France backs down on breathalyser fine
France has shelved plans to fine motorists who fail to carry a breathalyser in their car due to a shortage of breath-testing kits.
Single use breath-testing kits can be bought for less than £10 but there’s a shortage of the kits in France since the threat of a fine was proposed
The penalty, which was due for introduction next month, would have meant an €11 (£9.50) fine for those without a breathalyser – with the equipment costing from £6 for single use kits to £60 for pocket electronic devices.
Despite ditching plans to fine motorists, carrying a self-test breathalyser is still a requirement for motorists in France, as well as a warning triangle and fluorescent safety vest.
For those caught with blood/alcohol levels above 50mg per 100ml, a typical penalty in France is a €135 (£116) fine plus penalty points.
Those with levels above the current UK limit of 80mg per 100ml, can face fines up to €4,500 (£3,900) and two years imprisonment.
See below for current drink-drive limits around Europe (mg per 100 ml of blood):
UK: 80mg
France: 50mg
Germany: 50mg
Ireland: 50mg
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Belgium: 50mg
Netherlands: 50mg
Poland: 20mg
Norway: 20mg
Sweden: 20mg
Czech Republic: 0mg
Russia: 0mg
