While tourism professionals remain required to observe a health protocol and social distancing measures, with some exceptions, holidaymakers should no longer be subject to any particular constraint. This does not exempt us from respecting the rules applicable in tourist places, protected areas and more generally public spaces.
At the beach and on a walk
Beach, the municipal regulations prevail
Public beaches are managed by the municipalities. Posted in town hall and around the sites, the local regulations specify what is authorized and what is prohibited. In summer, sleeping under the stars or in a tent, lighting a fire, playing music and drinking alcohol is prohibited. The police can issue a ticket for "disturbing the peace" with a fine of € 38. Add € 11 if your doggie accompanies you when the town hall forbids him to use the sand. To find out about the 170 beaches that can accommodate it, visit 30millionsdamis.fr. Sunbathing in the simplest device is only permitted on a naturist beach authorized by municipal decree or by a customary tolerance, listed by the French Federation of Naturism (ffn-naturisme.com). The zones and periods of bathing supervision by lifeguards are also defined in town hall.
To know. Beyond national regulations – dates, species and material authorized, size of catches, etc., shore fishing also obeys local regulations which can vary significantly from one area to another. Find out more at the town hall or at the tourist office.
In nature, I know where I set foot
France is traversed by 180,000 km of marked and freely accessible hiking trails. With the exception of a few areas, hikers are allowed to walk off the paths. On the other hand, mountain bikers should stay on the tracks, and ride at walking pace when they meet walkers. Your dog can accompany you, except in national parks and nature reserves. Elsewhere, you don't have to keep it on a leash, but you will be responsible for any damage it may cause while wandering. The gathering of wild plants and berries is most often regulated, or even purely and simply prohibited in national parks and nature reserves. Elsewhere, make sure you are in the public domain before any harvest: 75% of French forests are privately owned, but not necessarily fenced. Watch out for the signs!
To know. Picking mushrooms also obeys certain rules: cut them with a knife and be content with the volume of personal consumption. Beyond that, you risk a fine of 150 to 750 €.
Prohibited areas
This is a consequence of confinement: several protected species of birds or fish have taken advantage of the period of movement restrictions to establish themselves in areas from which they were absent. To protect them, a number of municipalities, from Brittany to the Mediterranean coast, have restricted or even prohibited access to certain sites (reserves, parks, islands, forests) for varying periods of time. Likewise, some beaches will remain closed all summer to protect flora and fauna. Failure to respect these temporary exclusion zones will result in a fine of € 135.
A summer in the garden
Noise, hours and moderation required
The decibels emitted by the engine of a lawn mower or an electric drill are recognized as a source of noise pollution. In most cases, it is a municipal by-law that sets the rules for the use of all noisy tools and machinery. In general, the ban on use applies on Sundays – sometimes only in the afternoon, as well as on holidays. During the week, the engines must be switched off between 12 and 2 p.m. and between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. the next day. And regardless of the time of day or night, make moderate use of other sound sources. If you "push" the volume of your stereo too much, the neighbors can request the intervention of the gendarmes or the police for noise, night or day.
To know. In the event of noise pollution, a first reminder of the law free of charge may be followed by a fine of € 68.
Green waste, fire prohibited … in principle
Weeds, mowing residues, dead or pruned branches and other dead leaves are considered household waste. It is now forbidden to burn them in your garden. They must be deposited in a recycling center. However, in an isolated rural area, or without a waste reception center or a dedicated collection system, such as a mulcher truck that passes on fixed dates in the municipalities, incineration remains possible, under very specific conditions: between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. from December to February, and from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. the rest of the year, and in all cases only for dry plants.
To know. In practice, a prefectural decree that can be consulted at the town hall or online specifies the conditions in force in your department. Failure to respect them exposes you to a fine of 450 €.
Trees, pruning rules
If your neighbor's trees are invading your land, you are not allowed to prune them yourself. No more than picking any fruit. Harvesting is only possible once fallen to the ground. However, the owner of the land is obliged to prune his plants, and he can authorize you to cut the branches that are invading you. If he balks, you can go to the district court. On the other hand, if invading roots threaten to cause damage – cracks in the walls, warping of a terrace, etc., you can cut them without having to ask the owner's permission, even if this threatens the life of the tree. .
To know. If damage is already apparent, you must make a report to bring in your neighbor's liability insurance. In addition to repairing the damage, you can claim damages.
Barbecue, measure before anything else
Smoke, odors, projections of ash, blackening … in the eyes of the courts, the improper use of the barbecue can constitute a neighborhood disturbance. If they are deprived of the full enjoyment of their outdoor space, your neighbors have the right to ask you to reduce the frequency, or even to complain to court if the nuisance is intolerable in their eyes. Also check that a municipal or prefectural decree does not regulate its use. There are bans in particular in municipalities and departments where the risk of fires is high.
To know. In joint ownership, as in certain housing estates, the use of the barbecue obeys the internal regulations. This may in particular prohibit charcoal, while tolerating electrical or gas appliances.
The dog barks, justice passes
Your property must be fenced to prevent your pooch from running after the neighborhood cats or attacking a fellow creature. If it is normal and therefore tolerated that he barks from time to time to guard the property, neighbors have the right to file a complaint if the nuisance is frequent or repeats itself throughout the day. This is a proven neighborhood disturbance and you will have to stop it on pain of a fine and prosecution.
On the road to vacation
Safety first
Drive barefoot, with an ice cream cone in hand or with an unfolded road map on the steering wheel … on vacation, law enforcement agencies regularly observe this type of behavior. If they are not precisely defined as offenses, you can still be fined – up to € 150, because the highway code provides that you must be in a position to carry out conveniently and without delay all the maneuvers incumbent on you. . An officer may judge that your dress or behavior is preventing you from doing so.
To know. Driving at walking pace to admire the landscape can also be penalized: the highway code provides for this if you interfere with the normal running of other vehicles by driving without a valid reason at an abnormally low speed.
In Europe, I adapt my driving
To drive in Germany and Austria, you must take a first aid kit in your car. Ditto in Greece, where you will also have to carry a fire extinguisher. In Italy, outside built-up areas, you must always drive on low beam headlights, and also in towns in Sweden, Finland and Norway. Strictly banned in France, speed camera warnings remain authorized in 16 of the 28 member states of the European Union. The harmonization of the highway code is still far from being effective in Europe. To limit the risk of an offense, it is essential to inform yourself of the traffic rules in force in the countries you are going to visit. Info on the European Commission website – ec.europa.eu, "Transport" area, as well as on the dedicated mobile application, Go Abroad.
To know. Regarding drinking and driving, be aware that Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania apply zero tolerance.
Read also :
⋙ Picking, barbecue … What is authorized or not in the forest
⋙ Your rights at the restaurant
⋙ What are the new travel trends in 2021?