when will the sanctions fall?

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Be careful, big change in perspective on the road to the summits! As of Friday, November 1, 2024, certain winter tires tolerated until now will no longer be tolerated, and the controls are likely to become more difficult to access mountain areas in the Pyreneesparticularly in Haute-Garonne, even if a certain vagueness persists a few weeks before the fateful date. Explanations.

What is this obligation on winter equipment?

As a reminder, in order to venture safely on snowy or icy roads, in application of the “Mountain II law” which came into force in 2022, during the winter period (i.e. from November 1 to March 31), motorists must be equipped before taking the road to the massifs, whatever the condition of the road on the day of their travel.

For three years, he has in fact OBLIGATORY to equip your vehicle with winter tires, or failing to hold chains or socks snow, in certain municipalities of 34 departments, located in mountain ranges: Alps, Corsica, Massif central, Jura, Vosges, and of course Pyrenees. For the latter, no less than 46 municipalities are concerned in Haute-Garonne. Beyond the department, this also targets access to all ski resorts of the massif.

Which vehicles are affected?

Concretely, from the first weekend of November 2024, all vehicles four wheels and more (cars, utility vehicles, campers, etc.) will be subject to this obligation. However, it does not apply to vehicles equipped with studded tires.

Coaches, buses and heavy goods vehicles without trailers or semi-trailers are subject to the same regime. Heavy goods vehicles with a trailer or semi-trailer must have snow chains allowing at least two drive wheels to be fitted, even if they are equipped with winter tires.

What options are available?

With this provision, light vehicles, utility vehicles and motorhomes must either:

• have removable anti-slip devices in their trunk (snow chains metallic, or snow socks in textile) to equip at least two driving wheels;
• be equipped with four winter tires approved.

Certain tires previously tolerated will no longer be tolerated

One thing is certain: from November 1, certain tires previously accepted will no longer be accepted. The term “winter tire” will only cover products clearly identified by the joint presence of the “Alpine symbol” and one of the markings “M+S”, “MS” or “M&S”.

Only these 3PMSF tires will now be accepted as equivalent to the chains. The purchase and use of other “snow tires” will remain possible, but users must, in this case, also have chains or socks to travel in the affected areas.

When should you put on chains or socks?

If you do not have winter tires, chains et socks will naturally not be put on the wheels in the absence of snow or ice, but must be “kept on board the vehicle”.

The areas concerned by the obligation are indicated by specific road signs: one for entry, the other for exit from the area where winter equipment is required. Signage is also mandatory for the measure to be enforceable.

When will the first sanctions actually fall?

If a tolerance was granted until last winter, the State had announced the color in recent years: by 2024, it would be over ! In 2023, the Haute-Garonne prefecture indicated that to “give time to adapt”, its services had chosen “the educational approach” and “that no sanctions would be applied”.

THE promised fines will they to fall from November 1? “To date, tolerance is still applied,” indicated this Tuesday, October 8, the Haute-Garonne prefecture, contacted by Toulouse News : “A decree in the Council of State must be taken for the implementation of the sanctions”.

Except that according to our information, the dissolution and the entry into force of new government slowed down the examination of the file…

Questioned, the National Road Safety Delegation confirms that for sanctions to be imposed, “the decree must be published, stipulating an implementation date. However, this one is “still in preparation” at the Ministry of the Interior, awaiting the green light from its new tenant.

By the time the file is examined, the decree will probably not be not published as of November 1but there is a good chance that it is during the winter. In the meantime, “tolerance remains applied”.

Which 46 municipalities are affected?

Finally, let us recall that in Haute-Garonne, the prefect has established by decree the list of municipalities where users must hold chains or socks in the trunkfailing to have equipped their vehicles with winter tires. Ultimately, this obligation applies to 46 communes of Haute-Garonne, from November 1 to March 31:

• Antignac
• Argut-Below
• Artigue
• Bachos
• Bagnères-de-Luchon
• The bar
• Benque-Dessous-et-Dessus
• Bezins-Garraux
• Billière
• Binos
• Bourg-d’Oueil
• Boutx
• Burgalays
• Castillon-de-Laboust
• Cathervielle
• Caubous
• Cazaril-Laspènes
• Cazaux-Layrisse
• Cazeaux-de-Larboust
• Cier-de-Luchon
• Cires
• Garin
• Gouaux-de-Larboust
• Gouaux-de-Luchon
• in the heart
• Sir
• Jurvielle
• Juzet-de-Luchon
• Lège
• Mayrègne
• Melles
• Montauban-de-Luchon
• Moustajon
• Mr
• Portet-d’Aspet
• Portet-de-Luchon
• Poubeau
• Razecueillé
• Saccourvielle
• Saint-Aventin
• Saint-Mamet
• Saint-Paul-d’Oueil
• Salles-et-Pratviel
• Signac
• In the garden
• Trébons-de-Luchon

Finally, know that there are exemptions on certain roads of the department: the RN125, the RD125, up to PR 20+413, are excluded from the scope of obligation. But not the surrounding roads!

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