Bandits in Green Uniforms

Be aware it is nearly Xmas and they are out looking for their Xmas bonuses!  I have just contributed EUR354's to their benevolent fund because I was allegedly doing 100kph in a 50kph area.  The area is San Roque as you come over the bridge on to the road down to Campamento  (near Gibraltar).  As you come off the slip road the sign says 60kph, after about 20 yards it says 50kph and after about another 20 yards it says 100kph.  Allegedly I was doing 100 between the 50 and the 100 sign.  ROUND ONES!!  Yes I was must have been speeding but I wasn't going that fast as I had just slipped on to the road from the side.  It's a Toyota not a Ferrari.  Apparently, the spymobile was hiding in a ditch by the side of the road where it couldn't be seen, so I'd like to know if I can get a copy of the camera picture, or the so-called proof,  IF IT EXISTS?  The jolly green giant took away my driving licence and passport (didn't ask for my residencia, he obviously didn't think I had one) and told me to go to the nearest ATM and bring him the money which he proudly told me in Spanish sign language should have been EUR520's but I'd get 30% off if I paid within 30 days.  Fortunately, I knew enough to shove my residencia under his nose, so they will have to send me the fine notification.  When I was pulled over there were 3 other people pulled, 2 British and one Spanish, have a guess at which one was let off!  Considering Spain was a 3rd world dictatorship only 30 years ago they certainly have picked up the art of ripping people off to perfection whether it be driving on the road, buying a house or paying the endless taxes (which I have yet to be subjected to, but have been told about).
Well OCIFFER enjoy, perhaps you could use the money to find out who your father was, or have that facetious grin on your face removed by plastic surgery.


This message was last edited by orda on 10/21/2008.

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I had similar problem a couple of years ago.  Mind you, it seems the fines have gone up a lot since then.

They should have given you a slip with an address on it where you can request a copy of the photo.

Justin

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It has been 19 days and I have still not received my speeding fine through the post.  I'm beginning to wonder if this was a scam as the Spanish driver was let off and the other 2 BRITISH drivers had to go to the ATM to get cash.  But because I had my Residencia on me they told me that I had 30 days to pay the fine to get 30% discount, so if this is really genuine, is that from when the alleged incident took place, or 30 days after I receive the claim in the post?

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I can't understand how they get away with taking your Driving Licence and Passport away and then telling you that you won't get them back until you have paid the fine there and then!

Sounds like a scam to me.

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Surely even if these characters were genuine, to take away my personal belongings to make me pay is extortion isn't it?  I know I'm in a foreign country and I don't mean to knowingly flout any laws, but I still have rights.  So, in effect, what they were saying was that if I hadn't got the money, or a credit card they would have not given me back my documents and/or impounded the car.  Thus depriving me of my ability to earn a living, as I would have had no transport, and making me even more unable to pay this ridiculous amount of money.  Any lawyers out there honest, and brave enough, to speak up against this practice?

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Orda, we got stopped by the local police earlier this year for speeding (allegedly!). We were also told we would have to pay there and then if we didn't have an address in Spain (so the tourists don't get away with it presumably - the car being impounded if no ability to pay!). Fortunately, we could prove our spanish address & were given a piece of paper with the amount of the fine showing, which we had to take to the local bank (Cajamurcia in our case) to pay the fine & get 30% reduction for paying within 30 days.

Are you sure you will get anything through the post? We just paid up & haven't heard anything since.

 

This message was last edited by Annie21 on 11/8/2008.

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Thanks Annie I think I'll go to one of the banks and see about it and get it over with.  I still think it's licensed extortion  and maybe they'll spend the money on their crappy roads.

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I agree. Our only consolation was that it wasn't just the english getting fined - loads of spanish had been caught out too - & they were extremely put out!! There was a queue at one point of people waiting to 'be done'!

Funny thing is we still aren't sure of the speed limit on this particular stretch of road as there doesn't seem to be any signs! Hmmmm

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Is a Padron not proof of residence this case?

I happend to be discussing the issue of re-plating a British car and the requirement of having a Residencia in order to do so.

However a Padron is also acceptable, so could it be so to proove residence in this case?

 

This message was last edited by TechNoApe on 11/8/2008.

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Techno - I suspect that it would depend on the police officer . We don't have residencia & didn't even have anything with our written address on it (hubby didn't even have his driving licence on him - duh!). I wrote down our address for him & he took us at face value - as I said there was a queue of 'lawbreakers' so maybe it was easier to issue a ticket & let us go. I know we got away with not having the driving licence as he could have done us for that too.

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To add insult to injury I went in to the Bank Santander to pay my fine, €354's if paid within 30 days, and begrudgingly handed €360's to the pretty cashier who pressed a few keys on her keyboard and said to me "another €4's please".  "No", I replied, "it's €354, the ******** wrote it on the back".  "I know", she said, "but  30% of €520's is €364 not €354".  So I had to cough up even more.  They couldn't get the discount right, it makes you wonder if they got my speed right!!! 

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Wow, but why am I not surprised at your story and I must admit I had a feeling they were on some sort of incentive as my colleagues told me that you only ever see them speed checking just before Xmas.  However, I suppose we must be grateful that the Guardia Civil aren't used (hopefully) in the same capacity as Franco used to use them.

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