New Traffic Cameras in Spain Are Fining Drivers for This in 2025

New Traffic Cameras in Spain Are Fining Drivers for This in 2025

Spain has always been strict about road safety — but in 2025, a new wave of automated traffic cameras is catching more than just speeders. Drivers across the country, especially foreign residents and tourists, are being fined for offences they didn’t realise were camera-enforced. The result? A spike in unexpected penalties, licence point losses, and legal confusion.

From Speed to Behavioural Monitoring: The Camera Revolution

The Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) has expanded its surveillance strategy under Spain’s 2022–2026 Road Safety Plan. The newest generation of cameras doesn’t just clock your speed — it uses high-resolution optics and AI to detect:

• Failure to wear a seatbelt or use proper child restraints
• Use of mobile phones while driving — even when stopped in traffic
• Illegal entry into low-emission zones (Zonas de Bajas Emisiones, or ZBEs)
• Failure to stop at zebra crossings or traffic lights
• Driving in bus-only or bike-only lanes

These cameras are now active in over 80 municipalities, with funding from EU recovery grants and climate-linked infrastructure plans.

New Laws, New Fines: What You Risk in 2025

Here’s what the DGT can now fine you for via camera — and the corresponding penalties under the Reglamento General de Circulación:

Madrid and Barcelona Lead the Crackdown

In Madrid’s Calle de Alcalá alone, one AI-equipped camera issued 1,173 fines in the first three weeks of 2025 — mostly for phone use and failing to stop fully at zebra crossings. In Barcelona’s Eixample district, new ZBE cameras have fined hundreds of drivers unaware their older petrol or diesel cars no longer meet local emissions criteria.

Even areas like Torrevieja and Mijas — popular among foreign residents — have begun installing cameras in school zones and roundabouts.

Tourists and Expats: You're Not Exempt

If you're visiting or living in Spain, your foreign plates or tourist status won’t protect you. Cameras automatically record number plates, and rental agencies pass fines to customers with an added administrative fee. If you’re a resident but haven’t switched to a Spanish licence yet, read this guide to driving with the wrong licence in Spain.

Not sure whether you need an international driving permit to drive in Spain? You might — especially if you're entering from outside the EU.

What Happens If You Ignore the Fine?

Non-payment can escalate to embargo proceedings for residents (seizure from bank accounts), while tourists may face trouble with future rentals or re-entry under Spanish enforcement cooperation agreements. Learn how to appeal a traffic fine in Spain if you think you’ve been wrongly penalised.

Also, car insurance documentation is now a must-carry item. Expect to show proof quickly if pulled over.

Are These Cameras Legal? Yes — Backed by Royal Decree

The rollout is authorised under Spain’s Real Decreto Legislativo 6/2015 and expanded by Law 18/2021 covering environmental mobility. Cameras used for seatbelt and phone use detection were trialled by the DGT since 2019 and made fully enforceable nationally from 2022, with broader coverage funded into 2025 under the Road Safety Plan.

New in 2025: Helmet Detection and Night Enforcement

This year, the DGT began trials with cameras capable of identifying motorbike riders without helmets — even at night — using infrared and image-enhancement AI. These are now active in sections of Granada, Zaragoza, and the Basque Country.

Bottom Line: Assume You’re Being Watched

If you're behind the wheel in Spain, don’t assume that a lack of flashing light means you’ve escaped enforcement. The new systems are silent, discreet, and extremely precise. Whether you’re here short term or long term, don’t risk points or fines. Review Spain’s strict drink-driving limits before you hit the road.

Need Coverage in Case of Traffic-Related Injury?

Whether you’re a commuter, motorist or road tripper, your health cover should include protection in case of an accident — even if you’re not at fault. The Sanitas Top Quantum plan includes full traffic accident coverage, urgent care, and private hospital access in Spain — ideal for drivers and families alike.