Driving: packages on back seats?

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

In the Tenerife Weekly of 24-30/5 there was an article stating it is illegal in Spain to put any type of packages on the back seats of cars.  What a bizarre notion.

Can anyone confirm or deny or offer any clarification? 

Where are you supposed to put your groceries?  Dry cleaning?  Backpack? 

Muchas gracias de antemano.

[Michael]

In the Tenerife Weekly of 24-30/5 there was an article stating it is illegal in Spain to put any type of packages on the back seats of cars.  What a bizarre notion.

Can anyone confirm or deny or offer any clarification? 

Where are you supposed to put your groceries?  Dry cleaning?  Backpack? 

Muchas gracias de antemano.

In the boot perhaps? 

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

What if the boot is full?

Looking forward to your snappy answers!   

[Michael]

What if the boot is full?

Looking forward to your snappy answers!   

Fold the back seats down. 

[Nova]

What if they're strapped in with a seatbelt? 

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

The new Honda does ALL those configurations including being able to raise them up and lock them into position, creating a huge well in back of the front seats. 

But besides packages, we have always put the vests on the back seat as the law says they have to be visible. 

[Janet]

I've asked John Sharples who wrote the column for a ref ... news to me ...

[Guanche]

There is a law in the UK, and I would suggest the whole of the civilised world in relation to this . In the UK its called having an insecure or dangerous load. Most would automatically think about lorries or HGVs. But it applies to any vehicle. Its the reason dogs are banned from the front seats of vehicles. Having one on you lap even with the passenger will attract a fine. Its one of those law that covers a multitude of sins.

We never carry anything on the back seat. Remember if a tin of tomato soup travailing at 30 mph hit's you on the back of the head it will give you more than a headache! If I have to use the back seat I always put the thing on the floor and tie the bag to prevent anything rolling under the seat and interfering with the driving pedals

[Janet]

Yes, and I've now had a reply confirming it's like this.

The article was from a personal report of someone fined for having shopping on the back seat of a car in north Tenerife. The person speaks Spanish and understood the police officer, who said that the items were not properly secured.

There is nothing in the law specifically about stuff on the back seat, but given the requirement for dangerous loads to be secured, and in the current environment where fines are being issued for little more than breathing, it's as well to be cautious.