Software Glitch Allows 600,000 Drivers to Evade Penalty Points

A significant software malfunction has disrupted the administration of traffic sanctions in France, leaving hundreds of thousands of cases related to demerit point deductions in limbo. Since mid-April, authorities have been working on a catch-up process, aiming to address up to 10,000 cases per day.

As reported by BFM TV and confirmed by the Syndicat national des professionnels du permis à points (SNPAP), a computer bug has hampered the Agence nationale des traitements automatisés des infractions (ANTAI) in processing traffic violations since mid-November 2023.

The staggering numbers indicate that at least 600,000 cases have gone unprocessed over the past six months due to the software glitch. As a result, drivers fined during this period could defer payment without the immediate risk of losing points on their licenses.

Maître Jean-Baptiste Le Dall, a lawyer specializing in traffic law, noted that the issue is significant enough to generate a loss of about eight million euros for professionals involved in demerit point recovery. Joël Polteau, president of SNPAP, revealed that the glitch has affected nearly 300 demerit point centers, leading to a 35% reduction in enrollment for point recovery courses.

A Decree at the Root of the Bug?

The glitch is suspected to be linked to Decree No. 2023-1150, issued on December 6, 2023, which exempts drivers from point deductions for speeding infractions under 5 km/h. This decree may have caused a system-wide failure, leading to the backlog of unprocessed cases.

Since April 15, 2024, the catch-up process has been underway, with over 10,000 cases being processed daily to resolve the backlog. However, drivers who committed infractions during the glitch period should not assume they are in the clear. Penalties could be applied retroactively, so motorists who avoided point deductions should check their email or monitor their point balance through the official platform.

Maître Le Dall warns that "nothing indicates that these points will not be deducted one day. There is no time limit for the imposition of point deductions. This means government services could deduct points from your license several months, or even years, after the infraction." He also noted that some drivers have received notices stating "zero points deducted." "I advise them to keep this document carefully," he added.