Like every year, mid-August is the most fluid time of year. What a joy to no longer suffer from the endless traffic jams of the Parisian conurbation and to know that we will spend two to three times less time on the road. On this Friday the 13th, I should have been more suspicious. The sun is finally back and it is very lively that I return to the editorial staff. At 9:30 am, traffic is fluid on the outer A86 and I slip into the left lane by whipping the abundant cavalry (109 hp!) of my mount of the day, a Honda Jazz hybrid, railing against the continuously variable transmission that packs the small 1.5 liter Honda. I then passed a powerful Dacia Duster which, strangely enough, applied the brakes by folding to the right. There again I should have been wary. Passing by the Total Service Station of Vélizy I see six or eight BMW motorcycles of the National Police, in stash. I realize, but too late. A quick glance in the rearview mirror confirms my fear. Two pilots have just started with all flashing lights on before coming kindly to supervise my Jazz while I – hypocritically – got into the right lane at 105 km / h. I then take myself a few moments for an eminent member of the government going to take his official plane at the military airfield of Villacoublay. Ironically, it is precisely up to this precise place that “my” bikers escort me before leaving like thieves. I didn’t even have time to thank them! The welcoming committee is complete, several police vehicles and six or seven officials. The two youngest of them welcome me: “Hello, do you know why you are being arrested?” – the question that I love – answer: “Yes, as usual, speed!”. Presentation of the papers and the loan sheet of our test vehicle. No comment. Eight minutes later: “Is your address correct?” ; answer “Yes”.
“And by the way, how fast was I checked?”
Five minutes later, a third official – who is visibly bored – comes to close my door “which hinders traffic” (sic). Another five minutes, the two young officials make me sign on their terminal after having previously told me that I was going to get a fixed fine of 135 € or 90 € in the event of payment within 45 days. Full stop (pun intended)! I dare a question: “And by the way, how fast was I checked?”. Response after several seconds of hesitation: “127 km / h, or 122 retained”. Second question: “How many points will I lose?” Re-hesitation: “two or three?” asks our young number one official, who doesn’t seem to really know, of number two; “Three” replies the latter. Why was he hesitating? For the simple reason that The A 86 is limited to 110 km / h, except at the precise point where these gentlemen were in hideout: 90 km / h. End of the first act. Recovery of my papers without any physical report because the Police of the Road is obviously much better equipped in data processing than the old police stations of district. These gentlemen definitely don’t want to talk at all. I do! New question: “Have I endangered the life of others?”. No answer. “Do you also call on motorists in a state of intoxication, without a license, without insurance, those who drive at 60 km / h in the left lane, who pass on the right or have forgotten the existence of the turn signal? “. Answer: “Yes, every day”. Us: “We especially notice that it seems much easier to practice pigeon shooting”. The shock response falls like a chopper: “It’s the highway code”! “Come on, move around, we don’t want to see you anymore!”. End of discussion, if there was any discussion. I venture to one last remark: “Gentlemen, do not be surprised at the image you have with the population!”.
Little riddle to conclude this little mood ticket: how many other motorists were intercepted during the 20 minutes spent there? Answer: only one! We let you calculate the profitability of the (big) dozen officials involved in this mission. As for the educational virtues of this type of control … Oh the times, oh the customs.
A big offender of the road
Also read on auto-moto.com:
The speed cameras that flash the most
The most unusual speeding tickets
What margin of error for speed cameras?
Radars destroyed
Like every year, mid-August is the most fluid time of year. What a joy to no longer suffer from the endless traffic jams of the Parisian conurbation and to know that we will spend two to three times less time on the road. On this Friday the 13th, I should have been more suspicious. The sun is finally back and it is very lively that I return to the editorial staff. At 9:30 am, traffic is fluid on the outer A86 and I slip into the left lane by whipping the abundant cavalry (109 hp!) of my mount of the day, a Honda Jazz hybrid, railing against the continuously variable transmission that packs the small 1.5 liter Honda. I then passed a powerful Dacia Duster which, strangely enough, applied the brakes by folding to the right. There again I should have been wary. Passing by the Total Service Station of Vélizy I see six or eight BMW motorcycles of the National Police, in stash. I realize, but too late. A quick glance in the rearview mirror confirms my fear. Two pilots have just started with all flashing lights on before coming kindly to supervise my Jazz while I – hypocritically – got into the right lane at 105 km / h. I then take myself a few moments for an eminent member of the government going to take his official plane at the military airfield of Villacoublay. Ironically, it is precisely up to this precise place that “my” bikers escort me before leaving like thieves. I didn’t even have time to thank them! The welcoming committee is complete, several police vehicles and six or seven officials. The two youngest of them welcome me: “Hello, do you know why you are being arrested?” – the question that I love – answer: “Yes, as usual, speed!”. Presentation of the papers and the loan sheet of our test vehicle. No comment. Eight minutes later: “Is your address correct?” ; answer “Yes”.
“And by the way, how fast was I checked?”
Five minutes later, a third official – who is visibly bored – comes to close my door “which hinders traffic” (sic). Another five minutes, the two young officials make me sign on their terminal after having previously told me that I was going to get a fixed fine of 135 € or 90 € in the event of payment within 45 days. Full stop (pun intended)! I dare a question: “And by the way, how fast was I checked?”. Response after several seconds of hesitation: “127 km / h, or 122 retained”. Second question: “How many points will I lose?” Re-hesitation: “two or three?” asks our young number one official, who doesn’t seem to really know, of number two; “Three” replies the latter. Why was he hesitating? For the simple reason that The A 86 is limited to 110 km / h, except at the precise point where these gentlemen were in hideout: 90 km / h. End of the first act. Recovery of my papers without any physical report because the Police of the Road is obviously much better equipped in data processing than the old police stations of district. These gentlemen definitely don’t want to talk at all. I do! New question: “Have I endangered the life of others?”. No answer. “Do you also call on motorists in a state of intoxication, without a license, without insurance, those who drive at 60 km / h in the left lane, who pass on the right or have forgotten the existence of the turn signal? “. Answer: “Yes, every day”. Us: “We especially notice that it seems much easier to practice pigeon shooting”. The shock response falls like a chopper: “It’s the highway code”! “Come on, move around, we don’t want to see you anymore!”. End of discussion, if there was any discussion. I venture to one last remark: “Gentlemen, do not be surprised at the image you have with the population!”.
Little riddle to conclude this little mood ticket: how many other motorists were intercepted during the 20 minutes spent there? Answer: only one! We let you calculate the profitability of the (big) dozen officials involved in this mission. As for the educational virtues of this type of control … Oh the times, oh the customs.
A big offender of the road
Also read on auto-moto.com:
The speed cameras that flash the most
The most unusual speeding tickets
What margin of error for speed cameras?
Radars destroyed
