The Spanish General Directorate for Traffic and the Civil Guard want the use of applications warning about radars and roadside checks to be banned. It is all about safety.
Can you imagine a world in which murderers, thieves and terrorists receive warnings from social networks about police operations to arrest them? This is already happening thanks to applications warning against police roadside checks, whether they are aimed at alcohol, speed, or to catch common criminals or terrorists,” the Spanish daily ‘El Periódico’ stimulates the imagination of readers.
This is why the Spanish DGT and the Asociación Pro Guardia Civil (APROGC) want to ban the use of applications warning about radars and roadside checks.
Lo que nos preocupa es la difusión de la posición de las patrullas y la ubicación de los controles, cuestión que no beneficia a nadie. https://t.co/FFB6GpMwmd
— Asociación PRO Guardia Civil (@APROGC) April 3, 2019
We must put an end to this legal vacuum that favours drivers who endanger the lives of others or criminals and terrorists,” says Pere Navarro, head of DGT.
The “Don’t report, don’t give guidance to bad people” service initiative (No te chistes, no des pistas a los malos) is promoted on the special platform “Creando Seguridad” (Creating Security). They were joined by dozens of foundations, police units, safety and health organisations.
New legislation needed
Ironically, the use of applications (in Spain the most popular are SocialDrive and Waze) is a digital version of flashing lights to warn others about roadside checks. Although the Spanish services may issue a fine of 80 euros for warning with lights, there is no penalty for using these applications.
The services are therefore proposing a reform of three regulations: the Civil Safety Act, the Penal Code and the Road Traffic Act. They would prohibit drivers from notifying others of checks and radars and from publishing such information on the Internet.
Photo: Twitter.com/DGTes