British Family Caught After Months of Free Toll Travel on French Highways
A 3,000-Euro Highway Shadowing Operation
A British family drove three vehicles through French toll plazas for months without paying by tailgating vehicles and holding up barriers, accumulating roughly 3,000 euros in outstanding tolls, according to De Telegraaf. French police ultimately tracked down the motorists on the A36 highway near Belfort in the eastern part of the country.
Tailgating Through French Péages
The operation relied on persistent tailgating at electronic toll collection points, known locally as péages. According to reporting from RTL.nl, the family members managed to keep the security barriers raised as they navigated three separate cars through the lanes without triggering the automated payment validation. This method allowed them to bypass payment systems across French motorways over a multi-month period.
Authorities caught up with the motorists on the A36 near Belfort. France 3 Franche-Comté reported that the unpaid balance reached approximately 3,000 euros. Confronted by law enforcement, the family was forced to settle the outstanding debt immediately.