NEVER EVER request a copy of the fine in English

This is a comment I received a couple of weeks ago. I think it deserves its own space here:

I pay my fines, so when I received one after my trip to Tenerife I did my best to pay. The information in English was terrible, so I sent a letter asking for a copy of the fine in English. Three weeks later I received a copy of the fine... in Spanish again. I called the number in the letter, and a lady kindly informed me that they received my request and as per their regulations I was disputing the fine and had lost any chance to get the 50% discount.

I was shocked, so I thanked her and hung up. After browsing the Internet I found advice as to how to pay online and paid 300 euro. 

I think those 150 euro extra I paid would have been better invested in Spanish lessons, tbh. 

So trust me, do NEVER EVER request a copy of the fine in English. It will cost you time and money.

The next time I get a fine from Spain I'll leave it in a drawer, I'll call them 6 months later and I will pay my fine, still not knowing what they say, but with my reduction.

Many French visitors in the last few weeks

Spain and France signed a reciprocal agreement to share car owners information, and in the last few months both Spanish and French drivers have received the first cross-border fines. That is probably why some French readers found this blog.

My sources in Spain tell me that the letter sent to French drivers might be confusing, but CTDA seems to have French speaking operators, so for any doubt or question call them straight away and demand any information that you need.

I can't yet confirm whether the trick to get the discount (calling and saying that you just received the fine) works for French drivers, comments regarding this or any other point are welcome.

Speeding fines in Malaga and Costa del Sol

Malaga is one of the most beautiful Spanish destinations if you are looking for sun, beaches and fun.

If you decide to move around by car, bear in mind that there are areas in the motorways with an 80 km/h speed limit and average speed cameras. Both the limit and the cameras are advised, and local drivers know the location, so paying attention should be enough to prevent speeding fines, which are a very popular souvenir in Malaga (you'll receive it by post and pay afterwards).

Malaga is beautiful, but beware the speed traps!

DGT's CTDA

DGT: Spanish traffic authority.

CTDA: DGT's center for automated speeding fines.

The letter you get if you have been caught speeding in Spain is sent by CTDA (Centro Tratamiento Denuncias Automatizadas in Spanish). If you need to reach them, do not hesitate to dial their number, there is always an English speaking operator available.

50% reduction: check

Ok, so I got a new fine. I suppose I am not the best driver out there. 100 euro again, this time in Lanzarote. The car rental company sent me an e-mail and two weeks later I had the letter... I set an alarm one month later, and tried to complete the payment online. It would charge 100 euro. I called the number in the letter and in 30 seconds I got the 50% reduction again (more details here).

Apparently, Spanish Traffic Authority will rather re-open the early payment window than making a mistake. A friend got a fine last summer, and will be back in Mallorca in two weeks. He got the fine 9 or 10 months ago. Called this numer, told them they had used an old address and still got the 50% reduction. No reason to fear that he might get an on-the-spot fine back in Spain.

Speeding in Spain: two facts and the new EU directive

As of May 2015, a new EU traffic directive will make sure that every EU country shares car owner information so that eight different traffic violations can be enforced.

According to EU figures, foreign drivers account for 5% of the road traffic and about 15% of the speed offences.

All of the offences enforced by this directive are considered major road safety offences:

1. Speeding;
2. Not using a seatbelt;
3. Not stopping at a red traffic light or other mandatory stop signal;
4. Drink driving;
5. Driving under the influence of drugs;
6. Not wearing a safety helmet (for motorcyclists);
7. Using a forbidden lane (such as the forbidden use of an emergency lane, a lane reserved for public transport, or a lane closed down for road works);
8. Illegally using a mobile phone, or any other communications device, while driving.

Up to this moment, car rental companies were the best way to reach a foreing driver, as countries weren't always willing to provide that information*. From next month, sharing the car holder's data will be a matter of minutes.

* Spain and France had an agreement to exchange these data, but it was a bilateral one, not affecting third countries.

Driving in Spain: Lanzarote

Lanzarote, the sunny island, received over a million brits last 2014, most of them looking for sun and beach.

Local buses (known as 'guaguas') are cheap and reach every corner of the island, though they aren't as convenient as they could.

The car is by far the best way to move around Lanzarote. Getting to lost villages in the North or changing plans in the last minute are just two of the advantages.

The car hire companies will try to make the most of every rental, and the charge around 65 euro (VAT excluded) for gas. My advice is to fill the deposit before returning the car, as they will refund the money...