Driver in Gran Canaria fined for talking to passenger

[Perikles]

One gob-smacked driver in Gran Canaria was stopped by the police and issued with a fine for "talking to his passenger and not paying enough attention to the road".



Of course, we weren't there, and we all know people who can't talk without waving their arms around and making you feel travel-sick even at the breakfast table  . So the car might have been weaving around a bit. Who knows? He claims there was no other traffic, he was not speeding, just having a normal conversation.

The problem with fines of €40 is that it's just not worth going through the process of appealing and it would probably have cost him more than that to take it to court. The article blames the "Resumen de Actividades Individuales" RAI which measures a policeman's productivity by counting the number of fines he issues, which can affect his productivity bonus of up to €240

"el RAI está haciendo mucho daño, porque se basa en el número de denuncias que tiene cada agente para no retirarle el plus de productividad que llega a ser de 240 euros".

So especially between now and Dec 31st, I recommend when driving, leave passengers behind. Or have an argument with any prospective passengers before starting out, so that you are Not Speaking to them during the journey. Even safer, leave the car behind, but then it's probably illegal to drive without a car. 

[Michael]

Some 40 odd years ago, myself and a mate were standing outside his house on the main Belfast Rd. in Holywood (40mph. speed limit).

I spotted a familiar car coming towards us and as it passed I recognised my 2 ageing aunts engaged in an animated discussion.

As they passed I became aware of a stationary car a short distance in front of them indicating to turn right.

Did they see it? Did they hell!  BANG! Straight into the back of it. No brakes, nothing.

Nobody hurt.

Just sayin'. 

[Guanche]

Good, good and good. Every day we take our lives in our hands here when taking to the streets in mechanically propelled vehicles. Its something I've never noticed in people from other nations but the Spanish (not all) cannot seem to drive and talk at the same time. Their feet some how become attached to their mouths and they brake and accelerate as the conversation goes on. Slower as it gets heated, faster as they calm down. I know its the reverse from what you would expect but I've seen it in action with the in laws and friends and on the street. One of my brother in laws is the only person that can make me car sick!! I just don't get in a car with him now.
Yesterday we saw a classic, two people in the middle lane, as always! I could see they were in deep conversation as the arms were going ten to the dozen and they were in the death speed zone 50kph. Now I would normall undertake them but decided not to this time so I went from my lane to the center then the fast lane, as we started to over take them the wife saw them stop talking and they just accelerated!! leaving me doing 90 or so in the fast lane overtaking nothing! They or the driver had no idea there was any other cars on the road.

Just slightly off topic but there was a story in El Pais the other day about the Guardia Civil, it would seem that they have traffic offence quotas to fill each month and can be sanctioned if they don't fill those quotas. A very disturbing pratice especially as one have very little recourse to justice.

[Janet]

Assuming a frst appeal to Tráfico bore no fruit, then someone who has a fine can appeal to the courts. Thanks to the PP, however, there is now a "justice tax", which means a €200 or so payment before the courts can even be accessed. Yeah right ... put that together with targets for traffic police ...

I'd say "fascist bastards" but that's against the law now ... 

I do agree about drivers like this, though ...

[Perikles]

Just slightly off topic but there was a story in El Pais the other day about the Guardia Civil, it would seem that they have traffic offence quotas to fill each month and can be sanctioned if they don't fill those quotas. A very disturbing pratice especially as one have very little recourse to justice.

True, we don't know the facts because he might have been driving dangerously because he was talking. So this reason "because he was talking" could be a distortion.

I mention the quota thingy in my post, the RAI.

[Guanche]

Exactly Janet, they have made it so its cheaper to pay the fine, that is not justice. By passing this 'Justice Tax' they have effectively withdrawn most of the population of Spain from accessing the justice system for any fixed penalty offence.

[Guanche]

True, we don't know the facts because he might have been driving dangerously because he was talking. So this reason "because he was talking" could be a distortion.

I mention the quota thingy in my post, the RAI.

My apologies P in my rush to post I didn't read all of your post properly:-[