This new feature risks disturbing many motorists used to receiving fines in their mailboxes.
It was the safeguard for motorists against scams, THE instruction to always follow to never pay a false fine. ANTAI (National Agency for Automated Crime Processing) always sent its tickets by mail. Have you exceeded a speed limit, run a red light, been caught using your phone while driving? Each time the ticket slipped into your mailbox, putting an end to your hopes of having escaped the radar. This unique communication channel had the considerable advantage for the user of protecting themselves from the numerous scams sent by email or SMS.
But it’s over! It is now possible to receive a real fine without going through the Post Office. ANTAI, in an effort to save on paper and shipping costs, has recently sent some of its minutes electronically. Unfortunately, very few users are aware of this new practice. And as the public body responsible for managing traffic violations has always warned against scams, a large majority of motorists believe in a scam when they receive a fine other than in an envelope.
However, we will have to get used to this new process. If it has your email address, ANTAI now favors this faster and less expensive means of communication. Once the email is received, you can pay your fine online as before. The problem is that motorists will now have to be extra vigilant. Scams on fake sites were already frequent, they risk exploding to make as many people pay phantom fines. It is therefore essential to know how to recognize whether an electronic ticket is authentic or fraudulent.
There are tips to avoid being fooled. Start by clicking on the name of the sender of the email. If the address displays ”[email protected]”, then it is indeed a message from ANTAI. We can only advise you enough to take the time to check each character because a single difference would be synonymous with fraud. Furthermore, when you click on the link inside the email, you must be able to check a box to indicate your consent. From there you will be redirected to the ANTAI website at the following address: https://www.antai.gouv.fr/
Please note that if you do not open this email or if you do not pay the electronic fine within 7 days because you suspect a scam for example, then the fine collection agency will necessarily send the fine by post to the address of the holder of the registration certificate. And the deadlines for paying the fine will be recalculated from the new date of the notice of violation.