Hi, I can usually be found lurking about in the Portugal section. Sometimes when I drive there I drive through France and someone has recently told me that there will be a new requirement for all cars in France to carry a breathalyser with them. This is supposed to start this spring. Can anyone confirm this and if so give any more details. Links to French speaking websites would be of little use. Thanks

Hi, yes this is true but AFAIK no more details are available yet. The media will be full of it when the date is officially announced, so watch this space....

I thought it was from March 1st but I coud well be wrong!

Perhaps we need to take a deep breath !! Not sure how it will work. Are you supposed to check yourself B4 driving and if stopped and B'd again and over is the proverbial book thrown at you?

CJM, it looks like you've been receiving too many SMS messages from the younger generation and picking up bad habits........
Presumably these aren't B swear-words!

For what it's worth, I occasionally participate on the National Police forum and one of their strict rules is no SMS whatsoever, this being stated in no uncertain terms to new members, "Le style des SMS est banni du forum!"

Oh, and that reminds me, IITYWIMWYBMAD

Honest Offy Sir I breathffilizied me selfy butsee it did see not see work see like. Fancy a Refill?

What kind of breathalyser is one meant to carry and are drunk people alleged to have some form of competence in using these devices or have they designed a breathalyser a drunk person can use.

I can see them opening the door on jokes related to a breathalyser a drunk person can use and the echr overturning a drivers ban or prison sentence on the grounds of driver unfit to use the breathalyser. Effective policing removes the drink driving culture and it certainly has not cured it in the UK.

And to think I voted for you in Sue's Avatar competition. C'est la vie, me duck!

Tha advice is to carry 2.One to use and the other for les Flic
The fine for not having one will be 11 euros!

11 euros according to the Connexion, 17 euros according to French newspapers.
eg.

17 sounds more realistic as it's the same penalty as a parking ticket

Well, thanks for that CJM. My Avatar sends you a peck on the cheek to brighten your evening.

Just seen this thread and am totally gob-smacked!!

So, teetotallers have to carry one as well and Muslims etc.? What purpose can they possibly serve?

So how would a Gendarme know you are TT? Sticker on the windscreen? As to other matters all people of faith can and sometimes do break their faith and the 'rules' that guide them.

I have just asked our insurers - AXA - and they say not as yet. The decret , if passed, will apply from June

As I understood from a posting elsewhere, this is more likely to apply to convicted drink drivers, who will have to have a breathalyser attached to the starter motor of their car; the car will not start until a clear breath test is given.... sounds like a good idea to me!