Driving Offences Committed Abroad Will Follow You Home

It’s not uncommon for many people to behave differently when they find themselves in a foreign country. This is partly due to being unaware of the different laws to those that you are used to at home, and partly due to thinking that you can get away with things that you wouldn’t dare to do in your own country.

This especially goes for driving. Yes, we may drive a little faster than we usually do, especially if we’re pressed for time and want to get around as quickly as possible. Who cares if we break a few speeding limits? We won’t get found out. 

Well, that’s all about to change and won’t be the case any longer. Break a speeding law in the majority of EU member states (UK has opted out) and the culprit will be discovered, located and notified at their home address of the fine that they have to pay.

If you are planning a driving trip abroad in another EU country, make sure that you take care and stick to their driving regulations. The immunity enjoyed by being a foreign driver is about to end.

The European Commission of the Automobile (CEA) has announced that a directive that permits the interchanging of information about traffic offences between communitary countries has just been approved.

According to the CEA, an increase of driving infractions committed by Spaniards has been registered during the last few months in countries such as France, Portugal, Hungary and Croatia. France has recorded the greatest amount, and the offences are predominantly related to driving too fast and over the limit or not giving way.

The relevant sanctions are now finding their way to the correct homes in Spain, as drivers have been detected and informed of the offence that they thought they had got away with in another country.

Fines attached to these infractions are charged at the rate of the issuing country.

Drivers from Spain will be penalized for a number of offences if committed abroad:

• Driving over the speed limit
• Driving through a red light
• Driving without wearing a seat belt
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Driving without wearing a helmet (motorbike)
• Driving down a prohibited road
• Driving while using a mobile phone

To appeal any fines that may have been handed out, this must be done via the judicial organizations of the country where the offence was carried out.

Source: www.expansion.com