Stricter border controls in France?

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Bathdave

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Just arrived in Carteret, for my first French trip of 2018.

We normally come here 2 or 3 times a year, and we visit maybe a dozen other french ports a couple of times each season.

Despite being on the system, they had my boat name and my name and address on their database, I was asked at the marina office for my passport, for the first time ever.

I didn't have it with me (it was on the boat) but I had to write down my name, DOB and nationality on a piece of paper for them to enter on the computer.

Last year a skipper of a boat I had done a tour on tried to arrange a private pilot to fly in to pick up 4 of us from Cherbourg to fly back to Jersey, but the pilot could not get clearance without three days advance notice and a passenger manifest with the same data

I gather France has instituted some stricter laws enforcement, not in relation to Brexit (as some would have you believe) but because of their terrorist attacks.

Previous wisdom was that you needed your papers in case of a random stop by customs or border guards, but it now seems marinas are being asked to compile and enter this data for visiting yachtsmen. I'd always thought that it was such an obvious loophole, so perhaps not surprising it's being tightened up.

Any other early season visitors to France encountered this?
 
We noticed the same on French Camp sites in the last couple of years, much tighter checking and verifying of ID etc. One site they told us they now have to submit a list of their visitors to the Gendarmerie as well as the usual list to the Mairie. But the French always did love their paperwork. Now with their terrorist problem its making sense. We have one of the international Camping Carnets which usually is accepted as ID, but recently we have been asked for passports as well.
 
Bathdave said:
Just arrived in Carteret, for my first French trip of 2018.

We normally come here 2 or 3 times a year, and we visit maybe a dozen other french ports a couple of times each season.

Despite being on the system, they had my boat name and my name and address on their database, I was asked at the marina office for my passport, for the first time ever.

I didn't have it with me (it was on the boat) but I had to write down my name, DOB and nationality on a piece of paper for them to enter on the computer.

Last year a skipper of a boat I had done a tour on tried to arrange a private pilot to fly in to pick up 4 of us from Cherbourg to fly back to Jersey, but the pilot could not get clearance without three days advance notice and a passenger manifest with the same data

I gather France has instituted some stricter laws enforcement, not in relation to Brexit (as some would have you believe) but because of their terrorist attacks.

Previous wisdom was that you needed your papers in case of a random stop by customs or border guards, but it now seems marinas are being asked to compile and enter this data for visiting yachtsmen. I'd always thought that it was such an obvious loophole, so perhaps not surprising it's being tightened up.

Any other early season visitors to France encountered this?
Click to expand...

This may have something to do with it: https://www.express.co.uk/news/worl...rt-terror-threat-police-database-schengen-sis

Also, there are calls to renew the State of Emergency.

savageseadog said:
Glad to know that the French Police State is alive and well
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Now that you had a chance to air your prejudices (once again). how are we any different?
After the last terrorist strike in this country we had the army in APCs guarding LHR.
 
Tin Tin said:
Now that you had a chance to air your prejudices (once again). how are we any different?
After the last terrorist strike in this country we had the army in APCs guarding LHR.
Click to expand...

Compulsory ID cards? Has anyone been asked for ID at British camping and caravanning sites let alone have your visit registered with the Police? It's the same with hotels and has been for decades, well before terrorism. France is a Police State and always has been ever since the revolution.
 
savageseadog said:
Compulsory ID cards? Has anyone been asked for ID at British camping and caravanning sites let alone have your visit registered with the Police? It's the same with hotels and has been for decades, well before terrorism. France is a Police State and always has been ever since the revolution.
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Absolutely ridiculous! A blatant lie, in fact. My wife and I spend 3 to 4 months a year in France and have done for many years, using marinas, hotels, staying in bed & breakfast places, renting gîtes and chalets on campsites and nobody has ever asked to see our passports or required any ID. In some of the French hotels you can even check in/out without seeing anybody.
 
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Twisterowner said:
Absolutely ridiculous! A blatant lie, in fact. My wife and I spend 3 to 4 months a year in France and have done for many years, using marinas, hotels, staying in bed & breakfast places, renting gîtes and chalets on campsites and nobody has ever asked to see our passports or required any ID. In some of the hotels you can even check in/out without seeing anybody.
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30 years ago you used to register with your passport and fill in a registration card. Can't remember when it stopped.
 
petehb said:
30 years ago you used to register with your passport and fill in a registration card. Can't remember when it stopped.
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You're right, I remember doing it but I'm sure it was more than 20 years ago. But far from it being evidence of a 'police state', as SavageSeaDog claims, it was probably no more than the usual reluctance of a bureaucracy, any bureaucracy, to give up doing something which kept it employed.
 
savageseadog said:
Compulsory ID cards? Has anyone been asked for ID at British camping and caravanning sites let alone have your visit registered with the Police? It's the same with hotels and has been for decades, well before terrorism. France is a Police State and always has been ever since the revolution.
Click to expand...

What a load on nonsense. I have lived in France for 13 years and at no time have I been aware of what you are stating. I have also travelled extensively in France and never have I had a request to register with the police or for an ID card and only occasionally do I need to show passport or driving license.
 
Over many decades I have had only exemplary courtesy from members of the Gendarmerie Nationale. They practice high standards and are rightly proud of their service. It's barely a week since one of their senior officers swopped himself for a terrorist's hostage - and paid with his own life.
 
Oldfellah said:
What a load on nonsense. I have lived in France for 13 years and at no time have I been aware of what you are stating. I have also travelled extensively in France and never have I had a request to register with the police or for an ID card and only occasionally do I need to show passport or driving license.
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I hate to say it, but I think SavageSeaDog makes things up. :ambivalence:
 
There are some very odd, uneducated or poorly travelled people on here (possibly more than one of the categories applies). I had the (mis?)fortune to visit/work in many countries which really are police states, and to classify France a a 'police state' does show an extraordinary level of ignorance either of the country or of the English Language.

Such stupidity beggars belief and I do hope that your carer keeps the scissors carefully locked away.
 
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Elecglitch said:
There are some very odd, uneducated or poorly travelled people on here (possibly more than one of the categories applies). I had the (mis?)fortune to visit/work in many countries which really are police states, and to classify France a a 'police state' does show an extraordinary level of ignorance either of the country or of the English Language.

Such stupidity beggars belief and I do hope that your carer keeps the scissors carefully locked away.
Click to expand...
Well said.
 
I do recall on our last visit to St malo a couple of years ago a large military presence patrolling the walls but to be honest given the issues at the time it was hardly surprising. If we see a bit of security present it's hardly surprising. While not France I always recall a guide in Egypt honestly stating the benefits of the presidency at the time - he didn't believe it was democracy but it did enable you to walk the streets at night in safety . I am not saying the French presidency is the same but it's easy to see how if the threat of terrorism is from within your own country it's hard to strike a proper balance so we should not be too harsh on encountering more security if it provides a degree of reassurance to the local populace .
 
1987 Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie. Entering the German Democratic Republic (DDR) for a 1-day visit. I give my passport, Volskspolizei ( Voppo, in short ) looks at the picture for about 30 seconds, then stares at one side of my face for 30 seconds or so, back to the picture for another 30 seconds or so, then looks at the other side of my face for what seemed an impossible long time to keep a straight face and not burst out laughing. Sadly, it was no laughing matter. This was just the entry into a Police State.
I worked all over the world, Passport is the first thing you get asked. Nothing wrong with it and the UK did OPT OUT of the Schengen Agreement. Complaining seems a bit …
ID for me. Schengen…
 
What many Brits don't understand is that carrying photo I.D and having to produce it is mandatory in some European countries. Even Portugal has regular vehicle roadside stops and I.D, and car papers (have to carry the registration document, test cert & insurance) are inspected as well as a quick look around the car. When purchasing expensive items such as an outboard, it's also usual for fiscal number (tax ref) to have to be produced. I wish we had photo I.D. as well, it would stop a lot of crime.
 
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