Out of date flares and fire extinguishers etc in French waters.

[rjandhl]

I have seem to remember that if your boat is subject to a visit from the French authorities you will be liable for a fine for each out of date flare or fire extinguisher that they may discover. I have seen a previous thread on this forum that references the French regulations concerned and also a somewhat vague response from the RYA. Several chandlers have also mentioned that the coastal flare pack is insufficient to satisfy the French regulations and that people are being fined for having out of date flares or fire extinguishers.
Has any Forumite experienced any problems in France, or been fined, regarding this?

 

[Csail]

No, but why don't you just write a new date on them?

 

[Cantata]

The RYA view IIRC is that the French have no jurisdiction over such items on a UK-flagged boat.
However that is clearly no help whatsoever to a UK skipper with poor French or none at all, and faced with determined officialdom.

 

[LostinFrance]

I think that is correct regarding flares, it's one of the reasons I have the red duster on my boat. i didn't want clod hopping gendarmes walking all over my boat. Boating is severely regulated here and there are regulations about saftey gear that are rigidly enforced for french boats. French mate of mine got fined about 80£ a few years ago for 1 out of date flare even though he had loads more than required.
Thing is in france, there are so many regulations, no one - especially the ones that enforce them - can possibly know them all. So just in case, I'd just leave the old ones at home.

 

[electrosys]

[ QUOTE ]
No, but why don't you just write a new date on them?

[/ QUOTE ]
Or - which is pretty-much the same thing - simply remove the date. The onus is then upon the authoritites to prove that the flare is out-of-date. You could always substitute your own code so as to keep check of them.

 

[LostinFrance]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
No, but why don't you just write a new date on them?

[/ QUOTE ]
Or - which is pretty-much the same thing - simply remove the date. The onus is then upon the authoritites to prove that the flare is out-of-date. You could always substitute your own code so as to keep check of them.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you are talking about France the onus is on the accused to prove their innocence, they don't muck about with arty farty lawyers - you pay up and then try to get your money back. And the Gendarmes will just march you to the nearest cash point anyway so scrubbing off the use by date will probably just get you another fine.

 

[dulcibella]

The significance of a courtesy flag is that we accept that we are subject to the laws and regulations of the host country. I think that the implication is clear.

 

[Tranona]

Think you may have that a bit wrong! The significance of wearing the ensign of your own country of registration is that your boat is NOT subject to the laws and regulations of the "host" country as far as registration requirements are concerned, which includes equipment and crew qualifications. You are of course subject to many other local laws just as any other visitor.

 

[LostinFrance]

In fact I live in France and I do obey all their laws. My boat has all the safety gear required by the French because I happen to think they are right but the State has more powers than you would imagine; I registered my boat in Britain because I do not want to be subject of random spot checks by the local plods. If they want they will come on board anyway and find nothing wrong but I got this problem with authority, see?
Sorry.