As the Paris Olympics draw in millions of spectators, attendees are being cautioned that they could face fines exceeding £12,000.
Personal finance expert Maxine McCreadie has highlighted some unexpected French laws that Brits may unwittingly violate, resulting in penalties up to 15,000 euros.
Tourists are therefore advised to familiarise themselves with France’s more obscure laws to avoid run-ins with the authorities and unnecessary financial strain. McCreadie, from UK Debt Expert, has outlined some key laws that Brits can easily overlook.
Be careful of where you smoke
France is cracking down on smoking with an aim to create a smoke-free generation by 2032. This includes prohibitions on smoking in public spaces such as restaurants and public transport, which could result in fines up to €450 for tourists.
For those venturing beyond the capital, new regulations coming into force in 2024 will also ban smoking on French beaches, with penalties for non-compliance.
Dress code matters
While Brits often opt for loose swim shorts for a dip, these have been banned by French law since 1903. Instead, holidaymakers must wear tight-fitting swimwear like speedos in public pools or risk expulsion, all in the interest of hygiene.
Brits who dare to bare all in view of those outside their hotel room or private residence could be slapped with fines of up to €15,000 (£12,631).
And it’s not just nudity that could leave holidaymakers out of pocket.
Don’t eat and walk
Tourists could find themselves hit with additional fines for drinking alcohol in public places such as streets and parks (€38), littering in public places (€68) and for not having a valid ticket on public transport (€50).
Maxine specifically cautions those who will be thronging Paris’s streets for the 2024 Olympics, warning: “that being drunk and disorderly in public can incur fines and possible police detention”.
Meanwhile, scaling historic monuments or buildings is strictly off-limits and could result in fines of up to €1500 for any tipsy tourists who might try it.
Maxine warns: “raking up unexpected fines from €50 – €15,000 (£42 – £12,634) can quickly eat into any savings that holidaymakers have set aside for the Paris Olympics, potentially forcing some to rely on debt to cover the cost”.
Think twice before sharing that selfie
Although it’s a law often broken by tourists and largely unenforceable, many could be caught off guard with legal action for posting a photo of the Eiffel Tower at night during its spectacular light show, due to European copyright law.
While a snap of the Eiffel Tower itself is free from copyright, the light show it puts on from dusk till 1am is protected work.
Tourists should therefore think carefully about where they share this content if they capture it.
Finally, Brits are reminded that they must carry ID with them at all times.
“If you’re planning to travel by train to the Paris 2024 Olympics, ensure you carry a valid driving licence or passport as proof of ID. A tourist was recently slapped with a €120 fine for failing to present an accepted form of identification,” warns Maxine.
Beware of carpooling rules
“Travelling solo? Be mindful of France’s stringent carpool restrictions. Lone drivers caught in a car sharing lane by a thermal camera could face fines up to €135,” she further cautioned.
Prioritise safety
Other offences that could result in a €135 penalty in France include driving while wearing headphones, not fastening your seatbelt, and neglecting to don a hi-vis vest when at the roadside due to a vehicle breakdown.
If you have children watching TV on a portable screen to keep them occupied during the journey, make sure it’s out of the driver’s view. Failure to adhere to this could lead to an additional fine of €1500 (£1260).
