There are certain Spanish words that foreign residents soon pick up; tapa, multa, siesta, grua, fiesta and autovía, amongst others, which is why using grua requires no translation.

There are two reasons why they are easily assimulated; repetition and handiness. When we say handiness it is because the English translation, for example is unwieldy when writing it out.

Take the case of autovía, which translates into ‘dual carriageway.’ The other is grua, which translates into breakdown lorry in British English and tow truck in American English.

So, this article deals with how much it will cost you to get towed away in Nerja for bad parking.

The Nerja Town Council at its latest Penary Meeting decided to change local by-laws governing the use of the municipal grua service, by increasing the cost from 48 euros to 75 euros.

The reason behind this 56% increase is to make things ‘more attractive’ for companies that run a break-down service. Why? Because they have put the contract out to bidding twice and twice nobody has come forward.

Not surprising really because under the old price, the company only gets 33 euros out of the 48 for towing away an offending vehicle. Arguably, just being able to see the look on somebody’s face as their car is towed away is payment enough.

With the new rate, claims the Councillor de Tráfico, Óscar Jiménez, the company will practically get all of the 75 euros for each tow.

The long term plan, however, is to buy a grua, making it a 100% municipal service… and earnings.

(News: Nerja, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia)