Having your car too dirty is punishable by a fine!

Did you know ? If your car is considered too dirty by the police, they may sanction you with a third category fine. This is in any case what is stipulated in the French Highway Code. How many times a week do you wash your vehicle? Only one study, 44% of over 55s would wash it every week, compared to 22% for young people. On average, 1 in 15 people would wash their car every week (1 in 17 among professionals/executives and 1 in 12 among the less well-off.)

Obviously, this law mainly concerns the windshield, since the driver must have good visibility at all times. But what is the price of the violation? Explanations.

The cleanliness if not the fine

It is article R316-4 of the Highway Code that will want you a penalty if you have not taken care to wash your car like it should be. This clearly states: “The windscreen of motor vehicles must be fitted with at least one windscreen wiper having a surface of action, power and frequency sufficient for the driver to be able to see the road clearly from his seat. The windscreen must also be fitted with a windscreen washer device. (…) Any operation likely to reduce the safety characteristics or the conditions of transparency of the windows (…) is prohibited. »

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Several reasons for sanctions

The so-called “category 3 fine” is equivalent to a financial penalty of 68 euros for the driver. In case of advance paymentit will be of the order of 45 euros. Beyond visibility, there is also the windscreen washer to keep in good working order, that is to say filled with the regulatory dose. If a too big impact is found on the windshieldit will also be sanctioned.

Whether it’s rain, wind, dust, snow, tree leaves, insects… Many elements can obstruct the driver’s visibility and the rules must be respected in order to drive safely on board. his vehicle. Feel free to take your car to the car wash and use a powerful jet. Beware of brushes which can scratch the bodywork. If in doubt about the visibility of your windshield, always take the time to clean it thoroughly before setting off. Checking the water and windshield washer fluid levels is also essential.