Built-in car navigation

[peebs24]

We have just been informed by Renault/TT France that there is legislation being considered that might outlaw any device that warns drivers of radar sites. If passed, it would probably mean that GPS units would have to have radar detection disabled. I presume that this would apply to residents and visitors alike.

This would bring France into line with other EU countries such as Spain where the ban is already in law.

As I say, this is only at the 'talking' stage at the moment. I will update this thread as I get more info.

[Ditte]

Hi peebs,

I have changed the title of this thread to TomTom speed cameras in France.

TomTom is already working with the French authorities regarding this.
You can read more about this on this French FAQ: http://www.tomtom.com/5565

I will also provide you with an update, as soon as I have one.

All the best,

Ditte

[peebs24]

Hi Ditte,

I was aware of TT's discussions with the French authorities. My reason for the post was to draw attention of the possible problem to English speaking visitors and residents alike.

I have heard of cases in Spain where portable GPS units were confiscated if they had the radar data activated. I am not sure just how they would handle the case of built in units like the Carminat!!!

Regards,

[Barcel]

Respect to Spain:

www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/Trafico/aclara/prohibicion/detectores/afectara/navegadores/elpepuesp/...  (Google Translator helps)

This is an old story where the director of Traffic in Spain said that radar detector will be illegal. Later on, he has to clarify that he meant radar detectors; devices that physically detect radars and jams the signal avoiding the photos.

The Traffic director specifically clarified that GPS devices will not make illegal whatever they may have a radar data base positioning alarm.

I’m Spanish, I never heard of no police taking a GPS from anybody; if anything they may take those radar detector.

These are the one’s illegal and not only in Spain but in many countries:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_detector

Regards

[peebs24]

Yes, it could have been a radar detector rather than the GPS. There does seem to be general confusion in Europe between radar detectors/jammers and GPS units with just radar placement alerts. The French government have the matter under discussion at this time but I have already noticed that some of the signs warning of radar units have started to disappear.

[Jürgen]

The English version of the FAQ mentioned above has been updated: www.tomtom.com/5560. The update that removes the French speed camaras is not yet live.

French and other languages will follow as soon as we will have received the translations.

Jürgen

[Jürgen]

The implementation of the new law in France has been postponed. We do not have a new date yet. For now we have removed information about France from the FAQ.

The moment the new law gets implemented there will be an update that will remove French speed camera files from navigation devices. We are working on a new service for France that warns about danger zones instead of speed cameras.

Jürgen

[peebs24]

Many thanks for the heads-up on this problem. As i live in France I will be very interested in any further news on this matter.

[Jürgen]

Since yesterday, 4 January 2012 speed camera warnings are illegal in France. We have published an announcement: http://discussions.tomtom.com/t5/News-and-announcements/Speed-Cameras-in-France/td-p/137741

The FAQ on the support pages www.tomtom.com/5560 has been updated as well.

Jürgen

[hfonfon]

Hi Jurgen,

It is a sum up to say that speed camera warning are illegal in France.

In fact, it is illegal to warn of the precise location of a speed camera.

But GPS and other speed camera detectors can warn the driver he has in front of him an "area of danger".

The length of this area of danger depends on the type of road you are on, if I remember well: 4km on a motorway, 2km on a standard road and 300m in a city.

This was discussed with the government this summer 2011, what happened on the 4th of January is that this new law was published in the official French book of law and is now applicable. It is only the administrative side of the subject. The content of the new law was known for months.

I'm a bit surprised TomTom did not reacted earlier and the only actual proposal is to completely remove the speed camera warnings.

Other GPS manufacturers already updated their software weeks ago (In November) in order to show the new "area of danger".

Any idea when the update will come for the Carminat Tom Tom Live  ?

Regards,

Herve.