Spain Cracks Down on Use of GPS Navigation Devices

[proudNMAmember]

[replacer_a]
Spain Cracks Down on Use of GPS Navigation DevicesSpain's Congress of Deputies last Wednesday gave approval to a measure that makes it a crime to use a GPS device while behind the wheel. The provision appeared as part of a broader measure designed to update the traffic code with measures that encourage motorists to pay fines without challenge.
Radar detectors are already illegal in Spain, but because satellite navigation devices come as factory options on most modern vehicles, officials could not easily outlaw their ownership. Instead, government ministers proposed to restrict GPS use since the devices are increasingly being loaded with maps that warn motorists of locations where speed cameras are in use.
"Driving using helmets, headsets or other devices that reduce the emphasis on driving or manually using mobile phones, navigation devices or any other communication system," earns three points and a 200 euro (US $275) fine, according to the legislation.
On the table of offenses, using a GPS is now more serious than driving 30 MPH over the speed limit which merits just two points. To encourage prompt payment of speeding tickets, the legislation also removes points altogether for driving less than 19 MPH over the limit on a freeway. The 100 euro (US $140) fine is discounted by half as long as it is paid immediately.
The most serious punishment of all goes to anyone convicted of attempting to thwart a speed camera with a laser or radar jamming device or a radar detector. This represents more points than is awarded for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) and is equal to the number of points for an aggravated DUI.
"Driving vehicles with mechanical equipment or systems installed that are designed to evade traffic monitoring, or with devices that have the same intention, as well as use of radar detection systems," earns six points according to the legislation.
The Ministry of the Interior will be responsible for developing regulations to implement the legislation within six months of becoming law.
A copy of the legislation (in Spanish) is available in a 270k PDF file at the source link below.
Source: (Congreso de los Disputados, Spain, 4/2/2009)

[proudNMAmember]

How can Spain get away w/ this? Making GPS against the law to use?

[lugnuts]

what crooks.

just trying to make sure they collect their revenue. they don't care about safety if using a radar detector carries a more sever penalty then DUI.

[Maestro]

How can Spain get away w/ this? Making GPS against the law to use?

Because it Spain and it a socialist country like France.

[supercowpowers]

To encourage prompt payment of speeding tickets, the legislation also removes points altogether for driving less than 19 MPH over the limit on a freeway. The 100 euro (US $140) fine is discounted by half as long as it is paid immediately.

Google tells me the highest speed limit in spain is 120 km/h.

I don't have time to decypher the source document, so I'll assume that 19 MPH means 30 km/h

120 + 30 = 150 km/h = 93.2 MPH

So you can go about 90 MPH all the time as long as you're willing to pay $70 whenever you get caught. That would be a better situation than what we have here, except for the draconian restrictions on countermeasures, but I suppose they can be circumvented with a 9500ci and putting your GPS in a cupholder mount under a hat with the volume turned up so you still hear the speed cam alerts.