Frogs have scrapped the Breathalizer, now they have this...... plebs!

New post on UK France bikers.com

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France: compulsory reflective stickers on all helmets

by UK France bikers
In early January of this year, we advised all our readers that the current French Interior Minister, Manuel Valls, had decided to scrap his predecessor's ludicrous proposals for all motorcyclists to wear any form of reflective clothing while riding their motorbike or scooter. Unfortunately, the French government has now come up with another (stupid) piece of legislation forcing all bikers in France, whether residents or visitors, to wear a helmet with reflective stickers on. Bikers caught wearing a helmet without stickers face a 135 euros fine payable on the spot and 3 points taken off their licence.
All helmets must have four reflective stickers: one on the front, one at the rear and one on each side. The surface of each sticker must be 18 cm2 and, within each sticker, you must be able to draw a 40 mm diameter circle, or a 12.50 cm2 rectangle with a minimum of 20 mm length, as shown on the below picture.

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Rest assured, when you buy a new helmet in France, compliant stickers usually come with it, however, it is your responsibility to correctly stick them on your helmet. There is one more requirement which is that the stickers should not be removable without damaging the helmet and must remain reflective over time. They must also be water resistant and not interfere with the opening and closing mechanism of the helmet (if applicable). If you live in the United Kingdom (or any other country for that matter) and intend to visit France on motorised two or three wheels, you must enter France with compliant reflective stickers on your helmet.
As far as we know, France is the only country in the entire world that requires reflective stickers on helmets. We all know very well that the current French socialist president, François Hollande, has no interest other than stealth taxing everyone in that country to fund the huge public deficit. He has already made thousands of French citizens leave their country and take advantage of the free mobility and immigration rules within the European Union to escape from the French tax system, which is one with the highest tax rates in the world. Thousands of French citizens have decided to relocate to the neighbouring United Kingdom where London is the sixth largest "French city", a large proportion of whom have done so purely to escape from the French tax system and the on-going pressures and economic uncertainties within the euro zone. This new piece of legislation to force all bikers to have reflective stickers on their helmet is a typical example of the current French government's practice to grab any "centime" they possibly can by deliberately introducing ridiculous laws which the vast majority of residents and visitors would find useless and ignore. Can you imagine how many bikers the French police have caught so far not having compliant stickers on their helmet and how much they have cashed in on behalf of the French government? Motorcyclists are already obliged to ride with their bike's head lights (front and rear) switched on, is this not enough to remain visible at all times?
Let's see how long the reputable and most respected FFMC (Fédération Française des Motards en Colère) will take to force the government to reverse this stupid and money grabbing piece of legislation. In the meantime, you have been warned - put stickers on your helmet or get done (or else don't ride in France all together)! It is time that the French government starts to treat motorcyclists like responsible adults and not like children to whom apply punitive rules.

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If you're based in France and want to take part in the fight against the Government's continued policy to ban motorcyclists from filtering through traffic, then contact the Fédération Française des Motards en Colère (FFMC - French Federation of Angry Bikers).
Si vous habitez en France et souhaitez participer aux manifestations pour la circulation inter files des motocyclistes dans les embouteillages, contactez la Fédération Française des Motards en Colère (FFMC).

UK France bikers | March 16, 2013 at 10:43 | Tags: ffmc, François Hollande, French socialist president, head lights, helmet, Manuel Valls, motorcyclists, reflective clothing, reflective stickers, sixth largest French city | Categories: Motorcycling in France | URL: http://wp.me/pyxHV-1TL

Comment See all comments

 

FFS

 

Bought carbon shark helmet the other week , had reflective stickers in the box for this very thing, if im right shark are french, they wont be going on my nice shiny black helmet, luckily only going to spain this yr.

 

Hmm not good, as we were planning to go through France, think everyone should boycott France now

 

It's pathetic isn't it

 

Yep - we decided to boycott France and will take the boat all the way down to Bilbao instead. Socialist bastards, the lot of 'em.

 

Yep boat to spain booked in june

 

FFS!!! I'm (we're) going to France soon. I'll be taking my old lid.

What happened to the manufacturer's recommendation not to put stickers on them?

 

i bought a shark helmet 3 yrs ago and it had the floro stickers with it

 

I'm going to the ring in May. I can't think of any (sensible) way to get there without going through France. I don't want to put stupid stickers on my nice shiny Shoei

 

Ramsgate to Ostend, trouble is a 4 hour ferry, but it is quite cheap

 

Thanks, I'll look into it

 

I had a look. It's doable. Stupid French laws. I really love France but their government seem determined to change that.

 

I too like France, roads, weather & (most) people are great, especially from mid>south. Don't think I'd change if I'd set plans, as the southern roads far outweigh the stupid sticker law IMO but I never thought the frogs would stand for this. Maybe its preferable to the reflective clothing of before.

 

I'm with you there but we're just flying down the E40 to Germany maybe I should just man up and buy some yellow stickers

 

The Shark ones aren't too bad.

 

All depends on your helmet Gareth yes looks fine on that helmet, but on my all matt black don't think soI would prefer the stupid arm bands that you can take off once out of France, not to ruin my Helemt

 

you could always get Black reflective Vinyl....its black until u shine a light at it.

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/12/18/scotchlite-680-black.html

Haven't seen any in the UK...but had a quick search on ebay...and you can get them from the US.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3M-BLACK-...692?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20cb888a94


I know...maybe not great on a Matt finish...but I wonder if there is a matt black reflective vinyl out there...

 

Hmm not sure that is going to stop me getting stopped and fined in France