Guardia Civil officer fines Local Policeman for doing his job

THE law applies to everyone – that was the message a Guardia Civil agent was giving when he fined a uniformed Local Police officer for using a mobile phone while driving.

Despite being in uniform, the Local Police man was driving his private car on his way to work. What the Guardia Civil officer in Granada did not know was that he was using his phone on ‘official’ business.

He had contacted the 112 emergency service about the disappearance of a disabled person in the Genil River area and was collecting information to start coordinating a police operation.

Now it is not certain if the fine will be rescinded. The relevant road safety legislation says: “The use while driving of mobile telephony devices and any other means or system of communication is prohibited, except that the development of communication takes place without the use of hands or the use of helmets, headphones or similar instruments. Agents of authority (for example police) in the exercise of the functions entrusted to them are exempted from this prohibition.”