Traffic fines in Europe

The European Commission has passed the EU Cross Border Enforcement Directive, so that traffic offences will be pursued throughout Europe even when you are driving your own car abroad. If you plan to travel to Spain by car, you better have a look at the following links before it is too late:

1. Going abroad - Spain: quick overview of the main Spanish traffic regulations; though "the Commission does not assume any liability for their content or their accuracy", I have confirmed that the information is trustworthy. 
2. EU Crossborder Enforcement Directive FAQ: check out number 4, "Which traffic offences are covered by the Directive", and number 5, "Will the level of the fines be the same as in the driver's own country" (spoiler: NO). 

This blog was meant to provide useful information about speeding fines in Spain, and to my surprise it is receiving more and more visits from all around the world, and specially from almost every European country. Here is my view of the question as of today, 

• If you are caught speeding you will receive a fine (this is 99% true). If so, pay immediately, and do not hesitate to call the help line if you have any problem doing so (Spanish, English, French and German spoken). If you don't pay, after about a month, the fine amount will double.
• Speeding fines in Spain are regulated by the Spanish law. Do not expect an image of the driver, nor of the car. You can request it when you get the fine if it is not included, but even in those cases it is not mandatory that the driver is recognizable. If you appeal requesting an image of the driver, you will lose the 50% discount for early payment!
• When and how to appeal: if the car in the image isn't yours or if you returned the rental car before the time of the offence, do not hesitate to appeal. The DGT operators will be able to confirm whether you are right or not over the phone, and, most important, can in certain cases take immediate action without you having to post or fax any documents. So again, use the help line, it will save you time and money.

Camino de Santiago by car

There are at least four ways to Santiago: the French Way, the Silver Way, the Portuguese Way and the North Way. All of them offer great driving routes, but we are focusing on the best-known today... Do you feel like driving the French Way of St James?

If we need to hire a car our trip will start in Pamplona, about an hour south of Roncesvalles. Logroño is an hour from Pamplona, and we will spend our first night here. Administrative capital of the Rioja region, I would go for a hotel in the city centre to make sure no-one will have to drive after dealing with the best wines in Spain.

Burgos could well be the next stop, but there is little to see in Burgos aside from the Cathedral. I'd rather visit the Museum of Human Evolution in the nearby Atapuerca. Staying in Burgos is the best option, so you can see the Cathedral.

Burgos Cathedral - you've seen it.

The drive between Burgos and León is just two hours, so you should be in León in time to see the Cathedral and San Isidoro (the Sistine Chapel of Romanesque Art) before tasting the local tapas (some say they are the best in Spain).

San Isidoro's Royal Pantheon

Astorga is less than an hour from León, and I would choose a hotel with spa to experience the Camino like the pilgrims do (though they'll go to the spa for a different reason). The Cathedral of Astorga and the Episcopal Palace by Gaudi are a must in Astorga. There are a couple of restaurants in the city worth the visit (Serrano and La Peseta), but if you are the ox-beef meat kind of person your restaurant is a half-hour from Astorga, El Capricho (probably the best steak in the world).

I'd spend the next morning in the spa before heading to Castrillo de los Polvazares to taste a true maragato stew. You can get to Ponferrada following the Camino, but I'd rather go back to Astorga and use the highway. You'll miss Foncebadón, but both you and the pilgrims will be safer.

There is little to see in Ponferrada, and a Parador in Villafranca del Bierzo, a charming village with lots to see and little to do.

The next stop is Lugo, the city with the Roman walls. I wouldn't hurry. On your way to Lugo you can wander around the Ancares, After that you are already in Galicia, and one day far from Santiago. Lugo is an old town that used to be much more important 2,000 years ago, but you will find affordable hotels and restaurants.

The trip to Santiago de Compostela is just 90 minutes, and once you get to Santiago you are free to indulge yourself...

Car hire and administrative fees

I am convinced that administrative fees sum up to 80% of car hire companies' benefits. They will charge your credit card without prior notice, send you an e-mail informing about the fine and wash their hands. 

Is there anything we can do? Nothing, but paying for the fine. 

It is not clear why such a fee should be charged, given the fact that identifying the driver is their legal duty to do so! They are charging you and me for something they are obliged to.

Speeding fines in Spain: car hire

The procedure when you get a speeding fine in Spain while driving a hire car is as follows,

1. DGT notifies the car owner.
2. The car hire companies checks their records and provides the hire contract data.
3. The car hire company informs the driver and charges the fee (from 10 to 50 eur, it MUST be clear in the contract).
4. DGT or CTDA notifies the driver.

You can pay as soon as the car hire company sends you the e-mail, and by doing so you will get the 50% reduction. If you pay BEFORE you receive the official notification make sure to call DGT's CTDA and confirm that your file is closed for payment.