A wedding scheduled for this Saturday, September 12 at 11 a.m. at Parc Phoenix in Nice was ultimately not celebrated. Éric Ciotti requested the cancellation of the ceremony following public order disturbances caused by the wedding procession on the expressway. The municipal police recorded 16 violations.
Behavior that was at least contrary to traffic rules was noted during the passage of a wedding procession on Mathis road this Saturday late morning. The municipal police found several violations involving motorcycles, a quad and vehicles. « A wedding procession blocked the expressway and multiplied traffic code violations. I requested the mobilization of our municipal police and the cancellation of the wedding scheduled for 11 a.m. at Parc Phoenix », wrote the mayor of Nice on social network X.
According to Éric Ciotti’s statement, several motorcycles and a quad notably used the expressway. Some vehicles drove against traffic and circulation was blocked.
The municipal police were mobilized and recorded 16 violations. The reported balance shows nine violations for not wearing a seatbelt, one for using a phone while driving, two for driving against traffic, one for driving on a sidewalk, one for failure to respect a traffic light and two for stopping on the expressway.
Éric Ciotti announces cancellation of weddings in case of disturbances
Given the behaviors noted during the procession, Éric Ciotti requested that the ceremony planned at Parc Phoenix not be celebrated. The mayor of Nice also announced a new rule concerning wedding processions in the municipality. « In Nice, a wedding allows neither stunt riding nor disregard for rules. Every wedding causing public order disturbances will be automatically cancelled », declared the official.
In his statement, Éric Ciotti also clarified: « Any wedding whose procession causes public order disturbances will not be celebrated by the city of Nice. »
The announced decision concerns ceremonies celebrated by the city of Nice when the procession is the cause of public order disturbances. The mayor believes that private celebrations cannot justify dangerous behavior on public roads.
The procession allegedly slowed traffic on Mathis road, which allows bypassing Nice. Some drivers did not respect safety rules. No traffic jams or accidents were reportedly caused by the reported facts.
The photograph published by Éric Ciotti to accompany his message shows two men performing a wheelie on motorcycles. Nothing makes it possible to establish that the photo was taken this Saturday morning or that the visible people participated in the wedding in question. The photographed persons also do not appear to be dressed for a ceremony.
The mayor’s announcement sparked numerous reactions on social networks. Several internet users supported the decision, while some comments referenced « always the same ones », with a racist connotation. Internet users also asked for the name or origin of the future newlyweds.
The decision made this Saturday is not a first in Nice. Christian Estrosi, the previous mayor of the city and Éric Ciotti’s political opponent for more than ten years now, had already cancelled weddings at the last minute to punish behavior considered as uncivic.
NicePremium is a free, independent local news outlet.
Help us keep going by supporting our work from €5 per month.
