98th Entry Halton Apprentices

Following on from Mike’s speed cameras, here’s another ‘confession’ on road traffic fines from Spain. What’s the betting this applies in UK as well?

Traffic Guardia Civil are to be awarded points leading to a bonus payment for giving fines

The plan comes in response to an alleged work to rule being carried out by the traffic police.

Spain’s traffic Guardia are, from this month, being assessed for the number of fines they issue. The group which represents them, the AUGG, claims the move is an attempt to stop their so called ‘dropped ball point pen strike’ which has seen a recent sharp reduction in the number of fines being issued, allegedly in action in protest at a cut in wages.

Now the agents get two points for every fine they award and four when there is an infraction involving the illegal transport of people or goods. Nine points are awarded for a positive breathalyser test, two for attending an accident, and one for providing help on the road.

National newspaper, El País prints the details which come from an internal note.

It’s thought that a 150 € bonus for the agents will become dependent on them gaining enough points.

Latest figures show that only 58,000 fines were issued in June this year, while 188,000 were issued in the same month last year.

The Guardia agents’ association notes that despite the fall in the number of fines issued in May and June the number of fatalities on the roads was down 13% on last year. They say this shows that traffic fines are used to raise funds, but they have no effect on the number of accidents.