I have often wondered how the Spanish system works in case I happened to commit a road offence.
Well, it was first thing in the morning on a cool crisp January day. Traffic was fairly heavy with most people on their way to work, probably thinking about the problems ahead. My drive would normally take forty-five minutes if traffic cooperates, and so far this morning all was going well. But then, there was a sudden slow down where I didn’t expect it reducing to a crawl. Up ahead to the right on a piece of open ground there was the sight of several parked cars. In fact it looked like a market day parking lot. As I drew nearer it became apparent that The Guardia Civil were in action pulling cars off the road. I have been through several of these checkpoints and know the routine by now, so no worries. After all, my documents were in order if they wanted me to stop.
Well, they did want me to stop, so I pulled off and parked where indicated and waited. And waited. And waited some more to the point of impatience. Finally an officer approached and gave that lovely salute which I returned by a tip of my cap. “Ever so civilized”, I thought. He asked for my Permiso de Conducir, (my license) which I handed over, but he didn’t seem at all interested in the documents for the car. This was unusual, but it failed to trigger the alarm that it should have. Then the good gentlemen proceeded to enter into a longish monologue, most of which I did not understand, but the words that leaped out at me like alien monsters were, “camara”, “ha capturado su coche,” “excesiva velocidad”, “ochenta cautro en la zona seiscenta kilometres”. I missed the rest, I was too busy recoiling in horror. My mind said, “Oh Oh!”. Funny how those two little words can sum up so adequately every cataclysmic event known to mankind.
Well, I was truly busted. (Later, when I revisited the scene, as one tends to do, I looked for the sign that I, and a cast of dozens had overlooked to our chagrin. There was not one, we had passed three warning us to slow to 60 km/h, so we had absolutely not a leg to stand on). I had truly worked hard for my fine, but I wasn’t expecting to have to part with 200 euros so suddenly. That’s approximately 8.33 euros per kilometre over the posted limit. Ouch! But then the agent with the kind voice assured me that if I paid the fine within 15 days I would be allowed a discount of 30%. In this country, the after Christmas sales period is discount time in all the shops. But to get a 30% discount on my fine too left me wondering whether to laugh or cry.
So, these are the mechanics of paying a “multa” (traffic fine): If you are a visitor driving on your home issued license, or for that matter a resident driving on a foreign license, (“Oh Oh!), the fine is paid then and there. No, you don’t get to ask the audience or phone a friend, although you might have to if you have no other way to satisfy the demand. Your car will be immobilised until the fine is paid. Credit/debit card or cash will do.
Otherwise, you are issued with your denuncia which you can take along to any Trafico office, and there you first go to the window marked “sanciones” and show your denuncia, which is in duplicate. It is scrutinized and if not requiring any special action,(like Heaven knows what) it is stamped and you are directed to the next window where, in my case I parted with 140 euros. (“200 euros less 30%). Peculiarly, the lady taking my cash and issuing me with a receipt was one of the most pleasant clerks I have ever encountered anywhere in Spain. What a place to find her.
And that was it, over in less than three minutes. It takes me longer to buy a necktie.
The real significance of this tale is that I was trapped by a speed camera, one of Britain’s less welcome exports, and in spite of promises made that they would only be employed along with warning signs that state “Speed camera in Operation”, there were no such signs. So, be warned, particularly when you encounter zones where the normal speed is reduced. Adhere to the slower speed. Those signs are placed there for a reason. Stay within the speed limit because the slowdown signs appear very suddenly.
You may wonder what happens should you forget to pay within the 15 days. One poor soul found out. The fine was increased by 20% and the money taken out of his bank account by the TAX authority. Yikes!
Death on the roads? It doesn’t have to end like that!
Stay Safe! Drive safely, and don’t speed!
Copyright (c) 2007 Eugene Carmichael
