I'm now free to visit Spain again.

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Devils Advocate
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I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby Devils Advocate » Fri Sep 27, 2019 1:09 pm

Just reluctantly paid my dues for the speeding ticket I got on the last visit.

18 years of driving in Spain and numerous trips across by car so I did well really I guess. Only annoying thing was the ticket was awarded to me after we'd sold up, travelled the width of Spain and was within a few miles of the bloody Bilbao ferry port as we neared our hotel.

Ah well at least I've got a nice pic of us in the car on the AP-68 and hopefully I hold the Bilbao land speed record now as well :D

On a serious note, many blokes said to me "stuff them" and don't pay, I wouldn't blah blah. I've a feeling that is all bravado though.

I was caught out so my reaction was just to pay the fine and be done with it...........my fault entirely (well partly the Garmins and OH's too).

So does anyone know what does happen if you don't pay? Would you get a pull at the airport or ferry port do you reckon? Do baliffs come knocking on the door back in the UK.

Seems to be differing thoughts on this and wondered what the truth actually is.
Oh and yes, I'm not blagging, I have paid it :mrgreen:

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Beachcomber
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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby Beachcomber » Fri Sep 27, 2019 1:47 pm

The probably would not pursue you in the UK but if you came back to Spain they may well pick you out as you come through passport control.

El Cid
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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby El Cid » Fri Sep 27, 2019 2:22 pm

I have read that they do chase you. There has apparently been a spate of fines from France so they get in before Brexit. The agreement between the UK and other EU countries allows for it.

It never works for foreign cars in the UK as UK law says that the driver is responsible for the fine but in other countries it is the owner.

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/car ... roads.html

Sid

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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby Devils Advocate » Fri Sep 27, 2019 2:51 pm

Thanks Beachy and Sid, yes it's the singling out passing through passport control that bothered me. More than once now I've seen people, even families singled out at the borders after handing over their passports. You just think "drugs" but I'm betting now it could just simply be what we are talking about here.....not worth the risk anyway for 50E I guess.

That "Thismoney" article makes for annoying reading too........European Union not being a true Union once more.
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olive
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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby olive » Fri Sep 27, 2019 6:22 pm

We got one earlier in the year in France. It was only tens of euros and just not worth the risk of being detained entering France on a future trip in the same vehicle.

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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby Devils Advocate » Fri Sep 27, 2019 6:33 pm

Hmmmm Olive. You now raise a great point here. My OH was 100% straight away on my case to pay. I said no as we'd be in a different car next time. She said "but they'll pull you via your passport number"

I'm now thinking they've not even asked for my passport number...........however they obviously have my name and address so I think they could probably get it. Couldn't they? So would they pull you on the reg plate or via a passport I wonder?
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olive
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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby olive » Fri Sep 27, 2019 7:20 pm

In your case , it would be a third reason. Your looks. :lolno: They are trained to spot trouble makers ( shifty looks, yellow jackets, baseball caps worn backwards, petrol blue sunglasses etc.

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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby El Cid » Fri Sep 27, 2019 7:45 pm

Especially those wearing Team Lotus tee shirts!

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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby Beachcomber » Fri Sep 27, 2019 7:50 pm

DA, if you need convincing perhaps this will do it:

https://www.lavanguardia.com/gente/2019 ... ultas.html

Briefly, she was arrested at the airport on entering Spain and was taken before a judge for non-payment of a traffic fine! There is a little more to it than that obviously but probably not worth the risk.

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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby Devils Advocate » Fri Sep 27, 2019 10:15 pm

Good link Beachy, I fully believed there was this chance of trouble if you evade something and then return, that seems to prove it. Many thanks for that.

Sid and Olive :mrgreen: , I've never worn a baseball cap backwards or a Team Lotus Tee shirt in my life....well maybe the latter once :mrgreen:
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costakid
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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby costakid » Fri Sep 27, 2019 10:36 pm

I would have paid it as a little fine now would be a big fine if they caught you in 12 months time. Costs, aggro of going to court etc.

Also EU member states have a tie up with a company similar to the private parking companies in the UK who give out your UK details for traffic offences committed in another member state. Not sure of the exact number but Spain asked for 11000 ish last year and France asked for 940000 ish details. Seems like the French are cashing in pre brexit.

markwilding
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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby markwilding » Sat Sep 28, 2019 3:29 am

Just your luck getting caught up here. I'm not absolutely sure but it must be one of the only autonomous regions that use yellow reflectors on speed cameras so that they can be clearly be seen.
I assume you weren't going much over the limit due to the smallish fine.

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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby Devils Advocate » Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:43 am

CK, spot on. Agree with all you said in that post!

Mark, unlucky yes but avoidable, with risking it many times I thought I'd not get pulled in the last couple of miles of many years driving in Europe!! I remember the stretch and can also remember cars slowing at the point where I was done. Local knowledge I'm certain. I did start to slow when the warning signs were there but not soon enough, got hit for 92kph in the 80kph zone. It also threw me as satnav was saying it's a 120kph stretch. 100e fine or 50e if paid early which I've done. I can whatsap the picture through to you.....I'll bet you recognise the spot.....curved road bridge overhead and basically a stones throw from central Bilbao i think.
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costakid
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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby costakid » Sat Sep 28, 2019 11:33 am

Country Feb 19 Mar 19 Apr 19 May 19 Jun 19 Total
France 43,586 104,161 41,732 23,399 33,260 246,138
Germany 4,064 4,338 4,235 5,331 4,877 22,845
Italy 2,482 4,593 3,802 3,177 2,939 16,993
Spain 1,692 1,976 2,562 3,461 3,751 13,442
Austria 1,073 932 1,568 1,902 1,400 6,875
Latvia 1,285 764 903 1,134 1,434 5,520
Lithuania 931 1,423 1,318 1,160 610 5,442
Hungary 397 430 564 643 678 2,712
Czech Republic 214 225 298 309 270 1,316
Luxembourg 116 174 350 245 337 1,222
Poland 85 603 204 167 163 1,222
Bulgaria 286 112 192 220 117 927
Slovakia 22 42 25 46 40 175
Netherlands 24 34 17 8 13 96
Croatia 12 28 16 10 25 91
Slovenia 24 17 16 16 10 83
Malta 0 0 0 0 43 43
Finland 0 2 1 0 0 3
Source; AlcoSense using DVLA data sourced via an FOI request

Here are the official figures. Sorry i was out on numbers from France but still massive compared to number 2 on the list.

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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby Paddy Pumpkin » Sat Sep 28, 2019 1:14 pm

I can't answer for Spain but can confirm that Holland will get you with a passport at the airport.


I never got a fine via post but was pulled at the airport over non paid fine in SPANISH plated car in Holland. They even had a traffic office at the airport to show me all the details of what I had done many many months before.

markwilding
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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby markwilding » Sat Sep 28, 2019 2:01 pm

I drove to Holland in August on Spanish plates. If I picked up a fine while there and while driving through France and Belgium, by now should I be pretty confident not expect any nasty coming through my door?

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costakid
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Re: I'm now free to visit Spain again.

Postby costakid » Sat Sep 28, 2019 3:04 pm

A friend received a fine in May for speeding in France last August. Apparently there is no time limit. He paid it as he drives over a few times a year via France.


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