French police target sale of licence points

31 Jul, 2012

French police are cracking down on people who “sell” driving licence points to offenders who have had points deducted from their licences for driving offences.

A new crime unit has recently been set up to police internet websites that specialise in the sale of points for driving licences.

Four people are now being prosecuted and they risk imprisonment and fines of up to €30,000.

The French driving licence starts with 12 points, and habitual traffic offenders have been able to buy points from others who either have a clean driving record or who seldom use their licences, such as the elderly.

The trade involves making a false declaration about who was at the wheel of the vehicle at the time of the offence. This has always been illegal but there has been no efficient way of dealing with it until now.

Points have been known to change hands for €400 per point.