France raises fine for unauthorized swimming to €68 after surge in drownings
A decree in force from Sunday increases penalties for swimming outside designated areas or under red flags, as authorities report 274 drowning deaths in two and a half months.
A decree published in the Journal officiel on Saturday and in force from Sunday 2 August raises the penalty for swimming in unauthorized areas or when a red flag is flying. The fine moves from a first-class contravention (maximum €38) to a third-class contravention (€68), and can now be issued directly by electronic ticket. The measure applies across the whole of France.
Why the fine was increased
The tightening follows a joint request from the Paris Police Prefecture and the Île-de-France Prefecture. In a statement, the prefectures pointed to "l'augmentation des baignades sauvages, particulièrement lors des épisodes de fortes chaleurs", the rise in wild swimming, especially during heatwaves.
The latest heatwave dramatically illustrated the risks linked to this behaviour and the need to be able to punish it more severely.
The decree, issued by the Ministry of Territorial Planning and Decentralisation, says the change is meant to deter dangerous conduct that can lead to drowning and to protect rescue operations and river navigation.
Drowning toll this summer
Health authorities report that 274 people have lost their lives by drowning in France in two and a half months, 37 of them children and adolescents. Earlier in the season the government had put the figure at 197 deaths since the start of summer. The numbers are concentrated during heatwaves, when people seek relief in rivers, lakes and canals.
Hazards of inland waters
The prefectural statement lists the dangers of unsupervised swimming in waterways: strong currents, muddy bottoms, dense vegetation that can trap swimmers, heavy river traffic, and the risk of cold-water shock. The decree also aims to keep rescue services from being stretched by avoidable incidents and to maintain the normal use of inland waters.
A longer pattern
Summer drownings are not new. During the whole of summer 2025, 409 people died by drowning in France, a 16% increase on 2024, according to Santé publique France. That toll included 57 children and adolescents. The new fine is part of a push to reverse the trend by making the immediate financial penalty steeper and easier to enforce.
