Mobile and fixed speed traps
Discussion
OK, this is based mainly on my observations of the Cataluña region, but I have seen nothing different elsewhere. Any other posters with information about the rest of Spain, please post...
Right, fixed camera traps in brief, Waze and other GPS apps can let you know about these. Beside the motorway they have one type very similar to the very common ? Grey boxes, many new ones appear by the entry and exit to service stations, or in overhead gantries with foot access. If there is no ladder and walkway, there is no camera, as far as I have seen...
Mobile cameras....
Every single one I have seen in a car is in the almost universal plainclothes Seat Altea Max, with jet black rear and side windows. They usually park in strange positions, bus stops, cross hatched areas by junctions, or just beside the road in a nook. They are very spottable just for this, i have currently dodged about 20/20 simply by being observant with only 1 or 2 false alarms. Rumours abound of them planting lines of cypress hedge conifers just for this, personally I think they just opportunistically use what is available..
Camera cars are also used, they did, and some still do,have a gigantic humdinger Hollywood camera there, but 3 years ago I was told of new ones with a new subtle camera, not seen one yet.
Mobile cameras, I see once a year or so, not so common, it looks like a black SLR camera with some extra black blobules on it, stuck on a short black tripod just sitting on its own, hugely suspicious if you are alert
30% of the time you get a roadblock/capture meet and greet bunch at the next layby/junction/bar, otherwise you will get a letter, not sure if they have actually managed to start chasing UK registered plates yet, but afaik it is fines, not points.
I have never seen them on a motorway bridge, but they regularly use the dirt road beside the motorway, again, easy enough to spot, they just look out of place and different to the usual agricultural workers who park up, they are jammed up against the fence ...
Right, fixed camera traps in brief, Waze and other GPS apps can let you know about these. Beside the motorway they have one type very similar to the very common ? Grey boxes, many new ones appear by the entry and exit to service stations, or in overhead gantries with foot access. If there is no ladder and walkway, there is no camera, as far as I have seen...
Mobile cameras....
Every single one I have seen in a car is in the almost universal plainclothes Seat Altea Max, with jet black rear and side windows. They usually park in strange positions, bus stops, cross hatched areas by junctions, or just beside the road in a nook. They are very spottable just for this, i have currently dodged about 20/20 simply by being observant with only 1 or 2 false alarms. Rumours abound of them planting lines of cypress hedge conifers just for this, personally I think they just opportunistically use what is available..
Camera cars are also used, they did, and some still do,have a gigantic humdinger Hollywood camera there, but 3 years ago I was told of new ones with a new subtle camera, not seen one yet.
Mobile cameras, I see once a year or so, not so common, it looks like a black SLR camera with some extra black blobules on it, stuck on a short black tripod just sitting on its own, hugely suspicious if you are alert
30% of the time you get a roadblock/capture meet and greet bunch at the next layby/junction/bar, otherwise you will get a letter, not sure if they have actually managed to start chasing UK registered plates yet, but afaik it is fines, not points.
I have never seen them on a motorway bridge, but they regularly use the dirt road beside the motorway, again, easy enough to spot, they just look out of place and different to the usual agricultural workers who park up, they are jammed up against the fence ...
I've been driving around the costa del sol, Malaga to Estepona, for about 7wks a year for the last 6yrs, with two or three winter drives up to Sierra Nevada via Granada.
I've been keeping an eye out for any sort of camera or speed trap and never seen anything..
I'm going to have to get an app to tell me the locations. Any recommendations?
I've been keeping an eye out for any sort of camera or speed trap and never seen anything..
I'm going to have to get an app to tell me the locations. Any recommendations?
R6Kev said:
I've been driving around the costa del sol, Malaga to Estepona, for about 7wks a year for the last 6yrs, with two or three winter drives up to Sierra Nevada via Granada.
I've been keeping an eye out for any sort of camera or speed trap and never seen anything..
I'm going to have to get an app to tell me the locations. Any recommendations?
I don't know when you were last down but keep your eye out between Malaga and Estepona, there are quite a few sneaky camera's hidden down there now, a lot I believe to be average speed, I know quite a few of people who have been caught out on the airport run now.I've been keeping an eye out for any sort of camera or speed trap and never seen anything..
I'm going to have to get an app to tell me the locations. Any recommendations?
In Catalunya I now see a lot of camera boxes on the Motorway, entry and exit of services and rest stops, small boxes sitting on concrete base often set up to catch you out the second you enter the 30kmh zone. Likewise, set up on exit, with no indication if it is to police every meter of 30kmh and stop you accelerating up to motorway speed. So, dangerously stupid. Also at junctions, exits, as they seem to think they are more secure there. AP7 at L´Ampolla (39A) is a good example as you head down the coast
Also, again and again, LOOK FOR STRANGELY PARKED CARS... Here they now have some Citroen C4s and Toyota Prius as well as the Seat Altea XL........... All have notably dark black tinted wndows, 2 guys inside normally, with yellow jackets you only see as you pass because of the windows. They seem to be using an older type laser or radar, it does not go far and only gets people going past them, not coming towards. Angle seems to be critical, they need to be set at about 20 degrees to the traffic, parked up, the slight angle also gives warning of what is there, has saved me more than once
They park beside bigger roads, in illegal spots, but also now, notably in safer spots, at the end of and effectively safely behind the end of a crash barrier, in a bus stop, on cross hatched junctions where another road enters or leaves, but out of danger of any crashes on the road. Likewise disused toll stations like the one just above Tarragona on the AP7. No idea, but I believe it may be a Police Union or legal Health and Safety type thing (hard to believe in Spain, please suggest any better ideas..)
Speeding, under 20kmh over the limit is a silly fine, over 20kmh is a "serious offence"... so basically you are pretty safe doing 139kmh, but things get stickier with 141kmh... seems like a silly detail to a Brit, but watch the speed the locals drive at.. frequently 19kmh over, not more
Also, again and again, LOOK FOR STRANGELY PARKED CARS... Here they now have some Citroen C4s and Toyota Prius as well as the Seat Altea XL........... All have notably dark black tinted wndows, 2 guys inside normally, with yellow jackets you only see as you pass because of the windows. They seem to be using an older type laser or radar, it does not go far and only gets people going past them, not coming towards. Angle seems to be critical, they need to be set at about 20 degrees to the traffic, parked up, the slight angle also gives warning of what is there, has saved me more than once
They park beside bigger roads, in illegal spots, but also now, notably in safer spots, at the end of and effectively safely behind the end of a crash barrier, in a bus stop, on cross hatched junctions where another road enters or leaves, but out of danger of any crashes on the road. Likewise disused toll stations like the one just above Tarragona on the AP7. No idea, but I believe it may be a Police Union or legal Health and Safety type thing (hard to believe in Spain, please suggest any better ideas..)
Speeding, under 20kmh over the limit is a silly fine, over 20kmh is a "serious offence"... so basically you are pretty safe doing 139kmh, but things get stickier with 141kmh... seems like a silly detail to a Brit, but watch the speed the locals drive at.. frequently 19kmh over, not more
Just got back from a week at my place near Estepona , and can highly recommend the TomTom Speedcamera app.
It confirmed the location of the one camera I was aware of, and alerted me to two I'd never noticed before. Both were floor mounted green boxes about half the size of a wheely bin.
Plus, the TomTom map showed the average speed section of the coast road through fuengirola. I always use the toll road, and the cynic in me wonders if the cameras on the coast road are to drive more business down the toll road...
I'll definitely have the app running when I next head up to Sierra Nevada, as there's plenty of warning signs on that route, near Loja but I've never actually seen a camera....
It confirmed the location of the one camera I was aware of, and alerted me to two I'd never noticed before. Both were floor mounted green boxes about half the size of a wheely bin.
Plus, the TomTom map showed the average speed section of the coast road through fuengirola. I always use the toll road, and the cynic in me wonders if the cameras on the coast road are to drive more business down the toll road...
I'll definitely have the app running when I next head up to Sierra Nevada, as there's plenty of warning signs on that route, near Loja but I've never actually seen a camera....
If you use the A7/AP7 (toll), there are no cameras from Malaga airport as far as the San Pedro exit... I've been hammering whatever sewing machine engined hire car I get along there c.160kph for the last couple of years and never had a ticket.
Avoid the coast road as the traffic can be a nightmare.
Avoid the coast road as the traffic can be a nightmare.
Edited by Chris Stott on Thursday 21st July 09:41
One I hadn't noticed was on N340 near Banus.
Heading from Banus toward La Cañada, pass PYR, El corte Ingles, Helicopters Saniteros, pass the marbella fork off, then about 100m later small green floor mounted box.
Not sure how 'live' it is, as I've had many a hire car flat out past there and had no come back!!!
Heading from Banus toward La Cañada, pass PYR, El corte Ingles, Helicopters Saniteros, pass the marbella fork off, then about 100m later small green floor mounted box.
Not sure how 'live' it is, as I've had many a hire car flat out past there and had no come back!!!
It could well be that the hire car companies are such a pain to deal with, and almost always tourists, that they don't bother with them....
Anybody with a Spanish reg getting the same ?
Up here in Cataluña I just noticed a plague of cameras on the big roads between Manresa and Sabadell, but none on the peatje road
Anybody with a Spanish reg getting the same ?
Up here in Cataluña I just noticed a plague of cameras on the big roads between Manresa and Sabadell, but none on the peatje road
Never heard of anyone being done by the camera outside Banus, before the tunnel
There is one on the Marbella Golden Mile, by the newer Lidl that works both directions (been done there twice)
There's a couple on the Marbella to Ronda road
Average speed cameras on the N340 twisty section between La Cala and Fuengirola (both directions) - loads of people done by these as most people have no idea it's average speed and just jam on at the gantrys
There's about gazillion around Seville, including helicopters
One just after San Roque exit heading toward Algeciras, and if you take the San Roque route to Gibraltar there's one on that road too
Thats all the fixed I'm aware of along this stretch.
Got done about 8 years ago by an unmarked Megane on the twisties above Malaga (before the Antequera toll road) coming back from a Guadix track day, rarely see anything unmarked around here though.
There is one on the Marbella Golden Mile, by the newer Lidl that works both directions (been done there twice)
There's a couple on the Marbella to Ronda road
Average speed cameras on the N340 twisty section between La Cala and Fuengirola (both directions) - loads of people done by these as most people have no idea it's average speed and just jam on at the gantrys
There's about gazillion around Seville, including helicopters
One just after San Roque exit heading toward Algeciras, and if you take the San Roque route to Gibraltar there's one on that road too
Thats all the fixed I'm aware of along this stretch.
Got done about 8 years ago by an unmarked Megane on the twisties above Malaga (before the Antequera toll road) coming back from a Guadix track day, rarely see anything unmarked around here though.
ShinyAndy said:
Average speed cameras on the N340 twisty section between La Cala and Fuengirola (both directions) - loads of people done by these as most people have no idea it's average speed and just jam on at the gantrys
I do this stretch quite regularly and am always looking for cameras and am pretty certain there is only one fixed one in each direction on the gantrys? As with most drivers, I moderate my speed slightly at these points. Nope, they are average speed between the whole 5KM section. Gantries just before the BP garage on the Calahonda/Riviera side and then just by Club La Costa on the Fuengirola side. I believe though that they've set the tolerance on it quite high - not that you can ever go that fast along that section anyway
Barcelona Police have now just got Laser camera systems, and are "hiding" them.. interesting as it is illegal here in Spain to entrap, they are only allowed to enforce. Of course, they say that they are not entrapping and are in plain view. I have to take my eyes off the road ahead to look for these at every junction in Eixample, a week ago it saved me from a nick when I spotted one... Exactly like this in the link shown
http://www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcelona/201609...
http://www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcelona/201609...
Just to confirm that there is an average speed camera set up in the Mijas area...I got fined the other day by it so I know it's there. I've lived here for years and there used to be a fixed one in La Cala but now there is an average one set up. They caught me doing 90 and the limit is 80. Fined €100 but reduced by 50% on early payment 
Yes, Barcelona just rolled out several sections of average speed cameras, or claimed they did, I cannot spot them so far...
Worth mentioning, in Spain going up to 20kmh over the limit is just a minor offence, small fine
Going over 20kmh over the limit is a serious infraction and gets points, here it is deducted, not added to the licence
Worth mentioning, in Spain going up to 20kmh over the limit is just a minor offence, small fine
Going over 20kmh over the limit is a serious infraction and gets points, here it is deducted, not added to the licence
To be more accurate, the fine depends on the posted speed limit more than a fixed X kph above the limit. The chart may be found here:
https://sede.dgt.gob.es/Galerias/tramites-y-multas...
For example, the fine for driving 121 k/hr in a 120 is the same fine as driving 149... It's €100, and a 50% reduction if you pay in thirty days, and no points. So my thought is that if you are going to speed even one k/hr above the limit, then you might as well drive 149 and get your money's worth :-)
They don't start taking points away until you are above 150 in a 120 (or 70 in a 50 - perhaps the 20 over mentioned in the previous post)
https://sede.dgt.gob.es/Galerias/tramites-y-multas...
For example, the fine for driving 121 k/hr in a 120 is the same fine as driving 149... It's €100, and a 50% reduction if you pay in thirty days, and no points. So my thought is that if you are going to speed even one k/hr above the limit, then you might as well drive 149 and get your money's worth :-)
They don't start taking points away until you are above 150 in a 120 (or 70 in a 50 - perhaps the 20 over mentioned in the previous post)
GT5S_1985 said:
To be more accurate, the fine depends on the posted speed limit more than a fixed X kph above the limit. The chart may be found here:
https://sede.dgt.gob.es/Galerias/tramites-y-multas...
For example, the fine for driving 121 k/hr in a 120 is the same fine as driving 149... It's €100, and a 50% reduction if you pay in thirty days, and no points. So my thought is that if you are going to speed even one k/hr above the limit, then you might as well drive 149 and get your money's worth :-)
They don't start taking points away until you are above 150 in a 120 (or 70 in a 50 - perhaps the 20 over mentioned in the previous post)
Thankyou !https://sede.dgt.gob.es/Galerias/tramites-y-multas...
For example, the fine for driving 121 k/hr in a 120 is the same fine as driving 149... It's €100, and a 50% reduction if you pay in thirty days, and no points. So my thought is that if you are going to speed even one k/hr above the limit, then you might as well drive 149 and get your money's worth :-)
They don't start taking points away until you are above 150 in a 120 (or 70 in a 50 - perhaps the 20 over mentioned in the previous post)
In Spain, you always hear 101 stories about "laws"
That is clearly right, I happily stand corrected. It also explains how come I didn't fry my girlfriends licence with a couple of 81 in a 60 incidents...
I've gotten done by a few mobile cameras set in cars parked on the side of the road. Once just past Puenta Chullera heading towards Duqesa, and another time on the lay by approaching Estepona on the A7. I almost got done by a laser trap like the one in the link on the road to Ascari last weekend (although I was on my bike which is in Gib plates so unless they stop me on that 
).
Been seeing lots of helicopters on the A7 and road to Ronda doing speed checks in the last week too. There seems to be a crack down of sorts going on.
The A7 does not appear to have any cameras so it does seem like a pay to play mentality.
). Been seeing lots of helicopters on the A7 and road to Ronda doing speed checks in the last week too. There seems to be a crack down of sorts going on.
The A7 does not appear to have any cameras so it does seem like a pay to play mentality.
ShinyAndy said:
Found another (the worst possible way!)
Coming from Gibraltar toward San Roque, just before you take the exit for the A7 toward Malaga, there's a fixed camera in the 60 limit (that I was certain was 80!)
It's been there years unfortunately. There is also a new one going the opposite direction when you turn off the motorway and head down the hill towards Campemento, just before the bend,although I think the limit is 80 at that point. Coming from Gibraltar toward San Roque, just before you take the exit for the A7 toward Malaga, there's a fixed camera in the 60 limit (that I was certain was 80!)
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