Hugh Schofield: Seething with indignation

Unfortunately my snapshot decision to flout the highway code was performed a few yards from a patrol of the boys in blue. Blue, in Paris, being the colour of the police's new bike-brigade - and very natty they are too.

I was hauled over and given the bad news. First for reckless cycling the promise of a summons to a police court with the prospect of a 1,000-franc ($136) fine and three points on my driving licence. Yes, my driving licence.

It is becoming unmanageable

Lyon fines collection official

Second, for having an identity card without my new address on it, the prospect of a 700 franc ($95) fine.

But after seething with indignation for three months, I suddenly realise that help may be at hand.

Because the police are obviously suffering from a vast backlog of similar cases - otherwise I'd have heard from them by now - and in six months' time it's the presidential elections!

Bonfire of records

The presidential elections? What on earth has that got to do with a trivial cycling offence?

Mitterrand: More generous in his amnesty than Chirac

Well - potentially a lot. For with every presidential election comes - at least so far in the fifth republic - the presidential AMNESTY!!!

The winner - flushed with the joy of victory, his heart warmed by the spirit of national renewal that imbues a presidential election - seals his bond with the people by opening the jails and ordering a bonfire of judicial records. Well, up to a point.

For example in 1981 when Francois Mitterrand became president, the prison population fell by more than one-fifth in two months.

It has now become traditional in the approach to every presidential election for the French public to act as if it has total impunity when it comes to minor offences

Jacques Chirac was less generous in 1995, but he still amnestied anyone serving a prison term under three months, and commuted every fine under 5,000 francs ($680).

That's where I hope I come in.

There is one problem however. It has now become traditional in the approach to every presidential election for the French public to act as if it has total impunity when it comes to minor offences - such as mine.

Backlash

Thus already in several major cities police have noted a big increase in motoring infractions - like illegal parking or the non-wearing of seat-belts. Fines are no longer being paid.

"It is becoming unmanageable," said an official at the fines-collection office in Lyons.

But this is itself producing a backlash - particularly in view of France's exorbitantly high rate of deaths on the roads.

Pressure groups are writing to all candidates imploring them NOT to amnesty motoring offences of a certain category and over.

Of what category? Three points on a driving licence. Oh dear.