la conduite à tenir.

Dans l'état actuel des choses, le non respect de l'Article R413-15 du Code de la Route modifié par le Décret 2012-3 du 3 janvier 2012 est une infraction punie d'une peine de contravention de cinquième classe. Ce n'est pas un délit ou un crime. Bien que la présomption ou la tentative de crime ou de délit existe dans le droit pénal Français, cette notion n'est pas prise en compte en ce qui concerne les infractions contraventionnelles. cet article n'autorise donc pas les forces de l'ordre (tant qu'un nouveau décret allant à l'encontre de cette prescription ne soit officiellement publié) de fouiller ou d'effectuer des recherches dans tout support pouvant contenir des données à caractère personnelles ou professionnelles en cas de peine punies d'une contravention. Seule des opérations ciblées et scrupuleusement encadrées par un Magistrat pourraient éventuellement êtres envisagées dans l'avenir.

Voici la marche à suivre pour les automobilistes en cas de contrôle par des agents zélés.

- Si possible utilisez des alertes codées, ne faisant pas clairement référence à des radars.

- Eviter de faire sonner les alertes radars faisant clairement référence à ce type de position en cas de contrôle et en présence des forces de l'ordre.

- Si possible, lors du contrôle, éteignez votre GPS (Attendre d'être à l'arrêt avant d'éteindre votre téléphone car vous pourriez être verbalisé pour utilisation d'un téléphone portable)

- Dans le pire des cas, si l'on vous demande l'accès à votre GPS ou à votre téléphone (certains peuvent faire du zèle), refusez catégoriquement en expliquant calmement que vos appareils contiennent des données confidentielles et personnelles. Si la demande est insistante, expliquez leur (toujours calmement) que les perquisitions du contenus des appareils informatiques sont scrupuleusement encadrées par la loi, que celles-ci ne peuvent se faire que dans le cas d'une enquête pour un crime ou un délit et en aucun cas en matière d'infractions contraventionnelles. Vous pouvez préciser que vous pourriez être amené à déposer une plainte pour excès de zèle et violation des droits et du respect à votre vie privée, voir une plainte pour rétention arbitraire ou vol d'un bien privé en cas de confiscation de vos appareils. N'hésitez pas à faire valoir le fait que ce type d'appareils a une vocation de guidage et en aucun cas un but initial de signalement des radars comme certains appareils vendus uniquement en tant que tel.

- Dans tous les cas, restez le plus calme et le plus correct possible, assurez vous également d'être bien en règle et d'avoir tous vos documents administratifs sur vous avant de formuler ce genre de réponse, car cela risque (pour les plus courageux d'entre eux qui ne seraient pas intimidés) de les inciter à faire le tour de votre véhicule afin de trouver un autre motif de verbalisation.