This is fear of motorists and bikers: illegal, inappropriate or bad lying cops. Of the 450,000 couch potatoes installed in France, a recent study (cited by TF1) highlighted that 75% of them were illegal ! An alarming number, considering that these devices, although they are supposed to ensure the safety of users, can turn out to be dangerous. Thus, some “Berlin cushions”, those red plastic applications glued directly to the road, can lack of maintenance, loosening over time or loss of traction: deadly for two wheels, especially in rainy weather! Likewise, some cracked or punctured prone cops are more likely to throw them off balance and cause them to fall, case law has already condemned individual town halls or departments on this topic…

Not more than 10 centimeters high

Of course, we are talking to you about the most serious cases, but in most cases a lying police officer who does not meet the requirements or is in a bad condition causes damage to the vehicles that use it: torn bumpers, worn rocker panels, etc. A plague for motorists who are increasingly coming together in associations to speak out and demand compensation from local authorities. Since in the event of an accident or damage, the mayor’s office or the department is responsible (depending on the location of the lying policeman)..

The law is very clear on this matter: lying policeman (trapezoidal) or lying policeman (circular) height should not exceed 10 centimeters. In fact, there are a very large number of them by 12 cm, 15 cm, even 70 cm in Longueuil-Sainte-Marie in Oise (60) ! In 2021, the Motorists’ Protective League warned that too high and illegal speed bumps were leading to excessive consumption by almost 30% and noise pollution multiplied by eight compared to a legal lying cop…

What procedure to follow?

But on the other hand, what to do if you have become a victim or a witness to an illegal lying police officer ? If there was damage, you can file a lawsuit in the administrative court in front of your town hall or department. You must to prove the illegality of the lying police officer (fairly simple height measurement), but more complex, prove that the damages you complain of were indeed caused by the lying policeman in question. After the procedure, you will be able to receive compensation and/or elimination or bringing into compliance the indicted lying policeman. But that’s not all!

If the lying police officer poses a real danger to the lives of others or if he has already caused bodily harm, in this case you can file a complaint against It will be reviewed and can directly condemn elected officials. You will have to be patient, because this procedure was long and takes an average of two years before finding a solution…

Read also:

Speeding: how do you know which radar has flashed you?

Unpaid fines: what are the risks?

Counterfeit counters: which brand is most affected?