© Denny Müller via Unsplash
France has more than 4,700 speed cameras, but about one in five is out of service because the cameras are regularly vandalized with paint, hammers, or fire, Franceinfo reported. Over the past ten years, more than 49,000 incidents have been recorded. The cost of replacing a speed camera can reach 200,000 euros. The bill for repairs and replacements for the French government reached 340 million euros in 2025.
The cameras are primarily targeted during protests, such as the “Yellow Vests” movement and farmers’ demonstrations. Many drivers view them as a way for the government to raise revenue rather than to improve road safety. The government, on the other hand, argues that excessive speed plays a major role in fatal accidents.
Of the 889 million euros in revenue generated by speed cameras in 2025, 340 million will be spent on their operation and maintenance.
Some speed cameras are particularly lucrative: for example, there is one near Montpellier that reportedly records more than 1,000 speeding violations per day.
However, damaging speed cameras carries significant penalties in France. For applying stickers or graffiti, or for obscuring or covering the lenses of a speed camera, the offender risks a fine of up to 15,000 euros and community service. Anyone who destroys or damages a speed camera (for example, through arson or theft) faces an even harsher penalty: a fine of up to 75,000 euros and 5 years in prison. If the vandalism is committed by a group or by a masked person, the penalty is even more severe: a fine of up to 100,000 euros and 7 years in prison.
Illustration picture: © Denny Müller via Unsplash