The Ministry of the Interior and the Traffic Department (Dirección General de Tráfico or DGT) have recently issued information regarding the new traffic laws that came into force in May. From now on, if you are programming your navigator while driving, or if the number plate of your vehicle is illegible, these offences will be considered as serious violations and you will be fined accordingly.
Riding a bicycle at night without reflectors or without the proper lights are now minor violations. Also, traffic fines will now be unified independently of where the offence occurs and the organisation that impose them, whether it is the traffic police, the Guardia Civil etc., and in whichever municipality. Speeding fines have been simplified and there is now a chart that shows the progressive points lost and the amount of the fine due to the speed that you were driving over the specified limit.
Minor offences can carry a fine of up to 100 euros, serious offences up to 200 euros and very serious offences up to 500 euros. However there are some offences which carry a fine of 6,000 euros, these being using radar detection instruments or devices to inhibit traffic monitors and if you manipulate the number plate at all.
With the new law the offender will have a period of 20 calendar days to pay or to appeal as from the date of the notification. You can now apply to be notified by e-mail if you wish. You can also now be notified by e-mail or on your mobile phone as to when your driving licence is going to run out, the number of points you have or any other information regarding your vehicle. Internet can also be used as a medium for the payment of fines or you can use your credit card when the law enforcement officers stop you on the road.
If you pay your fines promptly, you will get a discount of 50%. Sanctions will no longer expire within one year but in four and the period between the notification of the loss of points and their application will be reduced from two years to just five months.
The new law has reduced the number of offences that incur a loss of points on your license from 27 to 20. If you lose points and you pay the fine the period for the recuperation of the points will begin the day after you pay the fine.
The most serious offences that carry this highest loss of six points are: drunken driving (over 0.5mg of alcohol per litre of air exhaled); refusing to take the test for drink or drugs; driving under the influence of drugs or narcotics; dangerous driving, driving in the wrong direction or illegal racing; manipulate the normal use of a tachograph or speedometer; drive with instruments that inhibit traffic monitors or radar detection instruments and speeding. If you commit three very serious offences within a 2-year period, apart from the fines you will also lose your licence. You will now only lose your license if you have no points left or by court decision.
Drivers who do not abide by the law will also find it more difficult to avoid their responsibilities with the Traffic Department because if they have unpaid fines for four serious or very serious offences, they will not be able to carry out any transactions with their vehicle.
Drive safely
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