N
noodle73
Guest
Apologies if you have already seen this elsewhere. GPS Speed camera warnings have now been banned in France, replaced instead by 4km long "Danger zones" which, anecdotally, cover everything from sharp corners to changes in speed limits - so many that they overload you and are in effect useless. Hefty penalties for using your GPS warnings.
This FAQ from the Garmin website:
http://www.garmin.com/uk/extras-camera-alerts/#france
French Safety Cameras: New Legislation for 2012
Travelling in France? IMPORTANT: Please be aware of a change in French law effective from 3 January 2012 regarding the use of speed and safety camera locations.
Questions and Answers
Q1: On the web I read that there?s a new law regarding the use of safety camera warnings in France. What?s it all about?
A1: On 3 January 2012 the French government issued a new law that effectively bans all systems that are able to provide warnings of safety cameras (aka speed cameras). This law includes all sat nav based systems. With immediate effect it has become illegal for anyone travelling in France to have any speed camera warnings on any device across the entire territory of France.
Q2: I have heard that Garmin GPS devices will no longer warn drivers about safety cameras when travelling in France. Is this correct?
A2: New Garmin sat nav systems sold in France will no longer detect the location of safety cameras but rather warn the driver of danger zones. This is in agreement with the new French law released on 3 January 2012 so that all Garmin devices sold to French customers are 100% legal.
UK customers who are travelling in France should disable their French safety camera database before arriving on French territory. Instructions are provided below:
Turn the device on
Touch Tools
Touch Settings
Touch Navigation
Touch Car
Touch Proximity Points
Touch Alerts
Select Garmin Safety Cameras
Touch Save
Go back to the Main Menu and your device will be ready for use in France in adherence with the new legal restrictions.
Please note that on different Garmin sat nav models the instructions might vary slightly. We recommend you consult the relevant online product manual for details on how to enable Garmin Safety Cameras on your device.
https://support.garmin.com/support/m...hManuals.faces
If you perform a master re-set on your device you will need to follow the above-mentioned steps again.
Q3: I have heard that it is now illegal to use safety camera warnings when travelling in France. Will I get fined if I travel there using my device?
A3: Anyone driving in France who is stopped by the police and caught using a device with safety camera warnings could face a fine of ?1500, irrespective of their country of origin. The advice for all non-French customers is to disable safety camera warnings before driving within France. See Answer 2.
Q4: Will this change affect my safety camera warnings in the UK?
A4: Unless you have previously disabled Garmin Safety Cameras from your device settings, your device will continue to function as normal when travelling in the UK or any other European country. The change will only affect France.
However, if you have disabled Garmin Safety Cameras when travelling in France, you will need to follow these steps to re-activate your warnings once outside French territory:
Turn the device on
Touch Tools
Touch Settings
Touch Navigation
Touch Car
Touch Proximity Points
Touch Alerts
Select Garmin Safety Cameras
Touch Save
Go back to the Main Menu and your safety camera alerts are re-activated and ready for use.
Please note that on different Garmin sat nav models the instructions might vary slightly. We recommend you consult the relevant online product manual for details on how to enable Garmin Safety Cameras on your device.
https://support.garmin.com/support/m...hManuals.faces
Q5: How can I find out if my device has pre-loaded French safety cameras?
A5: If you purchased a UK and Ireland regional model (no coverage for Europe) and you have never purchased additional content for France, you should not have any French safety camera data preloaded on your device. If in doubt you can disable the Garmin Safety Cameras alerts as shown in Answer 2.
Q6: I read on your website that you are now offering Danger Zone data for France. Is this to replace safety camera warnings?
A6: Yes and no. Yes because it is what French law allows us to offer our customers. No because this is not an exact replacement of the safety camera data and will not include the locations of safety cameras. Danger Zone data will include danger areas of 4km on motorways, 2km on major roads and 350m in urban areas and show hazardous driving areas. These zones may or may not include a speed camera. They include danger points such as railway crossings, hazardous crossroads and accident black-spots. The distance covered by the warning zones is dictated by the new French law.
Q7: I have just purchased a subscription for France, can I get a refund?
A7:This change in French traffic laws is enforced by the French government and Garmin is obliged by law to adhere to it. In general, we cannot offer a refund. For customers who have bought the latest Garmin sat nav models, we offer the new Danger Zone database and applicable modified device software to comply with the new French law. This upgrade is currently available for the following devices:
n?vi 1200, 1300 and 1400 series
n?vi 30, 40 and 50 series
n?vi 2200 and 2300 series
n?vi 2XX5 series
n?vi 3400 series
An upgrade will be released for additional devices according to this schedule:
n?vi 2400 series: available approximately 24 January 2012
dēzl series: available approximately 24 January 2012
zūmo 220, 660, 665 series: available approximately 13 February 2012
n?Link 2300 LIVE series: available approximately 22 February 2012
If you don?t see your device listed, or for any refund request, please contact our Product Support team.
Q8: Are there any other countries with the same or similar law?
A8: No other country from those currently included in the Garmin Safety Camera database has any plans to issue a similar law to the French one in the foreseeable future.
Q9: What are the differences between my current subscription and the new legal Danger Zone subscription?
A9: The Danger Zone subscription will include danger areas of 4km on motorways, 2km on major roads and 350m in urban areas and show hazardous driving areas. These zones may or may not include a speed camera. They include danger points such as railway crossings, hazardous crossroads and accident black-spots. The distance covered by the warning zones is dictated by the new French law. Safety camera data across other European countries will not be affected.
Q10: Who is responsible if I get fined while using the safety camera subscription for France on my device?
A10: The driver of the car is ultimately responsible for using their device, including features such as safety camera warnings. When driving in France, and if your device is not listed in Answer 7, you should make sure you disable the Garmin Safety Camera alerts as in Answer 2. Garmin accepts no responsibility for the consequences of non-compliance.
Q11: I have a n?Link LIVE sat nav. What will happen in terms of safety camera alerts on this device?
A11: The n?Link 2300 LIVE series is scheduled to receive an update to the Danger Zones warning system (see Answer 6) in February 2012. No service will be available for the territory of France with regard to safety cameras for any other n?Link device. The service will remain unchanged for the UK and any other country where live safety camera alerts are offered.
For the n?Link 2300 LIVE series, the change will resemble the one on non-connected devices (see Q6), where the alerts will correspond to Danger Zones rather than safety cameras.
Q12: Can I disable the safety camera alerts on my LIVE device?
A12:On n?Link LIVE sat navs, safety camera information is delivered wirelessly to your device. Garmin has now disabled these alerts for France, so there is no risk of your receiving camera alerts when driving in France. All other regions are unaffected and you will continue to receive safety camera alerts as usual. Garmin will shortly be releasing a software update for your device that will allow your device to receive real-time Danger Zone alerts for France, ensuring your device complies with the new French law. Please access this software release from the Garmin Web Updater at www.garmin.com/webupdater
This FAQ from the Garmin website:
http://www.garmin.com/uk/extras-camera-alerts/#france
French Safety Cameras: New Legislation for 2012
Travelling in France? IMPORTANT: Please be aware of a change in French law effective from 3 January 2012 regarding the use of speed and safety camera locations.
Questions and Answers
Q1: On the web I read that there?s a new law regarding the use of safety camera warnings in France. What?s it all about?
A1: On 3 January 2012 the French government issued a new law that effectively bans all systems that are able to provide warnings of safety cameras (aka speed cameras). This law includes all sat nav based systems. With immediate effect it has become illegal for anyone travelling in France to have any speed camera warnings on any device across the entire territory of France.
Q2: I have heard that Garmin GPS devices will no longer warn drivers about safety cameras when travelling in France. Is this correct?
A2: New Garmin sat nav systems sold in France will no longer detect the location of safety cameras but rather warn the driver of danger zones. This is in agreement with the new French law released on 3 January 2012 so that all Garmin devices sold to French customers are 100% legal.
UK customers who are travelling in France should disable their French safety camera database before arriving on French territory. Instructions are provided below:
Turn the device on
Touch Tools
Touch Settings
Touch Navigation
Touch Car
Touch Proximity Points
Touch Alerts
Select Garmin Safety Cameras
Touch Save
Go back to the Main Menu and your device will be ready for use in France in adherence with the new legal restrictions.
Please note that on different Garmin sat nav models the instructions might vary slightly. We recommend you consult the relevant online product manual for details on how to enable Garmin Safety Cameras on your device.
https://support.garmin.com/support/m...hManuals.faces
If you perform a master re-set on your device you will need to follow the above-mentioned steps again.
Q3: I have heard that it is now illegal to use safety camera warnings when travelling in France. Will I get fined if I travel there using my device?
A3: Anyone driving in France who is stopped by the police and caught using a device with safety camera warnings could face a fine of ?1500, irrespective of their country of origin. The advice for all non-French customers is to disable safety camera warnings before driving within France. See Answer 2.
Q4: Will this change affect my safety camera warnings in the UK?
A4: Unless you have previously disabled Garmin Safety Cameras from your device settings, your device will continue to function as normal when travelling in the UK or any other European country. The change will only affect France.
However, if you have disabled Garmin Safety Cameras when travelling in France, you will need to follow these steps to re-activate your warnings once outside French territory:
Turn the device on
Touch Tools
Touch Settings
Touch Navigation
Touch Car
Touch Proximity Points
Touch Alerts
Select Garmin Safety Cameras
Touch Save
Go back to the Main Menu and your safety camera alerts are re-activated and ready for use.
Please note that on different Garmin sat nav models the instructions might vary slightly. We recommend you consult the relevant online product manual for details on how to enable Garmin Safety Cameras on your device.
https://support.garmin.com/support/m...hManuals.faces
Q5: How can I find out if my device has pre-loaded French safety cameras?
A5: If you purchased a UK and Ireland regional model (no coverage for Europe) and you have never purchased additional content for France, you should not have any French safety camera data preloaded on your device. If in doubt you can disable the Garmin Safety Cameras alerts as shown in Answer 2.
Q6: I read on your website that you are now offering Danger Zone data for France. Is this to replace safety camera warnings?
A6: Yes and no. Yes because it is what French law allows us to offer our customers. No because this is not an exact replacement of the safety camera data and will not include the locations of safety cameras. Danger Zone data will include danger areas of 4km on motorways, 2km on major roads and 350m in urban areas and show hazardous driving areas. These zones may or may not include a speed camera. They include danger points such as railway crossings, hazardous crossroads and accident black-spots. The distance covered by the warning zones is dictated by the new French law.
Q7: I have just purchased a subscription for France, can I get a refund?
A7:This change in French traffic laws is enforced by the French government and Garmin is obliged by law to adhere to it. In general, we cannot offer a refund. For customers who have bought the latest Garmin sat nav models, we offer the new Danger Zone database and applicable modified device software to comply with the new French law. This upgrade is currently available for the following devices:
n?vi 1200, 1300 and 1400 series
n?vi 30, 40 and 50 series
n?vi 2200 and 2300 series
n?vi 2XX5 series
n?vi 3400 series
An upgrade will be released for additional devices according to this schedule:
n?vi 2400 series: available approximately 24 January 2012
dēzl series: available approximately 24 January 2012
zūmo 220, 660, 665 series: available approximately 13 February 2012
n?Link 2300 LIVE series: available approximately 22 February 2012
If you don?t see your device listed, or for any refund request, please contact our Product Support team.
Q8: Are there any other countries with the same or similar law?
A8: No other country from those currently included in the Garmin Safety Camera database has any plans to issue a similar law to the French one in the foreseeable future.
Q9: What are the differences between my current subscription and the new legal Danger Zone subscription?
A9: The Danger Zone subscription will include danger areas of 4km on motorways, 2km on major roads and 350m in urban areas and show hazardous driving areas. These zones may or may not include a speed camera. They include danger points such as railway crossings, hazardous crossroads and accident black-spots. The distance covered by the warning zones is dictated by the new French law. Safety camera data across other European countries will not be affected.
Q10: Who is responsible if I get fined while using the safety camera subscription for France on my device?
A10: The driver of the car is ultimately responsible for using their device, including features such as safety camera warnings. When driving in France, and if your device is not listed in Answer 7, you should make sure you disable the Garmin Safety Camera alerts as in Answer 2. Garmin accepts no responsibility for the consequences of non-compliance.
Q11: I have a n?Link LIVE sat nav. What will happen in terms of safety camera alerts on this device?
A11: The n?Link 2300 LIVE series is scheduled to receive an update to the Danger Zones warning system (see Answer 6) in February 2012. No service will be available for the territory of France with regard to safety cameras for any other n?Link device. The service will remain unchanged for the UK and any other country where live safety camera alerts are offered.
For the n?Link 2300 LIVE series, the change will resemble the one on non-connected devices (see Q6), where the alerts will correspond to Danger Zones rather than safety cameras.
Q12: Can I disable the safety camera alerts on my LIVE device?
A12:On n?Link LIVE sat navs, safety camera information is delivered wirelessly to your device. Garmin has now disabled these alerts for France, so there is no risk of your receiving camera alerts when driving in France. All other regions are unaffected and you will continue to receive safety camera alerts as usual. Garmin will shortly be releasing a software update for your device that will allow your device to receive real-time Danger Zone alerts for France, ensuring your device complies with the new French law. Please access this software release from the Garmin Web Updater at www.garmin.com/webupdater
