In recent days, in Spain, a proposal has emerged that is generating a lot of discussion. It has been suggested in Parliament that traffic fines will be calculated based on the performance of the receiving them. This idea raises the question of whether such a system could also work in Portugal and if it is, in fact, fair.
This way of applying fines already exists in other countries, such as Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland, and intends to make fines tighter, adjusting them to each person’s financial capacity.
The proposal in Spain
According to the same source, the initiative arises at a time when several changes are discussed to Spanish road legislation. Among the measures is the reduction of the legal limit of blood alcohol and the prohibition of alerts between drivers on police controls. In addition, the Sumar Party proposed that monetary fines will be proportional to the annual gross performance of offenders.
According to Leak, the fines could increase significantly to those who earn the most: a 150% penalty for income between 70,000 and 85,000 euros a year, 300% between 85,000 and 100,000 euros, and up to 500% for those who receive more than 100,000 euros per year.
On the other hand, drivers with income up to 1.5 times the national minimum wage could benefit from a 30% reduction in the fine, while those who earn between 1.5 and 2.5 times that value would have a 15% discount.
Portugal and the possibility of change
In Portugal, traffic fines are currently fixed and vary only according to the severity of the infraction, regardless of the driver’s income. To implement a system similar to Spanish, it would be necessary to proceed with deep legal changes.
As the same source said, such a model would require close collaboration between the Tax Authority, Social Security and the National Institute of Statistics, to ensure the verification of offenders’ income.
This measure would raise several practical and legal issues, namely about the privacy of personal data and the effectiveness of the system to prevent violations.
Still, according to Leak, this system can be seen as a fairer and equitable way to apply sanctions, adjusting the penalty to the purchasing power of each citizen.
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Potential impact on road safety
Portugal records thousands of traffic violations every year, especially surplus -related, use of mobile phone behind the wheel and driving under the influence of alcohol.
As the same source pointed out, adapting fines to income can reinforce the pedagogical and deterrent character of the fines, as a significant penalty will have greater impact on a driver with high yields than a fixed and equal fine for all.
The discussion is still far from a concrete decision in Portugal, but the idea of adjusting fines to the economic reality of citizens can represent one step forward in combating road accident.
Challenges and considerations for Portugal
The implementation of progressive fines in our country would require the creation of clear mechanisms to collect and update the drivers’ financial data. In addition, transparency and security in managing this information would be guaranteed to avoid abuse or errors that may harm citizens.
As Leak pointed out, this proposal can generate resistance from some sectors, both for administrative and political reasons. However, it also opens the debate on the justice of sanctions and the need to make them effective for all drivers, regardless of their economic situation.
The issue is launched and continues to be aware of both political and civil society decision makers, as it seeks to improve safety on Portuguese roads.
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