This car breakdown can result in a large fine, which is little known to motorists.
On the road to vacation, to work and even to go to friends or for a family outing, breaking down is the enemy of all motorists. It must be said that finding yourself behind the wheel of a car that no longer moves, stuck in the middle of traffic or parked on the side of the road, is very distressing. Then comes the call to the breakdown company, the hours that pass, the paperwork to fill out to activate your insurance and of course the trip to the garage to carry out the repairs. Sometimes with very bad news when it comes time to pay the bill.
Unfortunately, sometimes one bad news can bring another. While a car breakdown is never intentional, there are a few rare cases in which the police can fine you. Imagine yourself desperately sitting next to your stopped car and seeing the police or gendarmes arrive to give you a ticket. A sort of fatal blow that you can receive when you run out of gas. Few drivers know this, yet the bill can climb up to 135 euros.
It all depends on where the vehicle is parked. In towns or on small roads, it is often possible to park the car on the side after receiving a little help to push it. In this case, parking does not represent a real danger. It is different when it happens on a fast road, and especially on the motorway. If, for example, the car stops on the emergency lane, there is a high risk of being fined. Emergency lanes are normally used in cases of force majeure, but running out of petrol is not considered as such because it can be anticipated by the driver. Parking on this part of the motorway generally results in a fine of 35 euros for those who have “forgotten” to fill their vehicle’s tank on time.
The bill can be even higher when crossing a bridge or tunnel. If you are even slightly attentive, you have probably already noticed that there is no emergency lane on these structures. If you run out of fuel, you will be able to pull over to the right at best, and at worst, get stuck in the middle of the lanes. Parking in this case can be considered dangerous, which is punishable by the Highway Code with a fine of 135 euros and the loss of three points on your driving license. Added to the cost of breakdown assistance – only provided by companies approved on motorways – often in excess of a hundred euros, this small oversight can be very expensive.