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Re: French Police, YIKES!
[Re: jazzgal]
#135495
07/12/2017 01:25 PM
07/12/2017 01:25 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,646 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,646
Brookfield, CT.
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Linda,
With all due respect, you are incredible in that you do get out and about the island - ALL OF IT - as a solo traveler far more than many of us these days. There was a time, back in the day, when we wouldn't have thought twice about an evening trip to Marigot or Grand Case for dinner but these days, really - not so much.
Sasasal,
The gendarmes are doing their job with these traffic controls, whether anyone likes it or not. But there's no reason for them to be less than pleasant about it. And the controls are not just about checking the alcohol levels of drivers but I have to say, I've never heard of anyone being held in jail for not having their passports on them and a ride back to the car would have been nice.
We don't spend much time on the French side of the island these days and if we go there, it's generally for a day/lunch at FBBC, Dreams or Anse Marcel Beach Club and when we are there I don't worry about the alcohol thing since one of us doesn't drink at all. But I sure will be copying our passports and keep them with us in the future so thank you for the heads up.
Good thing your car wasn't stolen while your DH languished in jail awaiting his passport arrival! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: French Police, YIKES!
[Re: mmk]
#135497
07/12/2017 01:39 PM
07/12/2017 01:39 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,085 Massachusetts
boucharda
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,085
Massachusetts
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It's ironic that this is a country (France) when everyone has wine with their meals and one glass (160lb person) will put you at or above that 0.04. It's really hard to rally against those "drunk drivers" Edit: I could find no reference that stated that requires carrying a passport at all times in France. Most travel sites advise against it. US State Department
Last edited by boucharda; 07/12/2017 01:48 PM.
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Re: French Police, YIKES!
[Re: mmk]
#135500
07/12/2017 01:54 PM
07/12/2017 01:54 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,562 Long Island, NY
RICKnGRACE_LI_NY
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,562
Long Island, NY
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You are responding to sassal, who, at the beginning of the story said they had not been drinking. Her husband didn't have his passport. So, you have your facts wrong and the tone of you post seems a bit over the top. JMHO
Rick and Grace
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Re: French Police, YIKES!
[Re: mmk]
#135501
07/12/2017 02:08 PM
07/12/2017 02:08 PM
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 355
sasasal
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 355
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this was not about alcohol, was the middle of the day. husband stopped, asked for passport, and taken away... We never drive when we drink, but frankly, Hope this never happens to anyone, but this was uncalled for... and again!!! on top of it all, they did not offer a ride back to his car... So lets forget about drunk driving, this is about ways to make money... I think the French side of Island needs to put more effort into getting tourisim back.. but I do not think they care.. If I am wrong? been wrong before, nope will not go back, Respect is all.
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Re: French Police, YIKES!
[Re: sasasal]
#135503
07/12/2017 02:28 PM
07/12/2017 02:28 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,194 Virginia
Snorkeller
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,194
Virginia
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An unfortunate experience, for sure. The laws in France are rather crazy about what you need to have in your car - even a rental car.
Of course, as always, whether the law in the Collectivitie is the same as in European France - who knows.
As a basic, though, you should always have good photo id with you when driving a car on the island (or anywhere). One of the first things I do when getting the rental car is put color photocopies of my passport and my Virginia driver's license in the glove compartment.
It may be that the fact your husband had no photo id at all with him when driving was at least part of the problem.
No one should be driving without having in their possession (e.g., in the car) a photo id - and, if you are in a foreign country - it is certainly best to have at least a color photocopy of your passport with you.
We have passed through many check points on french-side over the years on the island - always just waved on without being asked for anything.
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Re: French Police, YIKES!
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#135506
07/12/2017 02:44 PM
07/12/2017 02:44 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,460 île staten
Bobcat
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,460
île staten
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You're right Scubaman and most likely a photocopy might not be acceptable proof of identity. We have passport cards, the same size as a drivers license and they are valid passports, good for identification we carry around just in case. ============= LINK
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Re: French Police, YIKES!
[Re: bivangrp]
#135508
07/12/2017 03:01 PM
07/12/2017 03:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 763 Chicago area & St-Martin
ChiTownHarry
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 763
Chicago area & St-Martin
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I am sorry for your experience. We own a condo on the French side and have been stopped at a checkpoint a few times. The Gendarmes were always polite and respectful. We have never, ever been asked for our passports, as we do not carry them. We do carry our rental contract and our driver's licenses, but rarely been asked for them. Usually, after we speak a few words in English, the wave us through. I believe they're main focus is finding illegals. We spend most (90%) of our time on the French side.
--ChiTownHarry
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Re: French Police, YIKES!
[Re: boucharda]
#135512
07/12/2017 04:01 PM
07/12/2017 04:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,085 Massachusetts
boucharda
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,085
Massachusetts
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OK, I found this on the French Government Tourism site:
[quote]PASSPORTS AND VISAS All U.S. and Canadian citizens, including infants, need a valid passport to enter France. Visas are not required for American and Canadian visitors staying in France for up to 90 days. For more information, contact your nearest French Consulate. See a list of local French consulates in the U.S. It is mandatory in France to carry some form of identification at all times. If you lose your passport, the nearest U.S. Consulate will issue Americans a limited-validity replacement if travel is imminent, or a full-validity passport if further travel is not within two weeks. When in France, please carry a photocopy of your passport separately from your passport
ID required...passport not required. Copy used "to facilitate replacement if lost"
Also: I would NEVER leave a copy of my passport in the car. Way too much personal info on it.
Last edited by boucharda; 07/12/2017 04:06 PM.
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Re: French Police, YIKES!
[Re: boucharda]
#135513
07/12/2017 04:31 PM
07/12/2017 04:31 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 186
JulieandKarl
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 186
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boucharda said:It's ironic that this is a country (France) when everyone has wine with their meals and one glass (160lb person) will put you at or above that 0.04. It's really hard to rally against those "drunk drivers" Edit: I could find no reference that stated that requires carrying a passport at all times in France. Most travel sites advise against it. US State Department France has much more public transportation than the US. 0.04 encourages people to use it and not drive
Last edited by JulieandKarl; 07/12/2017 04:37 PM.
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