Our readers will be cut up to learn that the traffic police and ten town halls have messed up 113,000 fines between them and might have trouble trying to get their money.

According to the motoring association, Automovilstas Europeos the failure to publish the fines completely invalidates them – the Guardia Civil disagree.

In fact, although we are talking about 113,000 traffic fines, that’s only the Province of Granada – nationwide we’re talking about seven million missing such a necessary date inscription.

Amongst the Granada town halls to invalidate their own fines are Almuñécar, Baza, Churriana de la Vega, Guadix, Motril, Padul, Puebla de Don Fadrique and Salobreña.

Whoopee you shout, but hold your hooves, because it is not at all clear cut.

The problem is that the DGT (Traffic Department) and the said town halls used the Tablón Edictal de Sanciones (Testra) to notify drivers, which is inefficient, thus Hacienda cannot force payment – we repeat, the DGT disagrees.

Up until this year there has been no problem with this system but starting 2015 they forgot to add the publication date, which has prevented fined drivers being able to work out how long they have left to pay the fine without a surcharge etc or contest the fine itself.

Whilst the motoring association recommends drivers to contest the fines if there is no date on the Testra entry, the DGT is adamant that the fines are valid. The end result will be what the judge considers correct… feeling lucky?

If you are thinking of contesting a fine, consult a lawyer first.

(News, Granada, Andalucia)