police abroad

[Ben.]

whats your experience with them?

more specifically what do they do when they stop you?
____________________
follow my racing season
Race bike - R6
Road bike - sv650

[BanditJeff]

Same as our old bill..... some good some bad.
But they do have on the spot fines.

[Red Mick]

In my experience.....two of them, wearing holstered guns waved me in to the roadside, checked my licence, took 60 Euros off me , gave me a receipt, then wished me a nice day

Oh, by the way, I'd crossed a single solid white line on a long, straight, empty road. Heinous crime.

[Ben.]

did they just give a quick read of your documents then? or did they radio things through to check stuff?
____________________
follow my racing season
Race bike - R6
Road bike - sv650

[Red Mick]

[c-m]

All they ask for is your license unless you've done something really bad.

All the ones i've met have been ok.


In Romania I over took a truck on a solid yellow line. I got pulled and had my license confiscated. I was given a receipt and was suppose to go pay a fine and then i'd get my license back. I didn't bother. I did what i needed to in the country and then left without ever paying the fine.

Back in the UK i just reported it lost.

In France there was a cop hiding (literally) behind a tree with a speed gun. He jumped out and clocked me. He smiled and just motioned with his hand to slow down. I was doing well over the limit.

[dodger]

Only time I have ever been stopped was whilst in France, as the police set up a check point thing, stopping every bike that went past.

They wanted to see my licence, insurance and V5...
____________________
My Bikes: Piaggio NRG| Aprilia RS 125| Suzuki GSX-R 600|Yamaha Fazer Ducati 848
Europe 2008

[tatters]

[Phoenix]

Going on your signature statement and your interest in whether european police radio in to check anything i'm going to assume you've lost your UK licence and are planning to ride abroad without one? It's illegal and you know it, if you get banged up don't complain.

I've not been stopped by any foreign police between here and Romania but was cornered while having lunch at a German service station twice in 10 minutes by 2 unmarked cars with plain clothes police in who did drink/drug test on me for no reason (touch your nose, stand on one leg etc) then rapidly left.

[Marmalade]

Always get more trouble with UK border agency than anyone else on my return.
German police and Zoll (customs) had me over a few times and check documents, usually V5 (logbook), insurance and licence

In the van usually a quick mooch around and then on my way.

Just be friendly and stick to the laws and you shouldn't come to much grief with them
____________________
Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[barnhatter]

Got done in the Czech Republic. Going up a closed road. I had seen the sign, but the diversions they put in are crap putting lots of miles onto a jouney. I had ignored a few previously so risked it. Half way down the road they stepped out and waved me to stop.
Started by playing dumb and said sorry I didn't realise.
They produced a book of road sign's, asked if I had any money. I thought okay here we go but they then got out an official receipt book and fined me 500Kr about £20. I payed quite happily and carried on up the closed road. They were catching a few people as I was being done. Anoying but it was my own fault.

[TheDonUK]

Belgian Police near Gent pulled me over and took 100 Euros for 100+, gave me a recipt a mild road safety lecture and let me on my way.
____________________
[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[stinkwheel]

In the USA. Call them Sir, be meticulously polite, sit still on/in the vahicle with your hands in clear view and do what they ask slowly. They expect people to be carrying guns so don't do anything to spook them.

Apologise if they say you've been speeding. I've met very few Americans who haven't travelled outside the US (and most of them havent) that would recognise a insincere appology if it bit them in the arse.

They will either let you off with a talking to or escort you to a cash machine to withdraw the money for the fine. Any I spoke to have been faultlessly polite and entirely professional, police in the UK could take some tips.

So when I inadvertantly parked the massive SUV I had hired in Florida in the wrong place I got: "Pardon me Sir, can I just ask you to keep your hands on the wheel?"; "You here on holiday?"; "I'm afraid I gonna have to ask you to move your vehicle Sir. Can you see that red square on the side of the building? That's a fire access point and you gotta leave it clear."; "Thank you Sir. Have a nice day.".

They also legally can't and wont stop you without having a reason for doing so.

The French police also expect you to be very respectful to them and will be polite in return (although they may politely empty your wallet for an on the spot fine).

Belgian police are chilled out to the max, as are their customs officials.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Vin]

[barnhatter]

You have to be unlucky to get caught speeding on the continent, but their are mobile camera,speed traps around, also a few fixed cameras.
A lot of drivers will flash you to warn you that their is a speed trap so watch for flashing lights.
I the Czech republic weekends was the time for mass speed traps.
The best way is to show ignorance of the rules, the fact that you are a foreigner, failing that accept the punishment with politness, arguing wont change their decision.
Just make sure you have all your documents with you.

[yen_powell]

Waving your passport and shouting about the Queen and gunboats coming to get 'em should get you off any charges. Works better if you're over 60, got a huge moustache and are wearing a pith helmet though.
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/Copyofjohnyfez.jpg
____________________
Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[Red Mick]

[Oskari]

Got stopped by police in Ukraine last summer when driving there with bro. We tried to show our licences to them, but they were not interested in, instead they asked how fast they go, wanted us to pop our wheels and stuff like that. Very friendly, and even gave us a tip where to cross the border to Moldova, a place not shown in the map.

Well, 2008 in Poland, not stopped though, but escorted... we were driving "maybe" a bit too fast towards a small town, so police made an u turn, over passed us and drove us slowly through the town, with a good reason: There were some weddings and a lot of people on the streets. After the urban area ended, they just let us go freely again...

-----------------------
Travel with Snella:
https://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7E0014987441B8EA

[oriel dave]

As said some good some bad and being polite and not taking the piss you'll generally be fine. In Poland everybody speeds by 10-20 mph over the limit and the traffic cops generally ignore this.

We got stopped in Serbia after entering a town a bit fast but they just checked my docs, had a little chat about why we were visiting their country, told us some nice places to go and made a phone call to find us a campsite.
____________________
Europe Trip 2009

[Grazoid]

Got pulled by French Customs at the Frejus tunnel heading into Italy.

They pulled us over and made us park in full sun then took the docs for the bikes and marched off to an office.

My other half actually had her surname slightly misspelt on her V5 so started worrying. They marched back and started questioning us, and kept asking me for details of where I lived, was i still living in the UK , what part of England etc... okay living in Derby with a Scouse accent may have caused a slight frown in the UK , but these guys cracked my other half up by stating that I didn't sound English! She apparently was safe in the accent test as she hails from feckin' Devon!

Needless to say , the curiosity to take a tunnel under the Alps is now satisfied and I won't be going that way again!

[sprint-1]

Hello Peeps
Gotta hand it too you all some great advice as well as funny ones Its all been invaluable help for me as ill be doing my 1st ride through Spain & Portugal and alone at that ...... So many thanks to all
Incidently ... i will be travelling on the 23rd May to santander ...Anyone else going then ????
____________________
Paul

[divuk83]

I got lost looking for a petrol station near dunkirk and 2 police stopped me. I used my limited french to ask about petrol stations and while doing this they did eye up my loud race can. I pretended not to understand and I don't think they could really be bothered to try and explain as they didn't speak much english and I didn't speak much french. They very kindly led me to a petrol station and then waved me on my way. Thanks to them I didn't run out of petrol and I made my tunnel crossing on time

Dave

[Poseidon]

I always have to laugh at the Garda in ROI. They always seem really half arsed when it comes to "yellow platers". I've past them no end of times doing 20/30mph over the limit... You actually see the police car jolt as the driver drops down a gear ready to charge after you, then clock your yellow plate on the back before dropping back into the traffic as if it's more trouble than it's worth following you.

They act the same way if you use the bus lanes in Dublin too. Never been stopped yet.

The customs/border folk at Dublin port are the best. On disembarking the ferry, I figured that the empty lane for boarding traffic would stay empty for a while (they're not going to load whilst we're all still coming off), so I snook through the cones into that lane and filtered past the cars queueing to have their passports checked. Whilst doing so, I noticed a customs official glaring at me, so I made a move to pull back into the correct lane. He signalled at me to come forth, so I did... Fully expecting a sound ticking off. When I got close to him, I slowed down to prepare to stop and opened my visor, he shouted "Keep going son... Sure you're okay" And off I went. They really don't give a shit over there! Can't wait to get over there in June!
____________________
1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)