Who Pays the Fine for Not Wearing a Seat Belt?

In the most recent campaign which focused on the wearing of seat belts and the use of child restraining systems, according to the DGT, a total of 448,494 vehicles, including cars, taxis, commercial vehicles, and buses, were inspected, with 6,409 offences recorded.

Reviewing that figure a little further, 3,088 tickets were issued directly to drivers, 1,291 to front-seat passengers, while 1,645 were issued to rear-seat passengers. Added to this are another 385 tickets issued to minors 1.35 metres or shorter who were not using child restraint systems or were using them incorrectly. Of these, 285 were issued to children in front seats and 100 to rear seats.

Wearing a seat belt is a mandatory safety measure in many countries, including Spain. Not wearing a seat belt not only increases the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a collision, but also carries significant financial penalties. Despite its importance, questions remain about who should pay the fine for not wearing a seat belt.

Spanish law is clear regarding the mandatory use of seat belts in vehicles and establishes specific penalties for violators. However, the responsibility for paying the fine may depend on certain circumstances.

Who pays the fine?

In general, the driver of the vehicle is responsible for ensuring that all passengers are properly secured, both in the front and rear seats.

Children: If the unsecured passengers are minors, the responsibility falls directly on the driver, who must ensure their safety.

Adult passengers: Adults are responsible for wearing their seatbelt. If an adult is caught not wearing one, they will be responsible for paying the corresponding fine.

Loss of points

In addition to the fine, failure to wear a seat belt properly can result in the loss of four points on your driver’s licence.

Exceptions to the regulations

There are some circumstances under which wearing a seat belt is not mandatory, and therefore, a fine cannot be imposed:

Parked vehicle: It is not necessary to wear a seat belt if the vehicle is stopped and not moving.

Health indication: If there is a justified and documented medical reason that exempts the driver or passenger from wearing a seat belt, this must be presented to the authorities upon request.

What happens if I don’t pay the fine for not wearing a seat belt?

Ignoring a fine can lead to more serious consequences, such as a 20% increase in the initial fine and, potentially, collection actions that may include the seizure of accounts or income.