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Date Published: 26/10/2021
ARCHIVED - Spain to refund fines issued during Covid lockdown
The door has now been opened for a refund of fines issued during the second state of emergency in 2021 in Spain
The Spanish government has announced last week that it has begun refunding fines issued to people breaching the stay-at-home order during the 2020 state of alarm, and the door has now also been opened to removing sanctions imposed during the 2021 restrictions. Between March and June last year, residents were only allowed to leave home for essential journeys, such as trips to the supermarket or doctor. While the measures imposed earlier this year weren’t as severe, countless people were still fined for travelling outside of their local perimeter.
Spain’s highest court recently ruled that the first state of alarm was unconstitutional as it violated human rights, and while the Constitutional Court is yet to make a ruling on the second set of restrictions between October 2020 and May 2021, José Antonio Sanz, member of the Governing Board of the Zaragoza Bar Association, insists that the situation should be “identical”.
“Those interested who still have their sanctions pending should argue in court that the fine that is being imposed is based on an unconstitutional rule,” he said.
The news is far from ideal for the already struggling government, which is planning to get more money from traffic fines next year, as the move means that approximately 1.1 million euros in fines will have to be refunded from the first state of alarm alone. While the majority of sanctions imposed were around the 300-euro mark, many were in excess of 1,000 euros. Those who have already paid will eventually receive their money back, while outstanding fines have been cancelled.
However, the authorities are still working out the best method for reimbursing the fines issued in 2020.
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