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Here is the list of all the fines you can get while cycling in Paris

undefined undefined 28 mars 2024 undefined 15h48

undefined undefined 7 mai 2025 undefined 10h28

The Editor

© Nicolas Savignat / unsplash

We all know that in recent years, the number of cyclists has more than doubled in the capital. However, many users still seem unaware that there are specific rules in place, and that you can be fined for not following the road code, even on a bike. Here’s a quick recap of things you shouldn’t do (because they’re prohibited, but also because, for the most part, it just makes sense…).

When you ride a bike in Paris, there are plenty of reasons to get fined, and many of them are still unknown to most cyclists. Even though some of you can be super creative when it comes to finding excuses to get out of trouble, we’d rather give you a little help by providing you with a short list of violations that will land you a ticket. And while some of these can be managed without too much hassle, the amounts for certain fines might surprise you.


First-Class Fines: €11 Fine

We start off gently, with some harmless little infractions (on paper), but they can still turn out to be quite dangerous.

- Riding without an effective braking system. Let’s be honest, being able to stop is really handy!

- Riding without a bell or sound horn.

- Riding without front or rear lights. And this rule even applies during the day. Yes, yes.

- Riding without position lights and a functioning rear red light. When it's needed, of course.


Second-class fines, €35 penalty

Careful, things are getting serious.

- Changing direction without signaling. So, don’t forget to extend your arm before turning, friends.

- Riding with a passenger without an appropriate seat. Yes, yes, we’re talking to you. You who takes great delight in riding with three people on your vehicle…Vélib, swaying dangerously too much.

- Riding outside urban areas without a high-visibility vest, at night or when visibility is very low. Well, in that case, in Paris, it shouldn't be too hard to stick to this rule.

- Riding more than 2 side by side on the road. Yes, we know it’s nice to chat with friends when you’re all taking the same route, but besides being forbidden, it’s super annoying for other users.

- Speeding on a non-motorized vehicle. Because yes, you don’t need a big engine that goes "vroom vroom" loudly to be going too fast.

- Not riding on the bike lane (when it exists). Well, up to now…

- Being towed by another vehicle. Hey, lazy ones, keep pedaling, keep pedaling!


Class 4 Violations, €135 Fine

Alright, we’re getting to the serious stuff here, and this one stings a bit more if you get a ticket. So, pay close attention!

- Riding with a passenger under 12 years old without a secured helmet, when the driver is an adult.

- Riding without a secured helmet when the driver is under 12 years old. You got it, helmets are a must for those under 12!

- Riding the wrong way. Because yes, even though most of the streets in Paris are two-way for bikes, there are still some stubborn ones that refuse to let cyclists through, so you can’t just go wherever you want.

- Riding on a sidewalk in the city. This rule obviously doesn’t apply to kids. Let’s use a bit of common sense, shall we?

- Riding without lights at night or in low visibility. Because it’s b .it's great to have traffic lights (see infractions for €11), but they need to work! Well, we admit we're not quite sure we understand the difference with “Driving without position lights and rear red light on” for €11, but we imagine there’s a logic to it...

- Driving with a blood alcohol content between 0.5 and 0.8 g/l (0.25 and 0.4 mg/l of exhaled air). Whether you're in a car or on a bike, you have to choose between drinking or driving!

- Making a dangerous overtaking. You know, like between two lines of cars zooming by.

- Not stopping at a red light. The same goes for yielding. Or stop. But hey, since there aren't any in Paris, this doesn't really concern you.

- Wearing a helmet, headphones, or an earpiece. In short, anything that could cut you off from the outside world.

- Holding a phone in your hand while driving. Yes, that applies even if it's just to
.look at your route on a GPS. Life is unfair.

- Refuse to give way to a pedestrian crossing a road. Or to a priority emergency vehicle. Same battle.


Serious Offenses So Bad There Isn’t Even a Grading System

We’re sharing these with you just to be clear, because we want to do our job properly. But we truly hope you never have to deal with them.

- Driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.8 g/l or higher (0.4 mg/l of exhaled air or more). This will only set you back a mere 4500 € (9000 € for repeat offenders), plus some community service.

- Driving under the influence of drugs. Same story as above, 4500 € and all that jazz.

- Refusing to submit to an alcohol blood test or drug screening. That’ll cost you 4500 € as well, not sure it’s worth it when you could just pay “only” 135 € (even if, once again, b.

oire and take your bike, it's bad. Really bad.)

- Refusing to stop when ordered by an officer: €7500. Same here, not sure it's worth it.

- Hit and run after an accident. Well, here we're definitely at the maximum of the maximum. And at the same time, you really have to be a jerk, so we think €75,000 isn’t too high a price to pay.

So there you have it, you know everything now, and you can't say we didn't warn you!