Reader Ron Kirk is now free to undertake a celebratory ride around California next year having received his new French drivinig licence with full motorbike categories after The Connexion chased up his case with his prefecture.
Mr Kirk, 79, an author from Brittany, has been hoping to celebrate the 250th anniversary of US independence with American friends next year during a motorbike tour similar to one he did in the early 2000s.
He had been seeking to regain the category since the British embassy reported negotiating for recognition of the category to be maintained for people swapping a UK licence for a French licence.
Passing a test
Problems had occurred due to the French authorities assuming that people who obtained the category decades ago in the UK may have gained it automatically and without passing a dedicated test – which was not the case.
Ron KirkRon Kirk
In the case of exchanges that were made before September 2017, queries must now be made directly to the local prefecture which originally issued the French licence. In Mr Kirk’s case this was in Brittany.
However, he turned to us when his requests to regain the category faltered. We spoke to the prefecture about his case and stated that the UK has never issued category A automatically.
He then received a new attestation de droits sécurisée provided by the authorities, which listed his ‘A’ category having been obtained ‘by equivalence’.
He said at the time: “Nothing worthwhile is ever achieved without others helping,
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“I just now need to make a formal application to ANTS and then I can join my American friends next year to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US. I’m very happy about that.”
He recently confirmed in a new email: "My new licence arrived this morning, containing my entitlement to ride a motorbike which had been taken away when I exchnged my UK licence.
"Contratulations to The Connexion and thank you for your suppport and help."
