Curious law
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EVEN the most experienced hauliers can fall foul of obscure Continental regulations — as demonstrated by a curious French law on driving in winter weather.
The problem has been highlighted in a question tabled at the European Parliament by South of Scotland MEP Alasdair Hutton.
His query concerns what the French call barriores de doge, which impose weight limits on certain roads during a thaw.
A lorry with 29 tonnes of polyester film was on its way to Switzerland, when it was stopped at the southern French village of Bernaville in the Pas de Calais area.
The local prefet had imposed a 12-tonne limit on the Abbeville/ Bernaville road and driver Willie Sommerville was jailed for the night and fined 1,500 francs (£150).
Mr Hutton has asked the Commission if it will publish a comprehensive list of all local restrictions road hauliers are likely to face as they cross Europe.