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Quote: Originally posted by netherfield on 11/8/2008
and although hubby is the most careful and cautious driver around but he was pulled in by Gendarmes for not stopping at a give way sign - he argued that he had but they were having none of it and fleeced us for 90euros
This is going off topic, but just wanted to say the same happened to us a couple of years ago. We got to a 'Stop' sign, stopped, then turned right. A couple of 100 yards up the road, a gendarme flagged us down. We just thought it was a spot-check, as they wanted to see the vehicle documents and driving licence, and then said that would be '90 Euros for the ticket'. We didn't understand what they were on about at first. Then he said that we had failed to stop at the 'Stop' sign. We said that we DID stop, but of course, it was our word against theirs. We had just come across from England and didn't have 90 Euros on us, we had about 45 Euros from the time before, it was about 7.30 pm, and we were just going to stay overnight near the tunnel and draw more money the next day.
Well, we went round the houses for ages, they wanted 90 Euros, we kept saying we didn't have that, we only had about 45, we showed them purse/wallet etc. We said that we would need to go to a cashpoint to get money, and we were nowhere near one. The vehicle would have to stay there, he told us, whilst we got the money. But where do we go to get it, we asked. It would be one hell of a distance to walk, and there was certainly no public transport anywhere near.
In the end, the other gendarme, who up to then had not said anything, said: if you need to get money, we would have to take you into Calais itself, AND GIVE YOU A RECEIPT. So you can go this time, but take it as a warning.
So, needless to say, we also stop for at least 3 or 4 seconds, even if the road is clear, but we really did think that this was very much targeted at English registered cars, the fact that he said that he would have to give us a receipt spoke volumes.
Incidentally, I didn't think you had to stop at a 'Give Way' sign, providing the road is clear, only at an actual 'Stop' sign.
------------- Ina
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