Pretty surprised how lax the security in France is

[purbeast0]

I just got back from 2 weeks in Europe and we spent 4 days in Paris. Based on the terrorist attacks the past year, I must say I was pretty surprised at how laid back security was over there.

Now don't get me wrong, I never once felt unsafe, and in fact I'd say I felt safer there than I do in the states here in a lot of aspects. We would walk around after midnight and take the subway after midnight and not once did we feel unsafe, even when walking down streets that had a lot of stores closed with minimal traffic. Everything about that aspect felt very safe.

On the other hand, when we left Paris and took a train to San Sebastian, Spain, we got onto our train at the major train station in Paris without anyone checking our tickets, let alone if we even had a ticket, or putting our bags through any type of scanner. Anyone without a ticket could have gotten on any train in the station with a bag full of weapons or explosives.

I don't know, that just really surprised me. At this point we had taken a train from Barcelona to Paris, and at the station in Barcelona they had a scanner we put our luggage through and there was someone checking to see that we at least had a ticket that was valid for a train going out around the time we were there.

We did however see military/cops patroling in certain areas. It would be 2 guys with machine guns walking around. But considering how many people were in certain places, it really did not seem like much security.

I guess in a sense though that it's good that they are still living their normal ways of life over there instead of cowering down and becoming overly security. But I just thought it was quite surprising how easy it would be for anyone to get on a train in Paris with anything in their bags.

I was also surprised that once we were in Europe in Spain, we never had our passports checked when going to different countries. But apparently that is pretty common based on talking to some people about it.

 

[cbrunny]

Surprising how normal life still is in every country other than the USA, eh? I've never had a train ticket checked until I was on the train and it was moving. Never had a train bag scanned or even looked at. If you get on the GO train around here, they don't even have turnstiles, much less someone to check bags or tickets. Come to think of it, while riding GO, I've never seen a security guard, ticket checker, train engineer, trash man, or any other employee other than the person selling tickets. Certainly never seen anyone with a gun, other than the occasional police officer at major stations.

The thing is that America is a super fucked up place.

 

[K1052]

Er...we don't scan bags on rail in the US either and only Amtrak (sometimes) checks tickets/id before you board. Trains themselves make poor targets. Train stations like airports are more attractive targets but screening the volume of people entering european rail stations would be so impractical that it's not even attempted.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Surprising how normal life still is in every country other than the USA, eh?

The thing is that America is a super fucked up place.

Bullshit.

The cops in France are heavily armed, and I guarantee you there are more if them than there are in the US.

My experience was the opposite - it was far crazier than anything I've seen in the US. I was there in May (well after the terrorist attacks in Paris but before the truck attack in Nice).

I have never seen so many armed police, and I have been to most major US cities. The police were also not friendly compared to US and UK cops, but that might be a French thing.

The long lines to get through security were deemed a security risk themselves, so most big attractions had multiple security lines.

I saw about 4-5 army patrols a day. One time there were 10 soldiers decked out in body armor, helmets, and rifles walking through central Paris. City police were everywhere, in addition to the national police and gendarmerie. And then there are the SNCF (transit) police too. They were all heavily armed.

I have never seen anything like that in an American city, even after 9/11.

They were patting down a large percentage of people going into the country (but not going back into the UK). They diligently scanned all bags going onto the train. That was the first time I ever had to go through security to leave a country - yes, French immigration and security inspected you as you left to go into the UK. The UK did not do that going the opposite direction.

 

[MrDudeMan]

Bullshit.

The cops in France are heavily armed, and I guarantee you there are more if them than there are in the US.

My experience was the opposite - it was far crazier than anything I've seen in the US. I was there in May (well after the terrorist attacks in Paris but before the truck attack in Nice).

I have never seen so many armed police, and I have been to most major US cities. The police were also not friendly compared to US and UK cops, but that might be a French thing.

The long lines to get through security were deemed a security risk themselves, so most big attractions had multiple security lines.

I saw about 4-5 army patrols a day. One time there were 10 soldiers decked out in body armor, helmets, and rifles walking through central Paris. City police were everywhere, in addition to the national police and gendarmerie. And then there are the SNCF (transit) police too. They were all heavily armed.

I have never seen anything like that in an American city, even after 9/11.

They were patting down a large percentage of people going into the country (but not going back into the UK). They diligently scanned all bags going onto the train. That was the first time I ever had to go through security to leave a country - yes, French immigration and security inspected you as you left to go into the UK. The UK did not do that going the opposite direction.

Yeah, his comment is pretty much pure bullshit. I've had very similar experiences across the pond and I've never had anything even close to that type of experience in any state in which I've lived (12 total). Bad people are everywhere and the US is no exception, but to say it's more fucked up here than most places in Europe is absurd.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Last March I did Czech Republic, Germany & Italy. My sister and I took a train from Prague to Munich, which was like ~5-6 hours IIRC. When we crossed over into Germany it seemed like immediately they had armed guys (with dogs) going cabin to cabin checking passports. They certainly were not into any jokes ... it was all srs bsns. They didn't crack any sort of smiles, no "have a nice day", nothing. Checked out our tickets & passports and they were onto the next cabin. I feel like I may have been shot on sight if I didn't have a passport or something.

 

[JSt0rm]

france has real freedom. You are used to living in the police state that is america while screaming about freedumb.

 

[zinfamous]

I just got back from 2 weeks in Europe and we spent 4 days in Paris. Based on the terrorist attacks the past year, I must say I was pretty surprised at how laid back security was over there.

Now don't get me wrong, I never once felt unsafe, and in fact I'd say I felt safer there than I do in the states here in a lot of aspects. We would walk around after midnight and take the subway after midnight and not once did we feel unsafe, even when walking down streets that had a lot of stores closed with minimal traffic. Everything about that aspect felt very safe.

On the other hand, when we left Paris and took a train to San Sebastian, Spain, we got onto our train at the major train station in Paris without anyone checking our tickets, let alone if we even had a ticket, or putting our bags through any type of scanner. Anyone without a ticket could have gotten on any train in the station with a bag full of weapons or explosives.

I don't know, that just really surprised me. At this point we had taken a train from Barcelona to Paris, and at the station in Barcelona they had a scanner we put our luggage through and there was someone checking to see that we at least had a ticket that was valid for a train going out around the time we were there.

We did however see military/cops patroling in certain areas. It would be 2 guys with machine guns walking around. But considering how many people were in certain places, it really did not seem like much security.

I guess in a sense though that it's good that they are still living their normal ways of life over there instead of cowering down and becoming overly security. But I just thought it was quite surprising how easy it would be for anyone to get on a train in Paris with anything in their bags.

I was also surprised that once we were in Europe in Spain, we never had our passports checked when going to different countries. But apparently that is pretty common based on talking to some people about it.

well, that's pretty much how trains work in the US and all of Europe that I have traveled through. I agree, it strikes me as odd these days, but France isn't an outlier there.

I definitely don't feel unsafe walking around in US cities at night, empty stores and unlit streets, though. Even in parts of DC, Chicago, wherever I have lived. Granted, I make a point to avoid the known warzones.

Now walking around Italy--central and northern, anyway--You have Carribinieri patrolling every couple of blocks with their M4s strapped to their backs...and this was prior to 9-11. I always felt safe there, but then you get on the trains.

Probably the least-safe I have felt in Europe was in certain parts of Brussels ~2008. Parts of that city are a real shithole.

As for traveling between countries in Europe and not having your passport checked...you know that is the EU, right? That has been standard practice for nearly 20 years now.

 

[NetWareHead]

Have been to Italy a few times as well as other parts of Europe and I have to disagree with OP's assessment of security. European security is 10x more visible than anything I've seen in USA. Every airport, train station, museum and even street have patrolling soldiers/police in full gear with dogs and with military style rifles displayed.

 

[Denly]

Surprising how normal life still is in every country other than the USA, eh? I've never had a train ticket checked until I was on the train and it was moving. Never had a train bag scanned or even looked at. If you get on the GO train around here, they don't even have turnstiles, much less someone to check bags or tickets. Come to think of it, while riding GO, I've never seen a security guard, ticket checker, train engineer, trash man, or any other employee other than the person selling tickets. Certainly never seen anyone with a gun, other than the occasional police officer at major stations.

The thing is that America is a super fucked up place.

Funny, I got ticket check everytime when I was in Copenhagen couple month ago and never while on GO.

 

[biostud]

Funny, I got ticket check everytime when I was in Copenhagen couple month ago and never while on GO.

Yeah, danish tickets controllers are all over the place. And the fines are hefty too.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Can confirm. Was in ggermany and train got searched by a bunch of armed men

 

[purbeast0]

well, that's pretty much how trains work in the US and all of Europe that I have traveled through. I agree, it strikes me as odd these days, but France isn't an outlier there.

I definitely don't feel unsafe walking around in US cities at night, empty stores and unlit streets, though. Even in parts of DC, Chicago, wherever I have lived. Granted, I make a point to avoid the known warzones.

Now walking around Italy--central and northern, anyway--You have Carribinieri patrolling every couple of blocks with their M4s strapped to their backs...and this was prior to 9-11. I always felt safe there, but then you get on the trains.

Probably the least-safe I have felt in Europe was in certain parts of Brussels ~2008. Parts of that city are a real shithole.

As for traveling between countries in Europe and not having your passport checked...you know that is the EU, right? That has been standard practice for nearly 20 years now.

Well my 3 times at train stations in Spain they all checked tickets prior and they all had your bags go through a scanner. So I wouldn't say all of Europe is just like France.

Have been to Italy a few times as well as other parts of Europe and I have to disagree with OP's assessment of security. European security is 10x more visible than anything I've seen in USA. Every airport, train station, museum and even street have patrolling soldiers/police in full gear with dogs and with military style rifles displayed.

Not sure what Italy has to do with France though, I've never been there so I can't really comment on Italy. I'm not sure how you can disagree with something that is factual and actually happened less than 2 weeks ago too.

I did see some police at the airport in Barcelona and the train stations but it was just one here or there, nothing that would make you be like "OMG look at the police presence" or anything.

 

[Imp]

Last March I did Czech Republic, Germany & Italy. My sister and I took a train from Prague to Munich, which was like ~5-6 hours IIRC. When we crossed over into Germany it seemed like immediately they had armed guys (with dogs) going cabin to cabin checking passports. They certainly were not into any jokes ... it was all srs bsns. They didn't crack any sort of smiles, no "have a nice day", nothing. Checked out our tickets & passports and they were onto the next cabin. I feel like I may have been shot on sight if I didn't have a passport or something.

Ah, German efficiency.

 

[Ns1]

Surprising how normal life still is in every country other than the USA, eh? I've never had a train ticket checked until I was on the train and it was moving. Never had a train bag scanned or even looked at. If you get on the GO train around here, they don't even have turnstiles, much less someone to check bags or tickets. Come to think of it, while riding GO, I've never seen a security guard, ticket checker, train engineer, trash man, or any other employee other than the person selling tickets. Certainly never seen anyone with a gun, other than the occasional police officer at major stations.

The thing is that America is a super fucked up place.

how's that working out for ya?

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[Exterous]

Sounds like its pretty regionalized since the attacks. We were just in Spain and security was definitely a low key affair and customs was basically wide open

Have been to Italy a few times as well as other parts of Europe and I have to disagree with OP's assessment of security. European security is 10x more visible than anything I've seen in USA. Every airport, train station, museum and even street have patrolling soldiers/police in full gear with dogs and with military style rifles displayed.

DC ranks much higher on my 'visible security' scale compared to any place we've been in Europe.