Spain: Speed Camera Gives Ticket for Driving Too Slow
Valencia, Spain tickets motorist for driving too slowly past a speed camera.

Drivers who pass a photo radar location frequently drop their speed far below the legal limit to be absolutely certain no citation will come in the mail weeks later. In response, officials in Valencia, Spain have begun issuing photo tickets to drivers who are moving "too slow." Motorist Jesus Llorens received just such ticket in the mail on June 14 for sluggish driving past a camera in an Opel Vectra. The alleged offense happened in February at 11am in the tunnel of the Avenida del Cid.

"Passing through, I was going no more than 35 or 40km/h, because I was trying not to go 50km/h because I suspected a radar was there," Llorens told Levante-El Mercantil Valenciano.

The notice sent to Llorens demanded payment of 200 euros (US $290) for traveling "at an abnormally reduced speed without just cause, obstructing the progress of another vehicle." The fine drops to 100 euros (US $145) if paid early as an enticement for people to pay rather than fight their tickets in court. View a copy of the citation. The incident has left Llorens disillusioned with the photo enforcement process.

"It's a pure tax collection effort," Llorens told Levante. "They want to make money, not control traffic."