For those with the money to pay, fines for speeding may seem like a mere slap on the wrist, a very light penalty for committing a serious traffic offense.
With that in mind, the French government has approved a new law that, in addition to a fine of around $4,000, drivers and motorcyclists who exceed the speed limit by 50 km/h or more could face up to three months in jail.
Speeding is considered a serious traffic offense in France, but until now, you could only be convicted if you were a repeat offender.
However, authorities discovered that this was not enough. In 2024 alone, authorities recorded 63,217 cases of drivers exceeding the speed limit by at least 50 km/h, a 69% increase compared to 2017.
Now, in addition to potential jail time and fines, judges can suspend your driver’s license and prevent you from applying for a new one for up to three years. They can also seize your vehicle and ban you from driving certain vehicles for up to five years.
This offense will be recorded on your criminal record, you will receive six points on your license, and they can even force you to take a traffic safety course, which you will have to pay for out of your own pocket.
And it’s not just in France. Several U.S. states have adopted specific legislation against so-called “super-speeders,” indicating a shift in how speeding violations are being handled by authorities.
Photo: Triumph. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
