The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) penalizes thousands of drivers every day. In fact, Traffic filed almost 4.8 million complaints in 2021 and collected more than 444 million euros in those twelve months, the highest figure since data is available on its website (2015).
The DGT divides offenses into three types: minor, serious and very serious. And each category involves an economic amount to pay, being as a general rule up to 100 euros for light ones, 200 euros for serious ones, and 500 euros for very serious ones. In addition, since the driver’s license for points was implemented in 2006, some of the sanctions classified as serious, as well as all the very serious ones, involve a deduction of points from the permit.
Receiving a traffic ticket is an experience that no motorist wants to live. However, the situation becomes even more painful when it is not you who has committed the infraction that justifies the sanction. And not only because of the financial amount that must be paid, but also because of the loss of points associated with certain fines.
That is what happened to a mother when she had to take charge of the deduction of points that corresponded to her daughter. This was shown by the TikTok user @ValeraLucia, the young woman who was in charge of recording and uploading this video to her profile, which accumulates more than 6 million views on the popular social network. The mother’s reaction says it all.
The young woman explains that they have received two different fines, one of 400 euros and the other of 100 euros, and that they do not know who they correspond to, although she suspects from the first moment that she is the author of both. Mother and daughter go to a counter, probably from an Office or Traffic Department, in search of answers.
The woman asks if she can see the photographs of the fines, despite the fact that the young woman jokes with: “And if we leave it anonymous?” After confirming that they can benefit from a 50% discount for paying it within the voluntary period , that is, 200 euros, the user, nervous, repeatedly asks her mother how many points they are going to withdraw.
And at that moment the bad news arrives for the girl. First, the official sings the license plate code that corresponds to the vehicle she drives. And while she is still assimilating that it will be her turn to pay the fine, she receives another even harder blow: it entails the deduction of 4 points from the driver’s license.
After confirming the sanction with the image, she asks her mother if the points are not going to be taken from her, since the parent is the owner of the vehicle. The woman’s face changes completely and she speaks for herself. “You just died,” jokes her daughter. However, the worker details that the fine is for driving at 67 km/h in a section limited to 30 km/h. “More than double, very good,” comments her mother sarcastically.
Finally, the girl admits that she is also responsible for the second sanction, that of 100 euros, while the mother continues to worry about the withdrawal of the points. “And if I’m not the one driving?” She asks, to which the worker behind the counter replies: “You should have said that before paying for it.” The mother’s look at her daughter does not require further explanation.
Beyond a situation between mother and daughter that can be seen as funny, the video shows some events that can be very serious, since making the wrong driver when deducting the points can lead to the withdrawal of the driving license. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the correct way to act in these cases.
As the DGT points out in its electronic headquarters, “if it was not you who was driving your vehicle when the offense was committed, you can identify the driver as the owner and person responsible for the vehicle.” In the case of minor offenses (without loss of points) the identification of the driver is voluntary and if you pay the fine it will be understood that you were the one driving, they comment.
However, in the case of serious or very serious infractions (with loss of points), identification is mandatory. “You will have to identify the driver, even if it is yourself.†And alert, because not doing so “will be considered a very serious infraction, which can lead to the imposition of a fine of a significant amount, from which you will also not be able to benefit from the 50% reduction for payment within the voluntary period,” they point out. from the Traffic Agency.
Fortunately, the user of the video explains in one of the comments that they were finally able to resolve the matter and justice was done, since the 4 points were withdrawn from her and not from her mother.
