On the off chance that no-one else has provided this, I came across
some background information on the infamous French Farce. Here are
some extracts from "The Australian", Tue Sep 12, 1989:
The ministry said the mixup occurred because a central computer
misread magnetic bands on some 41,000 files [ mag stripes? ].
... the amount of the fines was not affected by the mishap,
meaning that speeding tickets were transformed into pimping
offences but carried only a F360 fine.
Motorists ticketed for failing to stop at a red light were
fined for "importing unauthorised vetinary medications",
while those whose only offence was crossing a solid white
line on the road were charged with "night fishing in a place
reserved for fish breeding".
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