GPS applications: possible reporting of radars but not of certain roadside checks

Since 1^er In November 2021, prefects may temporarily prohibit GPS applications from broadcasting messages that signal certain particularly sensitive roadside checks involving vehicle interception. That is indicated in an order in council in the Official Journal April 20, 2021. The Constitutional Council decision of 24 November 2021 specifies that this prohibition applies only to the checks listed in Article L130-11 of the Highway Code, which do not include speed checks.

Driving and navigational aids applications retain the right to report radars on the roads. However, they will not be able to report certain police checks involving the interception of vehicles in the event of:

• blood alcohol tests;
• drug testing;
• identity checks;
• searches of vehicles or luggage;
• searches for individuals (for criminal or terrorist causes, escapes...).

The ban on reporting these police checks is decided by the prefect at the request of the security forces or directly by the Ministry of the Interior.

The prohibition is limited to 2 hours in the case of alcohol or drug testing, and 12 hours in other cases. In the control zones, the ban applies within a radius of 10 km outside built-up areas and 2 km in built-up areas.

In order to make the areas concerned by the checks invisible on radar warning devices, the police must communicate them to operators of the driving or navigation aid services, in order to prevent the passing on of the notification of these checks to their users.