There are not only me on the roads, there are hundreds… Hundreds of people who do not respect the rules.” It is true that from the outside, the arguments deployed to convince the police of one’s good faith after an offense are not always the most convincing.
To raise awareness among Parisian cyclists about the importance of the Highway Code, the police prefecture published on TikTok two videos compiling typical reactions of cyclists during road checks sometimes leading to their verbalization. An assembly with comical outlines for internet users who did not hesitate to react in the comments, which mainly invites potential cyclists to reflect on their behavior.
Between stammering and total lack of response, cyclists sometimes double their imagination when it comes to finding excuses. “Oh damn, I just saw the cars stopped. I thought that, uh…”, calmly responds a young user who just ran a red light to the law enforcement officer who stops him.
Others rely entirely on the power of ignorance. “Are earphones forbidden? Oh woooow”, a first person pretends to be surprised, while another prefers to play the expatriation card. “I live in Copenhagen. In Copenhagen we are allowed to…”, defends a man without batting an eye before being quickly rebuffed by an officer who reminds him that yes, we are indeed in Paris and that no one is supposed to ignore the law.
For the most daring who try to confront the police by asking them what they will do if they do not present their identity document, the authorities’ response is swift… “Police station, verification, 4 hours.”
Cyclists are subject to a fixed fine of 90 to 135 euros depending on the nature of the offense – from wearing in-ear headphones to running a red light, passing through dangerous overtaking, using the phone, or cycling on the sidewalk. Their license can also be suspended in the case of a serious offense, such as drunk driving or endangering others.
