FORUM

Can anyone advise on what is the most up to date position about carrying two breathalysers in the car in France. Did it ever become law for residents/tourists? is it enforced? if so what is the penalty for not having them? To be on the safe side we always carry two.

Gleber

law didn,t pass. Not obligatory to have them

For what it's worth, it's more bonkers than that. The law passed (strictly, the decree was made) and remains in effect. But they abolished any sanction for failure to observe it - and M Valls more-or-less said "don't bother". It was never obligatory to have two so long as you were not stupid enough actually to use the first one (and thus immediately find yourself with none). Vive la différence!

PS: if it is not obvious, no it is not enforced, and no you needn't bother. Which is just as well, because your original pair may well be past their use-by date.

It's probably off-topic, but the same is broadly true for domestic smoke-detectors. They are now compulsory, but there is no sanction for not having one, and insurers are (I believe) expressly forbidden to consider their absence when handling claims if your house burns down.