They have penalised British drivers for not carrying a warning triangle or a fluorescent safety vest.
Now French police have another weapon to wield against holidaymakers – a law insisting all motorists have a breathalyser kit in their cars.
The gadgets, designed so that drivers can test themselves to ensure they are under drink-drive limits, are the latest addition to a list of rules for driving on the other side of the Channel.
The measure, which will come into force in July, will apply to anyone travelling through France by car.
Critics however have cast doubt on the accuracy of the kits in being able to tell if a driver is over the limit. Others said it was simply another attempt to make money out of foreign drivers.
Motorists found with between 50mg and 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood can be fined 135 euros (£112) and lose six out of 12 points on their driving licence. Above that, a driver risks a fine of 4,500 euros (£3,744), losing their licence and being sent to prison for up to two years.
The French drink-driving limit of 50mg is much lower than in the UK where the limit is 80mg.
Motorists are being urged to carry at least two of the single-use breathalysers so that if they have checked themselves with one they can still show police they have a ready-to-use kit if stopped.
Police, however, will use their own breathalysers to carry out any roadside test.
Those drivers caught without a kit will face a fine of 11 euros (£9) but the French have said there will be a period of grace till November before police start issuing the penalties.
The breathalyser kits cost between around £1 and £2 and will be available at ferry and tunnel terminals for crossings to France, but motoring groups have warned that many drivers will still forget to pack them in their car.
Andrew Howard, the AA’s head of road safety, explained that it takes time for alcohol to be absorbed into the blood, so early readings could be misleading.
He said: ‘After you have had your last swig of alcohol, your reading will continue to rise for the next 40 minutes because it takes time for alcohol to go down into your stomach and be taken into the bloodstream.’
Police are expected to carry out random checks on drivers crossing into France via Calais to ensure that they understand the latest drink-driving rules.
Read more: Now the French say holidaymakers have to carry a breathalyser kit in their car | Mail Online
Now French police have another weapon to wield against holidaymakers – a law insisting all motorists have a breathalyser kit in their cars.
The gadgets, designed so that drivers can test themselves to ensure they are under drink-drive limits, are the latest addition to a list of rules for driving on the other side of the Channel.
The measure, which will come into force in July, will apply to anyone travelling through France by car.
Critics however have cast doubt on the accuracy of the kits in being able to tell if a driver is over the limit. Others said it was simply another attempt to make money out of foreign drivers.
Motorists found with between 50mg and 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood can be fined 135 euros (£112) and lose six out of 12 points on their driving licence. Above that, a driver risks a fine of 4,500 euros (£3,744), losing their licence and being sent to prison for up to two years.
The French drink-driving limit of 50mg is much lower than in the UK where the limit is 80mg.
Motorists are being urged to carry at least two of the single-use breathalysers so that if they have checked themselves with one they can still show police they have a ready-to-use kit if stopped.
Police, however, will use their own breathalysers to carry out any roadside test.
Those drivers caught without a kit will face a fine of 11 euros (£9) but the French have said there will be a period of grace till November before police start issuing the penalties.
The breathalyser kits cost between around £1 and £2 and will be available at ferry and tunnel terminals for crossings to France, but motoring groups have warned that many drivers will still forget to pack them in their car.
Andrew Howard, the AA’s head of road safety, explained that it takes time for alcohol to be absorbed into the blood, so early readings could be misleading.
He said: ‘After you have had your last swig of alcohol, your reading will continue to rise for the next 40 minutes because it takes time for alcohol to go down into your stomach and be taken into the bloodstream.’
Police are expected to carry out random checks on drivers crossing into France via Calais to ensure that they understand the latest drink-driving rules.
Read more: Now the French say holidaymakers have to carry a breathalyser kit in their car | Mail Online
