Photo: Police nationale de la Seine Maritime
If you think drifting on public roads is a good idea, well, think again! Two BMWs ended up crushed by the French authorities, and all that the owners could do was stand and watch in horror. Now they kick off crowdfunding to set up a solid defense for the first hearing of the trial, scheduled for next year.
The police made the radical decision after having seen screenshots of the cars doing illegal drifting. One of the owners says that he never actually got the chance to defend himself and save his car.
"So much money and time have been lost within a week," the owner of the yellow E36 3 Series Coupe complains on Instagram. "No need to explain how I am feeling right now," he added, after admitting that it was indeed him behind the wheel of the car in the screenshot. He affectionately called his yellow BMW "Lemon," which is French for "lemon."
It all started with drifting on May 26, 2023, in what he claims was some industrial area in Tourville-la-Riviere, in northern France, and not a public road. That doesn’t necessarily make it legal. But at least it reduces the risk of injury, since there should not be any pedestrians or drivers around. Someone uploaded photos of him on social media, and a screenshot somehow ended up in the hands of the French National Police.
About 20 days later, on June 14, authorities seized the car parked in front of his home, while he was at work, so he did not even get the chance to take his belongings. Furthermore, police showed up at his work and arrested him right in front of his boss.
He tried to appeal the decision, but he was told that the crushing was already scheduled and there was nothing that he could do about it. The French National Police shared a video and several photos of the yellow E36 3 Series Coupe and of a multicolored E46 3 Series sedan getting crushed in a compactor within seconds.
Even now, when all that is left of the cars is a cluster of metal and glass, people advise them to get a lawyer and ask for compensation. The owner of the yellow BMW is now crowdfunding for a legal defense, and he is at almost 1,600 euros ($1,743) right now. The first hearing will take place on January 15, 2024.
In France, the fine for stunt driving exceeds €75,000, translated into more than $81,800. Drivers who do stunts on public roads could even serve up to three years in prison. This is how the French authorities are radically trying to crack down on such actions that, in the past years, have been causing more and more casualties.
It all started with drifting on May 26, 2023, in what he claims was some industrial area in Tourville-la-Riviere, in northern France, and not a public road. That doesn’t necessarily make it legal. But at least it reduces the risk of injury, since there should not be any pedestrians or drivers around. Someone uploaded photos of him on social media, and a screenshot somehow ended up in the hands of the French National Police.
About 20 days later, on June 14, authorities seized the car parked in front of his home, while he was at work, so he did not even get the chance to take his belongings. Furthermore, police showed up at his work and arrested him right in front of his boss.
He tried to appeal the decision, but he was told that the crushing was already scheduled and there was nothing that he could do about it. The French National Police shared a video and several photos of the yellow E36 3 Series Coupe and of a multicolored E46 3 Series sedan getting crushed in a compactor within seconds.
Even now, when all that is left of the cars is a cluster of metal and glass, people advise them to get a lawyer and ask for compensation. The owner of the yellow BMW is now crowdfunding for a legal defense, and he is at almost 1,600 euros ($1,743) right now. The first hearing will take place on January 15, 2024.
In France, the fine for stunt driving exceeds €75,000, translated into more than $81,800. Drivers who do stunts on public roads could even serve up to three years in prison. This is how the French authorities are radically trying to crack down on such actions that, in the past years, have been causing more and more casualties.
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