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Road traffic offenses in Europe
Verified 26 February 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
What applies to you ?
Can you be prosecuted if you commit a traffic offense in another European countries than his? We tell you what you need to know for a French driver in Europe or a European driver in France.
French driver in Europe
Cross-border proceedings may be instituted in respect of the following offenses:
- Speeding
- Non-use of seat belt
- Red light crossing
- Impaired driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Non-wearing of helmet
- Traffic on a prohibited lane
- Use of a mobile phone (or other communication equipment) while driving
- Failure to observe a safe distance from the preceding vehicle
- Dangerous overtaking
- Unsafe parking or stopping
- Crossing one or more continuous lines
- Traffic in the prohibited direction
- Failure to comply with the rules on the release and use of an emergency lane or the giving-over of passage to emergency vehicles
- Use of an overloaded vehicle
- Non-compliance with rules on vehicle access restrictions with exceptions
- Hit and Run
- Non-compliance at a railway crossing.
Depending on the country and the offense committed, you may be subject to the following penalties:
- Immediate payment of a fine
- Obligation to post a bond
- Retention or suspension of the license
- Immobilization of the vehicle
- Vehicle impoundment.
If you commit an offense without being arrested there, a letter is sent to your home. The letter from notification, drafted in French, shall specify in particular the following information:
- Details of the offense (nature, place, date and time...)
- Means and date of payment of the fine
- Appeal procedures.
The applicable rules are the rules of the country where you committed the offense (amount of fine, prosecution proceedings).
FYI
The majority of European countries have a points driver's license. However, you do not lose points on your French license in case road traffic offense abroad.
European driver in France
If you commit a infringement in France, you may have to pay a flat-rate fine or a consignment. In addition, depending on your nationality, you may be prosecuted and punished upon your return to your country.
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You are German, Austrian, Belgian, Danish, Spanish, Estonian, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Luxembourg, Monegasque, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Swedish, Swiss, Czech
You have a home or a job in France
In the event of a traffic offense in France, you may have to pay a flat-rate fine.
If you were not immediately arrested in France, you may be prosecuted upon your return to your country for the following offenses:
- Speeding
- A red light passed.
You receive a notice of violation written in the language of your country. The notice of contravention shall indicate in particular the nature, date and time of the infringement, the amount of the fine, the means of payment and the procedure for challenging it.
A call center will inform you if necessary about your steps:
Who shall I contact
You have a deposit approved by the administration (e.g. automobile club, touring club)
In the event of a traffic offense in France, you may have to pay a flat-rate fine.
If you were not immediately arrested in France, you may be prosecuted upon your return to your country for the following offenses:
- Speeding
- A red light passed.
You receive a notice of violation written in the language of your country. The notice of contravention shall indicate, in particular, the nature, date and time of the infringement, the amount of the fine, the means of payment and the procedure for challenging it.
A call center will inform you if necessary about your steps:
Who shall I contact
You're in a different situation
In the event of a traffic offense in France, you may have to pay a flat-rate fine.
If you cannot pay the fine or if the offense committed is not punished by a lump sum fine, your vehicle may be held back until payment of a consignment. The public prosecutor shall take a decision within a maximum of 24 hours following the finding of the infringement. The amount of money recorded varies according to the seriousness of the offense. If you do not pay the deposit, your vehicle may be impounded. The costs are at your expense.
If you were not immediately arrested in France, you may be prosecuted upon your return to your country for the following offenses:
- Speeding
- A red light passed.
You receive a notice of violation written in the language of your country. The notice of contravention shall indicate, in particular, the nature, date and time of the infringement, the amount of the fine, the means of payment and the procedure for challenging it.
A call center will inform you if necessary about your steps:
Who shall I contact
You're from another country
You have a home or a job in France
In the event of a traffic offense in France, you may have to pay a flat-rate fine.
A call center will inform you if necessary about your steps:
Who shall I contact
You have a deposit approved by the administration (e.g. automobile club, touring club)
In the event of a traffic offense in France, you may have to pay a flat-rate fine.
A call center will inform you if necessary about your steps:
Who shall I contact
You're in a different situation
In the event of a traffic offense in France, you may have to pay a flat-rate fine.
A call center will inform you if necessary about your steps:
Who shall I contact
If you cannot pay the fine or if the offense committed is not punished by a lump sum fine, your vehicle may be held back until payment of a consignment. The public prosecutor shall take a decision within a maximum of 24 hours following the finding of the infringement. The amount of money recorded varies according to the seriousness of the offense. If you do not pay the deposit, your vehicle may be impounded. The costs are at your expense.
On the same subject
Article L121-4
Registration and communication of vehicle traffic information (Article L330-2)
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