These new laws mean that a €500 fine (around £400 at today’s rates) could be issued for going just 1kph above the speed limit in Spain, while a €600 fine (about £485) will apply for serious speeding offences. Drivers could also soon face the prospect of having their driving licences endorsed with penalty points. Not what you want from your holidays in Spain, so if you’re touring there this summer in your motorhome, make sure you are in the know before you go.
These changes in Spanish driving laws have been highlighted by Nick Freeman, the solicitor known as “Mr Loophole” who specialises in UK traffic cases. And in another change to the law in Spain, enacted by an impending EU Directive, says Mr Freeman, driving offences committed in one country are to be reported to the EU country of registration of the vehicle in question. UK holidaymakers driving in Spain need to be made aware of these new laws and exercise the utmost caution,” he urged.
“In this country police use the ACPO guidelines which allow a ‘ten per cent plus two’ degree of tolerance. Unfortunately this generosity does not extend to the Spanish police,” he added. “Whilst some motorway speeds are being increased from 120kph to 130kph, the speeds on some urban roads are being reduced to just 20kph, which is approximately 13mph. Any drivers caught exceeding the speed limit will find themselves severely out of pocket and will face the possibility of soon to be introduced penalty points.”
Other driving laws that have just come into effect in Spain include:
- Fines of up to €6000 (close to £5000) if a radar inhibitor/speed camera detector of any sort is installed;
- A fine of €1800 (around £1500) if the national police authority (DGP) is not notified of who was driving a car at the time it was involved in a serious or very serious offence; and
- A minimum fine of €1000 (about £800) will be payable by drivers caught driving whilst double the drink drive limit or above – or in all cases for reoffending drink drivers; and drivers under the influence of drugs.
Another crucial component of the change in the law is that the Spanish police won’t need to stop a vehicle to have sufficient evidence to prosecute – if the Spanish police witness a motoring offence, then their record of the vehicle’s registration plate will be enough.
Motorhome holidays in Spain have long been popular and we’d not want your tour this summer – or any time of the year – to be affected by a driving offence, so make sure you don’t get caught out and left out of pocket. Full details of the new Spanish driving laws can be found here on the Freeman & Co website.
Make sure you are in the know before you go