A British lawyer was cheered and dubbed ‘James Bond’ by onlookers after being clocked at 147mph in his new Aston Martin in France. Incredibly, he was then allowed to continue with his journey using a co-driver, without any risk whatsoever of facing a jail sentence as he would in the UK.
The solicitor, who is in his 50s and from the London area, was stopped on the A4 Paris to Strasbourg motorway on Monday evening as he headed to a meeting in Milan. A highway patrol from the town of St Menehould, the champagne producing town in eastern France, initially measured his speed using a hand held laser gun. Rather than give chase, however, they then ordered him to stopped at a nearby motorway toll station.
‘When officers turned up to speak to him there was quite a scene,’ said a police source. ‘People began cheering and hooting their horns. There were even shouts of “James Bond” ‘People like to see a nice car, even when the driver has been found speeding. In France Aston Martin means one thing – James Bond. People like to see a nice car, even when the driver has been found speeding. In France Aston Martin means one thing – James Bond’
The source said the car was believed to be a new green Aston Martin V12, which has a top speed of 190 mph and costs upwards of £135,000. Despite the high speed, the car was not confiscated – as often happens after drivers are stopped in France.
The driver, who has not yet been named, instead had his license confiscated and was fined the equivalent of 655 pounds. He was also banned from driving in France for the next six months, but will not need to appear in court, and runs no risk of jail, said the police officer. The lawyer had a licensed passenger with him, who was also apparently insured for the Aston Martin, which meant he could continue his journey to Italy, he added.
The solicitor, who is in his 50s and from the London area, was stopped on the A4 Paris to Strasbourg motorway on Monday evening as he headed to a meeting in Milan. A highway patrol from the town of St Menehould, the champagne producing town in eastern France, initially measured his speed using a hand held laser gun. Rather than give chase, however, they then ordered him to stopped at a nearby motorway toll station.
‘When officers turned up to speak to him there was quite a scene,’ said a police source. ‘People began cheering and hooting their horns. There were even shouts of “James Bond” ‘People like to see a nice car, even when the driver has been found speeding. In France Aston Martin means one thing – James Bond. People like to see a nice car, even when the driver has been found speeding. In France Aston Martin means one thing – James Bond’
The source said the car was believed to be a new green Aston Martin V12, which has a top speed of 190 mph and costs upwards of £135,000. Despite the high speed, the car was not confiscated – as often happens after drivers are stopped in France.
The driver, who has not yet been named, instead had his license confiscated and was fined the equivalent of 655 pounds. He was also banned from driving in France for the next six months, but will not need to appear in court, and runs no risk of jail, said the police officer. The lawyer had a licensed passenger with him, who was also apparently insured for the Aston Martin, which meant he could continue his journey to Italy, he added.
