ATGATTAll The Gear, All The Time - meaning you always wear all your safety gear. is not only the fact that you need to wear all your safety equipment all of the time, but also that the equipment is in good shape. And that's something that is not the case for the motorcycle gendarmes in Morbihan  (in Brittany, France).
The motorcycle cops had received new helmets in 2007, and today these helmets have become unusable, the paint is flaking, the shell has deteriorated, and the helmets do no longer sit properly on their heads. Also the visors have become foggy and scratched.
The cops have been trying to get replacement helmets, but the authorities are not listening and just paying lip-service. They have gone so far as meet with the Minister of Interior, but so far, no new helmets.
Gendarmes are military and are not allowed to go on strike, which would be the first thing a Frenchman will do. But they are allowed to use a "right of withdrawal", which is close enough to going on strike without the public seeing that it's a strike.
So hopefully for these cops in the next few weeks you'll be seeing them riding their motorcycles with brand new helmets.
It's funny to see how motorcycle cops are treated by the government, while motorcycle gendarmes are quite liked by bikers.
UPDATE: 10 New helmets are being delivered to several of the motorcycle cops. According to the source, the helmets cost between €1,000 and €1,200 per helmet!!!!! Must be gold plated helmets... nothing but the best now. According the the police authorities, it wasn't a question of budget, but of timing. (Source  ). |
| Read related articles | Saturday, July 23rd, 2011 - France: Motorcycle Cops No Longer Unsafe
Finally, after many years dressed in the most unsafe motorcycle clothing you can expect, the French motorcycle Gendarmes are going to ride ATGATT, proper ATGATT.
Apart from the already announced Schuberth C3 helmet, they'll now have airbag jackets, proper pants and real motorcycle boots.
All uniforms will have reflective and high-viz stripes on them. | Thursday, January 1st, 2009 - French Gendarme Now Allowed To Dress Up When Motorcycling
The short sleeved French motorcycle Gendarme is a thing of the past! No longer do they need to ride their motorcycle clothed the way they ride their horses.
Now, they getting real motorcycle jackets with an incorporated airbag! Good on them! | Monday, December 8th, 2008 - Video: French Motorcycle Police/Gendarme Gruelling Training
I've written already about the grueling training the French motorcycle Police (Gendarme) have to undergo before they are let loose on the streets of France.
Between 5 and 8 months of training. Now you can see how intense their training is. Here's the video of the training, condensed into 4 minutes... | Friday, February 2nd, 2007 - French Motorocycle Cops Fed Up!
The French motorcycle Gendarmes are fed up with having to fine speeding bikers, so they've stopped doing it ! They don't feel they should be tax collectors. Now, for speeds of under 20 kph over the limit, you'll get a warning. Vive la France ! |
Via: Le Telegramme
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