Check that shoulder flash

A reader in one of our big towns says he had a run-in with "a really nasty municipal cop". He asks what are the powers of these guys. They are, in fact, carefully limited and usually the odd pushy individual who acts nasty will back off if he's told there could be a formal complaint to the mayor's office. You can check what sort of cop you're dealing with by seeing whether he's got a shoulder flash identifying him as "national" or "municipal". 

A "municipal" can:

• If he thinks an offence has been committed ask for your name - but not for an ID document.

• If he has suspicions about you he can order you to stay put - but only until a member of the Police nationale or the Gendarmerie has arrived.

• If he thinks a traffic offence has been committed he can ask for your driving licence.

• If you are involved in an accident or you are caught speeding he can apply the breathtest. If you've exceeded the limit by 40 kilometres or more he can confiscate your vehicle.

• Again, if he feels suspicious he can pat you down - but not carry out a body search nor open bags.

It should be said that at this magazine we're positive about the police, whatever their branch. Bad flics are rare. 

From Reporter 103 - June/July 2004

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