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'''Péage''' ([http://wwwcs1.texttomp3imtranslator.onlinenet/audio_tmpSL/59e146d7356c79.49311332Free_Projects/169679760/cs_10132017_15_58_47_1.mp3wav?param1=001024 audio]) is a French word for ''toll''. It is also commonly used as referring to [[toll station]]s.

In France, most of the motorways are toll roads which are the fastest way to hitch across the country. There are two types of toll stations on péages. First, there are big ones where all traffic has to stop to pay a fee (or to get a ticket) - these are ''barrières de péage'' and usually they are excellent spots to get a long-distance ride and make it really easy to hitchhike during the night. They are often located near big cities on the autoroute. Another type is a side barrier situated on all exits in the toll part of the motorway. On latter ones traffic is much smaller, therefore one can expect a longer waiting time, although sometimes congested toll stations (of the first type) can be a difficult place to hitch from, toodue to heavy traffic.

To reach the ''barrière de péage'', you may need to walk along the motorway; with a help of a proper map check if the distance needed to be walked is not too long. It is actually illegal to walk on a side lane of the motorway (same is valid for some parts of national roads (''voie express'' or ''voie rapide'') in France); if police sees you, you will be driven somewhere safe and may be fined for ~90€11 to 40€. Péage toll stations are considered a part of the motorway, and legally you do not have the right to solicit rides there. You may be asked to wait in the parking area which is after each ''barrière de péage''. In practice, this is rarely enforced (maybe 5% of the time), most toll station employees simply want to make sure you're not endangering yourself or others. Having a sign with your destination (or the next city) is recommended and will distinguish you as a serious hitchhiker, and not a vagrant.

Having a sign with your destination (or the next city) is recommended and will distinguish you as a serious hitchhiker, and not a vagrant. You will definitely need it if the road splits. The fastest way to travel on a péage is from one ''barrière de péage'' to another.  Hitchhiking options are:

* If you prefer a direct approach you can dash across the lanes one at a time until you're at a busy lane, stand next to the toll machine and talk to the drivers when they stop to pay (usually it is not allowed to hitch from the toll machines but it is generally often tolerated).

==Issues with Law Enforcement==

There are three law National enforcement agencies to contend with in France. The Police Nationale, the Gendarmerie and the Douane.

* The '''Police Nationale''' are tasked with policing urban areas with more than 20,000 inhabitants, and the surrounding highway infrastructure. They As such, you will probably rarely stop youencounter them while thumbing.* The '''Gendarmerie''' is a military agency tasked with policing all of the French Republic where the population is lower than 20, but they are well known for their less than sympathetic nature and occasionally affiliation with fascist organisations000. They are a government the enforcement agency bound by official targets, which means that if you are stopped, they will be looking for reasons to impose fines. Even so, they have no legal right the most chance to stop you engaging in lawful activities as long as you are not creating a hazard or committing some other offenceencounter while on the road. Remain calm and use your right to silence, only asking * The '''"am I free to go"Douanes''' repeatedlyare the customs agency for the French Republic. They mostly patrol close to borders, looking for suspicious activity, but can operate anywhere. They are often active on highways and you should péages going south from [[Belgium]] and [[Luxembourg]], looking for people transporting large amounts of tobacco or looking for hitchhikers from the [[Netherlands]] who may be okcarrying cannabis, as well as near the border with [[Spain]]. It is said of them, that they care about goods, not persons, which is basically true, but they are allowed to check your ID and the contents of your luggage.

To make a long story short, in France, it is expected that any person can prove its identity when requested by an agent of these agencies. The '''Douanes''' easiest and most common way to do it is to show them an official ID ; however it can also be done by having someone else testify that you are indeed the customs agency for the French Republicperson you say you are. They Agents on patrol close , especially Gendrames, can stop to bordersask you questions. Most of the time, they will ask you where are you headed, looking for suspicious activity. '''They have maybe a right to check your Identification few other vague questions, remind you that hitchhiking is illegal on the highways (even if you are within 20km not on a highway at the moment), wish you a nice day and drive away. If they ask you for a proof of identity, the borderbest thing would be to show them an official ID ; however if you cooperate somewhat they probably won't go even that far. Furthermore, many cities have local police deparments called '', but at all other times they need to have a reasonable suspicion 'Police Municipale'(article 78 of the Code de Procédure Pénale)'' before they stop an individual. They are often active on highways and péages going south from [[Belgium]] and [[Luxembourg]]have less authority than national agencies, looking for people transporting large amounts of tobacco or looking for hitchhikers from but can call other agencies to do the [[Netherlands]] who may be carrying cannabis. They are however quite professional, and after a few questions about your direction of travel, will let you go on your waywork they legally can't.

== Resources Nomadwiki & Trashwiki =={{nomadwiki}}[[trash:France]] [[nomad:France]]