Important Changes to Traffic Law

 

A revision to Spain's motoring law comes into effect on May 25th, following it's approval at the end of last year, and on Monday the Minister for the Interior advised the press that things will be much more complicated for those drivers who do not pay their fines. Certain members of the press are already calling the new law the ‘Express Fine Law'.

The Minister said the new law was easier and fairer than before and he talked of the discounts available for prompt payment several times. He said the plan was to reduce the time between the infraction and the payment of the fine, which currently stands at between five months and two years, and to be harsh with the 25% of drivers who have not been paying their fines by using longwinded administrative loopholes.

If an awarded fine is paid within 15 days, a 50% discount is applied, providing you agree not to contest the infraction.

The major points of note to this new law now are:

1.) The withdrawal of the driver's licence (which currently takes place in serious infractions) will end. Previously over 100,000 licences were withdrawn every year.

2.) Fines for Infractions will be standardizes throughout Spain, with a very serious infraction priced at 500 €, a serious infraction priced at 200 €, and the least serious infraction priced at 100 €.

3.) Prison sentences will expire after four years has passed, and all the money collected in fines will be put to one side and spent on road safety.

4.) The number of offences which result in points being deducted from a driving licence has now been reduced from 27 to 20.

There are, however, new fines that have been introduced under the new law…

A.) Programming sat-nav while driving will lose you points and is considered a serious fine.

B.) Having an unreadable number plate will not lose points but will incur a fine.

C.) Parking in disabled drivers space will also result in a serious fine.

D.) Allowing a person without a licence to drive your vehicle will not lose points but is a serious fine.

E.) For driving without lights and reflective elements in bicycles is the lowest fine and loses no points.

The Minister also told how the Guardia Civil will no longer impound the bikes of cyclists who are found riding without a helmet in the towm.

Even though the new law comes into effect on May 25 the actual administration will not be effective until November 25. From that date onwards you will be able to be informed of your fine by email or Text.