The Spain Forums

Maxi

There has been a fair amount of commentary in the English press in Spain regarding Guardia Civil Trafico fining people for minor infringements.

Sad to say, this is true and it seems that President Zapatero has learnt much from the Blair/Brown experience of soaking the motorists to plug holes in their treasury finances.

So – be warned. This is a popular trick that cost me 150€ and 4 points:

When approaching a STOP sign you must stop and be seen to stop. I crossed a country cross-roads (STOP sign twisted out of shape due to being hit by something previously, and thus invisible, NO road markings, NO traffic, No donkeys, bikes, pedestrians. Excellent visibility). I was travelling at no more than 2 km/hour as I was trying to read a back to front sign as I was lost. And there they were – hiding behind some bushes.

So – be careful. This is not about road safety – it is just using the motorist as a cash cow.

You may say that I could have contested it in court. I was advised against it by my solicitor, as it would have cost me much more in time and money than I can afford.

So, they have you by the short and curlies. Just don't give them the opportunity!

Lee

Another of their known tricks is to ask you to get out the car.

People then get the joys of a fine for doing so.

Remember to put your high viz jacket on, even if its while a police man is there.

On the bright side, only about 50% of motoring fines get payed in Spain.
Because of their love of paperwork, many fines do not turn up in the post in the set period of time required by law, if you do not pay on the spot and wait for the postal reminder.

Pay on the spot and get your nice little rebate or chance the reminder will get lost in the post

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El Sid

God they have some idiotic rules here. Spare pair of glasses in your car, hi-vis vests etc etc
Not much they can do to me on a mountain bike thankfully

How do they send you a fine by post when you haven't got a street address like me ?

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When I was here I wanted to be there. When I was there, all I could think of was getting back into the jungle.
I've been here a week now. Waiting for a mission, getting softer.
Every minute I stay in this room I get weaker. And every minute Charlie squats in the bush he gets stronger.
Each time I look around the walls move in a little tighter.

Lee

The spare pair of glasses is easily got around. Just keep an old pair in the glove box. I have no idea the legalities of classing a pair of medicated sunglasses as your spare pair.

No good for night driving, but still prescription glasses at the end of the day

There is an on line UK opticians that sells prescription glasses from £5 a pair up wards. But they only deliver to UK postal addresses. If you have a friend there, get them delivered to their house then sent on
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And yes the web site address is real

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Maxi

I heard another one the other day - someone got fined for wearing sandals!

We are all fair game - except for the "motos" who can make as much noise as they like, ride without helmets, insurance, ITV, etc. etc. They do wheelies down our high street in front of the Policia, drunk (them, not the policia!!???).

anguspm

Well the latest for ex pats is that even though you drive using an EU issued license (be it British, German etc etc...) you must have the Spanish Medical certificate. If not... POINTS and FINE.

Maxi

Absolutely correct - there was a case recently where a lady driver had an accident, and it came up in court that she had a UK licence and was fully legal but no medical (which you have to have in special centres - your GP can't do it), and she found herself in trouble.

I'm trying to find the article amongst my junk to scan and send it.

Lee

So I take it this is typical Spain shoving two fingers up at the EU.

Protect their own and stuff every one else

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Maxi

Hi Lee,

That's not the half of it. Why can't I have a residencia card like every Spaniard? We Brits have to carry around THE ORIGINAL of the c$%&&y piece of paper that we've queued for hours for in the police station, as well as our passport.

Can you imagine the number of passports that will be reported lost/stolen if everyone has to carry them around? I mean, they don't exactly fit in your wallet like that nice little residencia.

The wallers in Brussels should sort all this out instead of all those extended liquid lunches. It's all a bloody shambles.

We are supposed to be westerners for God's sake, not living in some banana republic.

Lee

There is a way round carrying your passport with you.

If you know someone with a scanner and laminator. Scan the information page from your passport, the page that shows your picture and details. Shrink the image to a credit card sized image and laminate that.

It fits in your wallet a treat. Mine is done a bit bigger than credit card sized, but still wallet sized.

I believe you can get something along the lines done legally with a stamp on the back verifying that its your details and if you search around the shops you might be able to get it laminated.

I'm lucky I have access to both scanner and laminator.

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