Don't forget breathalyser rules in place from Sunday

JUST a quick reminder that from Sunday, 1 July new regulations come into force requiring you to have a single use alcohol breathalyser in your vehicle.

The rules cover everyone driving in France, so if you are coming on holiday here in the next few weeks then make sure you have at least one, preferably two, in your car.

The breathalysers have to include the NF graphic to show they are compliant with the French regulations, a quick look at some popular online shops showed they had the recognised equipment in stock.

One thing to look out for is that the breathalyser is valid to use as there is a 'best before' date on them.

The French authorities have also decided that drivers will be advised of the legislation from July until 1 November 2012, following which fines will be handed out if drivers are not in possession of a kit.

Full text: Décret n° 2012-284 du 28 février 2012 relatif à la possession obligatoire d'un éthylotest par le conducteur d'un véhicule terrestre à moteur

Download Décret n° 2012-284 (.pdf)

Comments

[Geoffrey Coan]

I rather annoyingly forgot to buy a breathalyser when I was over in France a couple of months ago so have been looking around for prices because of the new law coming in soon.
Of course buying from the ferry company is most expensive, DFDS had packs of 2 for £5.99 onboard the boat, whereas cheapest I found was on E Leclerc's website where they were €1 each.
Ebay of course is always an option, the breathalysers are about £5 from the UK site, or I found on ebay.fr that they cost about £4 (search for "alcootest") to be delivered to the UK.
Or wait and pop into a French supermarket when you arrive in France. I've read somewhere that the police are not going to start prosecuting until September but don't rely on this advice !

Geoffrey

[Phil Smythe]

Local shops around this part of Languedoc seem to be all out of stock of the cheaper disposable breathalisers. Pharmacists seem to be the most clued up retailers. They may be happy to sell you the more expensive electronic kind (which - because they remove the need to carry a spare may be easier to live with). Amazon have both types available however.

[J Roger Clifford-Banks]

Still not seen any for sale here. You'd think they'd be 'in yer face' seeing as they become obligatory very soon!

[Gina]

I asked at my Mairie where I could get ethylotests, and they gave me two free ones. The Préfecture had decided to make some available to locals.

[Craig McGinty]

Hi Gina, that's interesting to read, might try the same here.

[J Roger Clifford-Banks]

I've now heard that there are plenty at Halfords in the UK. What an upside-down world!