Using a SAT NAV in France

[Michael66]

Are there any laws that stops you from using a SAT NAV in France. I have read somewhere about some people being stopped by the Police for that reason. Is it legal to use one without speed cameras on it or is it totally illegal to use one? We are coming out to France in May and will be doing alot of driving and I want to be sure that I will not be breaking any laws in using a SAT NAV to get about.

[Bevdeforges]

If by SAT NAV, you mean a GPS (that has the little warnings about the speed cameras), no problem. What is illegal in France is a radar detector.

The automatic camera locations have to be disclosed publicly, and as such are picked up by the GPS companies for download to your maps. The police also set up classic radar traps (basically, a car with a couple officers and a mobile radar gun - and those can be anywhere along the side of the road. Your GPS will do nothing for you in spotting those.

Now, if your GPS is mounted in such a way that it looks like a radar detector, you could be stopped. Or, if there is a GPS out there that includes radar detection capabilities... that WOULD be illegal.
Cheers,
Bev