I am currently in Spain on vacation from the US. My husband and I got pulled over this morning for not stopping at a stop sign. We were informed that we would have to pay the 100 euro fine on the spot. The only problem is we didn’t have cash on us, and were not permitted to go obtain cash. The next thing we knew a tow truck was called and we were given the option to get a taxi and pay for the tow truck and the fine. My problem is that we never denied the need to pay the ticket, but were never given the option to go obtain the money like another foreign driver was given. Where can I file a complaint?

Where’s the evidence?

¿Hispanophilic? Guilty.

If you go to a foreign country, it helps to like the local people and their way of doing things.

Do I like all Spaniards, all Spanish customs or all Spanish laws? Hardly.

But I do respond to elements of Spanish life which are not to my liking with a measure of discretion.

And,if I fall foul of the Spanish legal system, my initial default position is that I was at fault for not following the local laws, rather than that the cops have it in for me and should that they should really be out chasing criminals.

If I break the law then I’m the criminal. End of story.

Well that’s big of you. But suppose you don’t? It’s the law here, stupid.

“However, I don’t think that a fine is necessary at all.”

Well that’s tough. It’s the law here stupid.

“I’m fine with having to demonstrate my insurance, but I think it should be possible over the phone.”

¿Are you by any chance related to georgeW?

“In England, you aren’t even required to have your driving license with you in the car. If the cops stop you and have reason to doubt that you have a license, you are required to go into a traffic office and show your license, or fax a copy to them. That seems like a better system.”

Great idea that one. For English people. Or for Americans living in England. But not here. This isn’t England. This isn’t the USA either. Hadn’t you noticed?

“What really ticked me off about the whole thing was how these cops were just sitting there in the parking lot randomly selecting cars. How lazy can you be?”

As lazy as a Yank who can’t be bothered to get his car papers in order and gets himself a $75 ticket as a result?

“Aren’t there real crimes to be fighting?”

There’s a crime called uninsured driving, which these lazy police were fighting against. Are are you so full of yourself that you can’t see that? Or that you can’t read the Spanish paperwork to show to the cop but instead pass him a sheaf of papers and then head for the bathroom? And you don’t have the language knowledge to show him the right paper before he writes your ticket?

¡Get real!

I guess you could say I got a ticket for drinking and driving.