www.boxertrix.com

the reflective thing must have changed in the last few weeks.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/ov ... pment.html

France - breathalysers for all and reflective jackets for motorcyclists
Several changes have been made to motoring laws in France in support of the International Decade on Road Safety though two new laws have subsequently been either abolished or postponed indefinitely

January 2013 - Drivers in France have been required to carry a self-test breathalyser since July 2012 with enforcement by fines originally planned for 1 November but subsequently postponed to 1 March 2013. Now the French government has announced that the implementation of the sanction (fine) for drivers not carrying a breathalyser – a fine of €11 – has been postponed indefinitely.

So you are still required to carry a self-test breathalyser when driving in France but there is no current legislation demanding a fine for non-compliance.

Motorcycle riders were to be required to wear reflective clothing in France from 1 January 2013 but the French law making reflective equipment compulsory for motorcycle riders and passengers has been abolished.

f90x wrote:Motorcycle riders were to be required to wear reflective clothing in France from 1 January 2013 but the French law making reflective equipment compulsory for motorcycle riders and passengers has been abolished.

This was however replaced with a law requiring helmets to have 4 reflective stickers applied.
One on each side, and back and front.

I didn't put stickers on me lid and just had same old HG jacket and didn't get stopped (maybe I was lucky) but I'd also heard that the cops went easy on foreigners. Didn't see many coppers tho

dave the german wrote:I didn't put stickers on me lid and just had same old HG jacket and didn't get stopped (maybe I was lucky) but I'd also heard that the cops went easy on foreigners. Didn't see many coppers tho

That's interesting.
I travel in France every two years and normally expect to see plod about.
It's unusual not to encounter at least a couple of speed traps in villages but like you, this year I didn't see one Gendarme.
A friend of mine who lives out there tells me the French are getting hacked off with British riders apparently, because there has been an attitude developing, (perpetuated by some of our media), that we can go over there and do anything we want, so I'd never bank on French plod giving us any leeway.
It's a daft law, but the fine for non compliance is 135 euro's on the spot.
I'd rather just spend a few quid an eliminate the risk.

We put the stickers on our lids on a trip into Normandy in May and were followed by a couple of bike gendarmes for a couple of miles, keeping to speed limits etc and were then passed with a friendly wave when they'd seen enough.

I personally think if you make an effort to read the rules of the country you're visiting and comply with them, then unless you ride like a kn*b you won't have any problems. Same as over here really!

Just my opinion

Geoff