What About Fines Abroad?

Traveling in Europe is not synonymous with relaxation due to possible fines abroad. Since 2015, foreigners who travel through the territory of the Union are subject to the payment of penalties imposed due to road violations committed.

How are fines applied abroad? This is information that we should have before starting our trip.

Old regulations that did not make it possible to collect fines

Before it was common to see foreigners who violated traffic regulations. And although a fine was imposed, it was difficult for states to collect it. This happened regularly in Spain, but also in countries like Germany, Greece, Belgium, Holland, Portugal, etc.

But everything changed during 2015, when the Community Directive 2011/82 / EU regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council began to come into force. What changes have been made?

Why does the 2011/82 / EU regulation make it possible to fine foreign drivers?

Community Directive 2011/82 / EU regulations allow and facilitate the exchange of information of interest between the different countries that make up the European Union. Thanks to this provision, tracking the fined driver is much easier, their origin, nationality, etc.

This regulation allows the competent state bodies to access the vehicle records of the Central Traffic Headquarters throughout the European region. The objective: to identify the offending drivers registered in their country of origin who commit offenses in other territories.

For example, if a driver registered his car in Spain and committed the offense in France, the French State may request the information necessary to issue the fine. Avoiding responsibility for the acts that generate the infringement will not be a simple matter.

Speeding and drinking alcohol while driving

The offenses that are subject to international data exchange are those that penalize speeding, failure to use seat belts, failure to comply with the red light and use of mobile phones during the crossing.

Fines abroad for driving while intoxicated or consuming narcotics are also valid. Driving in an improper or reserved lane can also be investigated and carried out.

And it does not matter if we are unaware of any regulations, sanctions or signs of the country we visit. It is one of the most accepted principles in matters of legislation and its non-compliance, that ignorance of the rule does not justify its non-compliance.

The fine can come if we commit the offense in our vehicle, or when we rent one in foreign territory.

Fines abroad and license points

According to current regulations, in Spain a fine can subtract points that can later mean the partial or total loss of the driving license. Fortunately, so far the offenses committed abroad will not affect us in that sense.

The fact is that not all countries have the same standards for these types of sanctions . The loss from the sanction for an offense in a foreign country, will in any case be monetary.

It should be noted that this regulation had not entered into force in Denmark and the United Kingdom. But these precepts were updated and became effective since last May 6 of this year 2017.

Some tips when driving in a foreign country

The first thing is to try to know some basic regulations of the country that we are going to visit. The rules can vary a lot and an example is what happens in France with the use of flashing lights for lane change. A higher average speed is usually allowed there than in Spain. In Germany there are also higher speed limits on expressways, above the limits set in Spain.

Another good tip is to use GPS, in order to know the specifications of the roads on which we travel. This way we will avoid passing an important signal by overlooking and committing the corresponding infraction.

The rest of the normative provisions are simple and logical . There is no reason why we should go without a seat belt when driving in another country. The goal of good driving behavior is simple: avoid foreign fines.