Speeding fine in Spain

storysoldier

I'm trying to decide whether to pay a speeding fine apparently picked up on radar while on holiday in Spain in Oct 2014. I got the ticket from the Dept of Security a few days ago for 150 euros if paid within 20 days. I would probably have paid if it wasn't such a big amount.

Have read on other forums that chasing up fines is contracted to agencies, or the car hire company can put the charges on your card, but no conclusive advice.

We hired from Enterprise so they could charge us.

Also the ticket, all in Spanish, says that we were doing 120kmph in a 80kmph, but how do we know it's true. There's also the fact that the signs were often confusing.

Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks

bazster

Well you've received the ticket so evidently the hire company hasn't paid it but instead has handed your details over to the authorities. Chances are you will find that the hire company has charged a hefty "admin fee" to your credit card for so doing, and that this is provided for in their T&C's.

If you ever intend to drive in Spain again you really should pay this. If you get stopped by the Spanish police in future, for any reason, and they find you have an outstanding speeding fine they will impound your vehicle until it's paid. I'd suggest that arguing the toss over whether they've proved that this really happened or about confusing signage will get you absolutely nowhere, except possibly impounded yourself if you try it at the side of the road with a Guardia Civil officer.

The_Deep

As Mr B says, pay it if you intend to drive in Spain again.

iainscomputer

Hi, I got one of these speeding fines from using a Spanish hire car, the hire co billed me a admin fee too.
I paid it, because they could get a copy of my passport from the hire co, when I enter Spain by air the passport is scanned & I really didn't want any hassle next time I go.
If it had been Italy, I probably wouldn't have paid it, as they just look at the passport at the airport, if I had been in a UK car & the fine had been from that Euro Parking collection I would have definitely ignored it.
I did get a 50% discount for paying early aswell! from €100 down to €50.

storysoldier

bazster wrote: »

Well you've received the ticket so evidently the hire company hasn't paid it but instead has handed your details over to the authorities. Chances are you will find that the hire company has charged a hefty "admin fee" to your credit card for so doing, and that this is provided for in their T&C's.

If you ever intend to drive in Spain again you really should pay this. If you get stopped by the Spanish police in future, for any reason, and they find you have an outstanding speeding fine they will impound your vehicle until it's paid. I'd suggest that arguing the toss over whether they've proved that this really happened or about confusing signage will get you absolutely nowhere, except possibly impounded yourself if you try it at the side of the road with a Guardia Civil officer.

Thanks, that's as succinct and helpful a reply I could have hoped for. Will learn the lesson to be more careful in future.