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Drivers in Spain who still haven't made the switch to the new V16 connected emergency beacon are now facing real consequences, with the first fines already being issued. The initial penalty has been handed out in Valencia, and with no clear end date ever given for the so-called grace period, there's nothing stopping traffic police from issuing more.

 

The V16 beacon has technically been law since 2021, when it was published in Spain's Official State Gazette under Royal Decree 159/2021, but the DGT's communication around the transition has been widely criticised as unclear, something even acknowledged by the Head of the DGT's Telematics Department in a recent interview. The widespread requirement for a V16 became mandatory at the start of this year.

 

Neither the Minister of the Interior nor the Director General of the DGT ever put a firm date on when the grace period would end, which has left drivers in a frustrating state of uncertainty.

 

The current position is straightforward enough: the Traffic Division of the Guardia Civil can issue an €80 fine at any time for not carrying the device, and that's exactly what's now happening.

 

Appeals are always an option, and there's a legal argument to be made that the lack of clear guidance from the authorities could amount to a violation of the principle of legitimate expectation, which requires the administration to act in a way that is predictable, transparent and consistent. That argument draws support from a Supreme Court ruling dating back to February 9, 2004, but whether it holds up will depend on the individual case.

 

It's also worth remembering that the V16 rules come with broader obligations. If your vehicle breaks down, you must pull over as quickly as possible, deploy your beacon and put on an approved high-visibility vest.

 

Failing to do so can mean a €200 fine and the loss of four points from your licence. A routine check where you simply don't have a vest in the car carries a lower €80 penalty with no points lost.

 

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Image: DGT