Sumar wants wealthy drivers to pay higher traffic fines

The Sumar parliamentary group in Congress proposes a "graduation" of traffic fines to take into account the financial means of the offending driver, something already happening in countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Sumar is proposing this proposal through several amendments to a bill filed by the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) in Congress to reduce the current maximum alcohol limit at the wheel by more than half and prohibit warnings to drivers about alcohol and drug tests. The deadline for submitting amendments to this initiative has already closed.

In total, Servimedia has learned that 32 parliamentary groups registered: 10 from the PP, six from Sumar, six from Podemos, five from Junts, three joint PSOE and Sumar groups, one from the PSOE, and one from Esquerra Republicana.

Currently, fines are €100 for minor offenses, €200 for serious offenses, and €500 for very serious offenses. Fines can increase by 30% depending on the severity of the offense, the offender's prior record, repeat offense status, and the potential danger created.

Well, Sumar advocates a 150% increase for fined drivers with gross annual incomes of €70,000 to €85,000, a 300% increase for those earning between €85,000 and €100,000, and a 500% increase for those earning more than €100,000 a year.

Conversely, the fine may be reduced by 30% for those earning up to 1.5 times the minimum wage (SMI) and by 15% for those earning between 1.5 and 2.5 times that amount.

"Regulation of the progressive nature of fines is necessary primarily because their deterrent effect is lessened if the offender's income makes the amount negligible. Therefore, it seems fair and reasonable to establish progressive mechanisms for the amounts of fines so that what each offender pays is equitable in relation to their income," Sumar points out.

This political party considers it "evident that the deterrent effect and the purpose of raising awareness about the punishable offense will not be the same with a fine of 500 euros for someone earning 1,100 euros a month as for someone earning 10,000 euros over the same period."

Along these lines, Sumar proposes that the Treasury, Social Security, and the municipal population registry of the INE (National Institute of Statistics) share data if changes are made to the sanctions.

Furthermore, it indicates that the Government should prepare a report within six months on the feasibility of applying progressive sanctions based on the offender's income threshold in other sanctioning areas other than traffic.

And any proceedings initiated when the proposal comes into force, if approved, will be governed by the most beneficial scenario for the offender, unless the proceedings are in the enforcement phase.

On the other hand, Podemos proposes that violations committed by drivers under the influence of alcohol "without repeat offenses or causing harm to third parties" may require "partial substitution of the financial penalty" for participation in "approved educational programs on road safety or in activities of general interest for the benefit of the community, especially in the area of ​​road accident prevention."

Furthermore, Podemos proposes that the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), in coordination with the autonomous communities and city councils, incorporate specific training content on preventing alcohol and drug use while driving into the educational system, driving schools, and driver's license recovery courses.

The party led by Ione Belarra also wants the government to promote the use of revenue from traffic fines for driving under the influence of alcohol "primarily" to fund prevention, victim assistance, and road safety programs.