Prepare your pocket or learn the new DGT regulations for this year
Last year, around this time, the new Law on Traffic and Road Safety came into force. The norm tries to adapt to the new times (said this as new forms of mobility), hence it introduces novelties in sanctioning matters.
Some fines were activated with the Law in March 2022, but others are now being implemented with the introduction of new regulations, such as the Mobility Law that requires the creation of Low Emission Zones (ZBE) and encourages the use of new forms of mobility have become a novelty in many parts of Spain.
From 100 to 500 euros, these are the 9 new fines
The scale of economic sanctions remains unchanged (at the time, Pere Navarro explained that raising the amount of traffic fines “would entail a major legislative change”); This means that they continue to be ordered into three groups based on their severity.
Below we review and ordered by their seriousness and amount, from least to greatest.
Minor offences: 100 euros
1. One of the most controversial measures was the elimination of the 20 km/h margin for overtaking on conventional roads. The DGT said that it would analyze the results of the measure and although the balance of accidents for 2022 has not been good, there is no news that they are considering going back in 2023.
The sanction in this case varies depending on the speeding. A minor infraction with a fine of 100 euros and without loss of points is considered to be those cases in which you drive at 120 km/h on a secondary road limited to 90 km/h or 150 km/h on sections of dual carriageways and highways with a speed limit. 120 km/h.
Serious offences: fine of 200 euros
2. The great novelty for 2023 are the fines for access to the ZBE, not so much because they have not been applied until now, but because with the new Mobility Law in force since January 1, the areas of traffic and restricted access are multiplying .
3. A separate mention should be made at this point about the possibility of being penalized for wearing or not wearing the DGT sticker in a visible place (3). At the moment it is a municipal decision and there are very few city councils that have decided to penalize cars that enter the ZBE without the visible label (Gijón was the first, but a court has knocked down its ZBE).
4. The use of mobile phones while driving remains the same consideration. It continues to be a serious infraction that is penalized with 200 euros, but with two novelties: the simple fact of holding the device with the hand is fined and although the economic amount is maintained, the deduction of points increases from 3 to 6.
5. The same happens with seat belts or Child Restraint Systems (CRS): The DGT punishes those who evade the use of these safety devices with 200 euros and increases the loss of points from 3 to 4.
6. The use of radar detectors is also a serious infraction. The fine in this case is 200 euros and three points (the use of radar jammers can reach a fine of 6,000 euros), as a novelty, the wording of the Law changes to penalize the fact of carrying a device of this type in the car, even if it is not used.
Very serious offences: fine of 500 euros
7. Those who are taking the driver’s license exam in 2023 must be very careful not to be tempted to use unauthorized intercom devices. The norm includes in the list of very serious infractions trying to cheat in the tests. The fine is also for those who take points recovery courses and includes the prohibition to repeat the exam in 6 months.
8. Throwing objects onto the road that could cause fires or accidents also carries a fine of 500 euros. This offense also entails the loss of 6 points.
9. In 2023, fines for minors who drive under the influence of alcohol are also expected to increase. The Traffic Law imposes zero tolerance for minors under 18 who, for now and until the new B1 permit comes into force, in Spain can only use mopeds and so-called Personal Mobility Vehicles (VMP). The fine for these and for adults is 500 euros.
