A View from the Mountains

All drivers fear receiving a traffic fine, whether for speeding, not stopping at a red traffic light, or driving under the influence of alcohol. In short, any violation listed in the Reglamento General de Trafico (General Traffic Regulations) can result in a penalty.

Guardia Civil at a roadblock [Photo: La Verdad]    

Yet, it is often thought that these penalties only apply to the driver. WRONG! The truth is that passengers can also be fined for certain things.

In fact, there are fines that are aimed specifically at the occupants of the vehicle, even if they are not driving. In other words, the rules must be followed by both the driver and the passengers, since the aim is to guarantee road safety.

[Drivalia]    

Not wearing a seat belt:

All vehicle occupants are required to wear their seat belt properly fastened. The fine for not wearing it is 200 euros, without this resulting in a loss of points on the driving licence, as stated in Article 117 of the RGC. This measure aims to reduce the risk of serious injuries in the event of a collision, regardless of the passenger's position in the vehicle.

    [Academia del Transportista]

Throwing objects out of the window:

Throwing cigarette ends, containers, or any other object out of the window is strictly prohibited. This action not only constitutes a lack of civility but can also cause accidents or fires, especially in forested areas. The penalty for a passenger who commits this offense is 500 euros. If the driver does it, in addition to the fine, 6 points will be deducted from their license, as stated in Article 6 of the RGC.

    [Expansion Politica]

Maintaining an incorrect sitting position in the vehicle:

Adopting dangerous positions, such as resting your feet on the dashboard or sticking part of your body out of the window, is considered an offence. Even if the behaviour is committed by a passenger, the fine falls on the driver, who is responsible for ensuring that all occupants travel seated correctly. Penalties range from 80 to 100 euros, depending on the severity of the case, according to Article 18 of the RGC.

    [SlashGear]

Dangerous use of electronic devices:

Reckless use of mobile phones or electronic devices by passengers can create dangerous distractions for the driver.

Although the law does not specify a penalty for this behaviour, if it is shown that their actions affected the driver’s attention, the driver could be penalised for negligent driving or lack of attention.

    [Freepik]

Showing disrespect towards law enforcement officers:

Any disrespectful behaviour or defiant attitude towards law enforcement officers can result in a direct penalty for the passenger.

Disrespect, disobedience, or refusal to cooperate with traffic controls are considered offences and can lead to fines depending on the severity of the case, even if the offender is not the one driving.

    [Police 1]

Last Word:

These are the most common delictos, but they are not the only ones. If we look at the Código General de Circulación (General Traffic Code), we see that there are also cases where the responsibility does not fall directly on the passenger.

For example, if the offender is a minor, their parents or guardians will be the ones to get the fine, especially if the child is not wearing a seatbelt or using a child restraint system.

Additionally, when more people are travelling than allowed by the vehicle, the fine, which can range from 80 to 500 euros, is directed solely at the driver, as it is s/he who is responsible for the excess number of occupants.

    An agent of Guardia Civil Tráfico [20Minutos]

© Paul Whitelock

Pictures:

20Minutos, Academia de Transportista, Drivalia, Expansion Politica, Freepik, La Verdad, Police 1, SlashGear,  

With thanks to:

Paul Whitelock (Translations)

CGT, DGT, Francisco Miralles, NoticiasTrabajo, Reglamento General de Trafico, Wikipedia (Sources) 

Tags:

20Minutos, Academia del Transportista, CGT, delicto, DGT, Drivalia, Expansion Politica, fine, Francisco Miralles, Freepik, guardia civil, La Verdad, NoticiasTrabajo, Paul Whitelock, penalty, police, Police 1, Reglamento General de Trafico, SlashGear, Trafico, Wikipedia

Pedro Sanchez has been criticised in the past for not joining the "coalition of the willing" to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia in their ongoing war, yet this week he has announced a significant aid package for the beleaguered country.

Pedro Sanchez [El Mundo]    

The Spanish Press has reported extensively on this, although I've seen nothing in the UK, USA nor German media, the three countries where I get most of my news.

Pedro Sánchez announces the movement of 817 million euros to arm Ukraine and help with its re-construction
 

By Raúl Piña 

Of the total sum, only 200 million euros in financial instruments, loans, to rebuild Ukraine, and two million to provide heating to a village, are newly allocated.

615 million euros are part of the 1,000 million already committed.

    [Freepik]

Volodymyr Zelensky has made a third visit to Spain but this time, off the record. 

The bombs and missiles launched by Russia persist.

While he was in Spain the Ukraine leader made visits to the Congress, the Zarzuela, the Reina Sofía Museum to see the Guernica – at the Ukrainian's request – and to La Moncloa.

[Freepik]    

It seems to have been worthwhile. 

Spain is going to mobilise 817 million euros for defence equipment and aid for the re-construction of Ukraine. Of that amount, however, 615 million euros are already budgeted within the bilateral security agreement signed between the two countries in 2024, which provides for allocating 1,000 million euros annually to Ukraine – Sánchez already anticipated in February that the same amount would be allocated in 2025 – and 202 million euros are newly designated.

    [La Razon]

Sánchez's commitment to Zelensky is to mobilise those 615 million "over the next month."

The breakdown of this amount is as follows: shipment of new defensive equipment worth approximately 300 million euros; the transfer of 100 million euros to NATO's PURL program (Ukraine's Prioritized Requirements List) to urgently purchase air defense systems from the US and send them to Ukraine; and the transfer of 215 million euros through the European Union's SAFE Instrument to fund the production of anti-drone systems, surveillance and air radar systems, many of them developed by Spanish companies.

anti-drone systems [elEconomista.es]    

Participation of companies in the re-construction

The 202 million euros of new allocation corresponds to a new financial support instrument, coordinated by the new Office for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, which will serve to boost reconstruction, and other projects to the tune of nearly two million euros.

The background of that 200 million in funding for reconstruction is to activate an instrument that allows Spanish companies to participate directly and competitively in the re-construction, modernisation, and expansion of damaged infrastructure, with a special emphasis on sectors such as energy, transport, and water management.

"In these very difficult times, you always remember the friends who helped you and brought clarity to the situation," Zelensky said in a joint appearance with Sánchez at La Moncloa.

Sánchez justified the aid to Ukraine "out of solidarity, coherence, and responsibility. The war it is fighting against Putin's neo-imperialism is a war that seeks to weaken the European project for which we have worked so hard in Spain."

During his stay in Spain, Zelensky met at Indra’s headquarters with a dozen companies from the Spanish defence industry. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles.

According to the Ukrainian leader posting on his social media, the Spanish manufacturers presented their developments in areas such as anti-drone systems, turrets, aerial and ground drones, long-range radars, and ammunition, amongst other things. 

"Estamos en 2002, pero parece que estamos en 1937 cuando se bombardeó Guernica". Zelenski hizo de este cuadro un símbolo de la guerra en la que estaba inmerso.

Within the framework of this meeting, Zelensky explained that Spain is starting a project to supply long-range radars. "This Spanish manufacturing is unique and could strengthen us greatly. We will try to test it in the one we are suffering."

Detail of Guernica by Picasso [BBC]    

The Ukrainian president has shown his willingness to work with Spanish industry for the "joint production of high-precision weaponry."

Earlier in the afternoon, Sánchez and Zelensky took part in a private visit to the Reina Sofía Museum, at the request of the Ukrainian leader, where both were able to admire and pose next to Guernica, painted by Pablo Picasso.

In April 2022, the Ukrainian president delivered an address to the Congress of Deputies via videoconference to denounce the Russian invasion and present the situation in his country. At that time, he compared the situation his nation was going through with the Civil War that took place in Spain: "We are in 2002, but it feels like we are in 1937 when Guernica was bombed." Zelensky said.

During his visit, the President of Ukraine held a meeting at the Zarzuela Palace with Felipe VI, in which the King, according to sources from the Royal Household, expressed Spanish support in all areas - diplomatic, financial, and military - for as long as the Ukrainian people need it. He also confirmed Spain's support for Ukraine's process of joining the European Union.

[Photo courtesy of Onda Cero]    

© Paul Whitelock

Images:

BBC, elEconomista.es, El Mundo, Freepik, La Razon, Onda Cero, Wikipedia 

Acknowledgements:

BBC, elEconomista.es, El Mundo, Freepik, La Razon, Onda Cero, Paul Whitelock, Raúl Piña, Wikipedia 

Tags:

BBC, coalition of the willing, elEconomista.es, El Mundo, Enrique VI, Freepik, La Razon, Madrid, Malaga, Onda Cero, Pablo de Ronda, Paul Whitelock, Pedro Sanchez, Raúl Piña, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, Wikipedia 

The "burning season" has opened in Andalucia. In order to burn garden waste, scrub and clippings you need a permit obtainable free of charge from your local town hall.

The start date was November 1st, so I made sure I applied for my licencia in good time.

[Photo courtesy of ABC de Sevilla]    

My Story

My home is in Fuente de la Higuera, a pedania in the campo just outside Ronda (Malaga) where I have lived for the last 14 years. It's right across the road from the Foreign Legion barracks.

My finca has a large garden and a 10,000 m2 field. Over the last 12 months I have accumulated a lot of material for burning.

Fuente de la Higuera, Ronda [Photo: Wikiloc]    

My gardener, who used to take care of the burning, has been conspicuous by his absence lately, so it was down to me for the first time in 14 years; in actual fact the first time ever in my life!

November 1st, 2025

This day is a fiesta nacional in Spain - Dia de todos los Santos (All Saints Day) - and none of my neighbours lit fires, but the following day, Sunday, they all did.

Taking my lead from them, I lit several small bonfires after meticulous preparation, with hosepipe at the ready, just in case.   

[Video courtesy of RTVE.es]    

Come Monday, there were smoke plumes all over the area. "A good idea to burn some more  of my garden waste," I thought. So I lit a few small fires, which burned quickly and then went dormant.

Then I turned my attention to a larger pile of waste. I checked out the surroundings and judged it to be safe. There was a good metre gap between my pile and some scrub next door.

So I lit the fire and up it went.

Before you could say "¡Ay, caramba!" the flames started racing through the wet stubble at a great pace. I managed to stop it reaching the rear of my neighbours' gardens, by using the hosepipe. But, it was spreading in other directions too, into my field, all stubble, and into my neighbours' properties to the east.

My hosepipes weren't long enough, so I drove round to their properties, but nobody was there. They had gone to lunch.

I did my best with what was there, but their hosepipes wern't long enough either.

When a palm tree caught fire I knew I needed professional help, so I rang 112, the emergency number. The nice lady who answered was in Madrid, so obviously didn't know our area, but she took details.

First, "Where's the fire?" I told her. Then she asked me more detailed questions about the terrain. "Is it flat? Are houses in danger? Has anyone been hurt?" and so on. 

Then within minutes I could hear sirens. The fire brigade were in the vicinity in 5 minutes. I met them and led the way to the scene of the fire and they got to work.

Within a very short time, with their high pressure hoses, they had quelled the flames and stopped them spreading further.

Amazing!

    [Photo: Pablo de Ronda]

Meanwhile the fire had taken off across the fields. They needed better access, so I led the way. This is the campo, so there are few roads; they are mostly tracks.

Long story short, the bomberos were there for four hours damping down. Two fire engines, an Infoca engine, the policia local and the patrulla verde.

    [Above photos by Pablo de Ronda]

Aftermath

The policia local officers were polite yet very strict. They made it clear to me that I was at fault. The man from the patrulla verde was less intimidating. His role was to assess the damage. Fortunately I was able to show them my valid permit.

I should be covered by my house insurance for damage caused to third parties, but I am expecting a multa (fine) from the policia local for failing to control the fire. 

    [Grupo SIPSE]

In mitigation, my neighbours, Hotel La Perla Blanca and Bodega Badman, had failed to cut down the metre-high grass and scrub on their land, despite being obliged to do so by law, precisely because of the risk of fire.

I am also told I will get a bill from the fire brigade. I hope my insurance also covers that.

I guess I may need a lawyer to help sort this out .....

I'll keep you posted!

STOP PRESS:

My instinct as a buen vecino was to talk to the neighbours who had been affected, but I was advised not to for fear of compromising any action I or the authorities may chose to take to apportion a significant part of the blame to said neighbours, Hotel La Perla Blanca and Bodegas Badman.

This, for their failure to keep their land scrub-free by cutting down the metre-high weeds and and dried grass to hinder/prevent such fires from speading so easily. A legal requirement throughout the region.

    Hotel La Perla Blanca [Trip Advisor]                    Bodegas Badman [Facebook]

POSTSCRIPT:

Interestingly, in the two days since the fire, hardly anybody in the area has been burning!

© Pablo de Ronda

Photos:

ABC de Sevilla, Facebook, Grupo SISE, Pablo de Ronda, RTVE.es, Trip Advisor, Wikiloc, 

Thanks:

085, 112, Bomberos de Ronda, Infoca

Tags:

085, 112, ABC de Sevilla, All Saints Day, Bodegas Badman, Bomberos de Ronda, burning season, Dia de todos los Santos, Facebook, fiesta nacional, Fuente de la Higuera, Grupo SISE, Hotel La Perla Blanca, Infoca, Pablo de Ronda, pedania, permit, policia local, RTVE.es, Ronda, Trip Advisor, Wikiloc