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Murcia ITV station under investigation for fraud
Several employees at the Fuente Álamo centre have been arrested for document falsification
Murcia authorities have launched an investigation into suspected irregularities at a technical vehicle inspection station (ITV) in Fuente Álamo. The ITV, or Inspección Técnica de Vehículos as it’s called in Spanish, is a periodic check of the road-worthiness of vehicles, very similar to the MOT in the UK.
Spanish traffic police are very strict when it comes to the ITV and drivers who remain on the roads with an expired sticker can face expensive fines so unfortunately, corruption within the sector is rife in this country.
On Tuesday March 12, Guardia Civil agents descended on the Fuente Álamo facility, where they spent the entire day reviewing documents and questioning management officials. Several individuals were arrested on suspicion of falsifying documents, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Last year, a similar operation was conducted at another ITV centre nearby, resulting in the arrest of seven employees accused of participating in a scheme involving fraudulent vehicle inspections.
It is believed that drivers paid bribes to ensure their cars passed the test despite having serious safety issues with their vehicles. These illegal activities put numerous unsafe cars on the road, posing significant risks to other motorists and pedestrians.
The latest operation was initiated due to concerns over potential anomalies in the performance of vehicle inspections at the Fuente Álamo ITV station. Agents from the Traffic Research and Analysis Group (GIAT) of the Murcia Guardia Civil are leading the probe, seeking to uncover whether any wrongdoing occurred during the inspection process.
In the meantime, business is booming at most ITV stations in the Region of Murcia, particularly those close to the Orihuela Costa border. Employees across Alicante have gone on strike since the test centres were taken over and it’s estimated that regional stations have benefited from between 15% and 20% more business.
Find all the latest Murcia motoring and travel news here or join our Driving in Spain Facebook group for regular updates
Image: Murcia-ITV
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