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Remembering driving licence!

Re: Remembering driving licence!

Postby RogerB » Sun Sep 23, 2012 11:49 pm

Sorry to sound unsympathetic, but, having lived in various countries, I have acquired the discipline of always carrying essential cards with me whenever I go out .... one can get copies 'notarised' (free) at the ayuntamiento, if one os worried about theft.
It's as natural, for me, to pick-up my bum-bag, containing all I need (money, licence, passport copy, residencia copy, bank cards, SIP card, usually) as it is to take my keys and lock the doors. It really isn't that much hassle, IMO.
When I go to the market I usually have my large dog with me so am not too paranoid! (and when I leave her at home she's a good burglar deterrent!)
If I am alone in 'high-risk areas', I usually re-distribute my money and cards into several separate, zipped pockets, as the bum-bag is an obvious 'target'.
I discovered this in Prague, where, despite vigilance by me & my late wife, my wallet was taken from my BB.... they got a very old wallet , containing a non-winning lottery ticket and my kidney donor card!!!
I do admit I sometimes carry too much cash....one should take only as much as you think you'll need.
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Re: Remembering driving licence!

Postby Jan » Mon Sep 24, 2012 8:00 am

I suppose it's just us being 'land-locked' Brits for most of the year that makes us lazy & forgetful when it comes to carrying documents. We always take the other sensible precautions you mention Roger, like re-distributing cards and money and trying to only carry as little cash as we might need at the time around with us but we will have to get used to always carrying the documents with us.

:text-thankyouyellow:
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Re: Remembering driving licence!

Postby Biker Dave » Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:09 pm

A friend of mine was stopped by the GC Traffico at Quesada Arches last year and did not have his green paper copy with his photo card UK licence. He was fined on the spot.
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Re: Remembering driving licence!

Postby Jan » Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:39 pm

Oh dear, we don't even have a photocard...never have had! The rental car companies have always been happy with the 'pink' paper copy and a passport.
I do hope all these people who get 'on the spot' fines ask for a recibo, as it could be the only way to prove that some of these laws are genuine and the fines are not just made up as they go along. I should think the police would be reluctant to give a receipt if they were acting fraudulently.
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Re: Remembering driving licence!

Postby ozzymandius » Mon Sep 24, 2012 3:04 pm

This is genuine information, obtained from a Spanish friend who works in local government and spends much of his time helping Brits out of problems with the police

The following MUST be carried when driving in Spain at ALL TIMES. Sorry Jan, don't expect leniency if you forget :)

•Drivers license (both parts)
•Insurance documents
•Ownership documents (or rental documents)
•Wearers of spectacles should carry a spare pair
•Fluorescent jacket (for all occupants)
•Two warning triangles
•Fire extinguisher (recommended)
•First-aid kit (recommended)

Spanish citizens all have an identity card known as a Documento Nacional de Identidad (DNI), and the overwhelming majority carry it on them at all times. The card is most often used when making credit card purchases, but almost any activity that requires proof of identity will see them present their DNI.
This leaves foreigners (especially British citizens) in the curious position of not understanding Spanish and EU law. If the Policia National or Guardia Civil stop you and demand identity many of us become frustrated when the authorities will not accept our excuse that it is not compulsory to carry our passport or Id card.
In fact under Spanish law we are wrong. Everyone in Spain must carry government issued ID at all times, regardless of whether we are Spanish, an EU national, or a foreigner living or holidaying in the country. The specific law is Article 4 of Organic Law 4/2000 which states in unambiguous terms that foreign nationals in Spain must carry identity documents issued by the country of citizenship. The operative word is ‘carry’ – not to be confused with keep at home.
Thus, if you live in Spain, and you don’t have Spanish government issued photo ID, you must carry at all times your own nation’s photo ID, in the case of British citizens this means our passport.
There is no obligation on the part of authorities in Spain to give you 72 hours or some other reasonable amount of time to present your document. Quite simply, if you do not produce an identity document on demand when asked by law enforcement officers (Policia Nacional, Guardia Civil, Policia Local etc) then you could be detained and fined
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Re: Remembering driving licence!

Postby rob » Mon Sep 24, 2012 3:42 pm

The Spanish authorities are broke and will look at any opportunity to levy a fine, so carry all documents with you at all time.
I have copied my NIE and Passport to credit card size and laminated them. Also the driving licence is credit card size, so all three can easily be carried in wallet/purse(even go for a swim with them!!)
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Re: Remembering driving licence!

Postby Jan » Mon Sep 24, 2012 4:38 pm

Thanks for the info from the horses mouth Ozzy but it throws up a few inconsistencies, one being hire car companies - We being regular hirers always ask for triangles and jackets (They are not always in the car!) We also have our own, so when the company only gives us one jacket and one triangle which often happens ("That's all you need" we've been told!!), we can then carry extras in the car.


Unfortunately the unknowing holiday-makers are being left at risk of being fined for something that the hire car companies are omitting to supply and which are necessary by law. I would also be surprised if many holiday-makers know the rules on carrying ID/licences at all times when driving. It must be like a lottery win, particularly in the Summer months, for the police to set up road checks and fine the unsuspecting foreigner... and, in these austere times, definitely no incentive for the powers that be to pass on these rules to drivers through ports & hire-car companies.

Also, it is not obligatory to have a photo-card licence in the UK if you passed a driving test over 10 years ago - One can be applied for voluntarily but it is only the younger drivers in the last ten years or so who were given one automatically. All the details needed are on the paper copy and we have always assumed that the passport is sufficient as an ID with the paper D/L in Spain....don't tell me it's not or I will scream.......... ;) :lol:


Hi Rob, Are your reduced copies authorised, because if we get a copy of our passport authenticated at the town hall and then reduce & laminate it, would that be accepted, as it would be a copy of a copy?
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Re: Remembering driving licence!

Postby rob » Tue Sep 25, 2012 2:17 pm

Hi Jan, we have used it for bank transactions and purchases.
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Re: Remembering driving licence!

Postby marcliff » Tue Sep 25, 2012 3:01 pm

It's not just the foreigners they pick on, although it may seem like it around here but, then, we are in the majority in this area.
An item on Channel 5 last night stated that over 100,000 drivers have been prosecuted in the last 3 years for lack of driving licences or having no points left (here in Spain they start with a certain number of points and then reduce them, when you get to zero you are banned from driving) and they said that this was the reason why the death tolls on Spanish roads had fallen considerably.
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Re: Remembering driving licence!

Postby Jan » Wed Sep 26, 2012 2:35 pm

Found this information (Dated from April 2012), on the official AA website, which mostly verifies the info posted on TalkQuesada so far:

Driving in Spain.

All valid UK driving licences should be accepted in Spain. This includes the older all-green style UK
licences (in Northern Ireland older paper style with photographic counterpart) although the
EC appreciates that these may be more difficult to understand and that drivers may wish to
voluntarily update them before travelling abroad, if time permits. Alternatively, older
licences may be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP).

Compulsory equipment in Spain:
• Spare tyre – or tyre repair kit and the equipment to change the tyre
• Warning triangle - one warning triangle compulsory for foreign registered vehicles
but carrying two is recommended as, in an accident/breakdown situation; local
officials may impose a fine if only one is produced. Not required for two wheeled
vehicles.
• Reflective jacket - The wearing of reflectorised jacket/waistcoat compulsory if
driver and/or passenger(s) exits vehicle which is immobilised on the carriageway of
all motorways and main or busy roads. Therefore the jacket should be kept within
the passenger compartment. However, it is not mandatory to carry a reflectorised
jacket in the vehicle and Spanish police cannot fine a foreign motorist who does not
carry one. Be aware as car hire companies are not under legal obligation to supply
them to persons hiring vehicles, so often don’t.

Fines: On-the-spot. An official receipt should be obtained. Illegally parked vehicles can be
towed away. Wheel clamps are also in use.

Full rules & further advice is available on this AA link : http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/spain.pdf
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