What happens if I do not pay a fine in Murcia?

Not paying a fine in Murcia, whether it is a traffic fine from the DGT or municipal (City Council of Murcia), triggers collection through executive means with surcharges, interest, and possible seizures.

Below we explain, based on legal grounds, what happens, what the deadlines are, and how to act to avoid unnecessary costs.

Key deadlines and 50% discount payment

After notification, you have 20 calendar days for the so-called “early payment,” which allows you to pay the fine with a 50% reduction. This regime is set out in the *Ley sobre Tráfico, Circulación de Vehículos a Motor y Seguridad Vial* (Law on Traffic, Circulation of Motor Vehicles and Road Safety) (Royal Legislative Decree 6/2015). If you choose early payment, the sanction becomes final, and you waive the right to submit allegations or ordinary appeals, except in very specific cases (for example, identification errors).

If you do not pay within that period or submit allegations, the Administration will issue a sanctioning resolution and, once final, will refer the debt to executive collection.

If you do not pay: executive means and surcharges during the enforcement period

When the fine enters the executive period, the surcharges of Article 28 of the *Ley General Tributaria* (General Tax Law) apply:

• Executive surcharge of 5%: if you pay before the notification of the enforcement order (without interest or costs).
• Reduced enforcement surcharge of 10%: if you pay within the period granted in the enforcement order (without interest, but with costs if applicable).
• Ordinary enforcement surcharge of 20%: if you pay after that period has expired, plus late interest and costs of the enforcement procedure.

In addition to the surcharge, the Administration may execute seizures to collect the debt.

Seizures and enforcement measures in Murcia

In Murcia, executive collection can be processed by the *Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria* (AEAT), the Tax Agency of the Region of Murcia (ATRM), or the City Council of Murcia itself, depending on the type of fine and the existing agreements. The main enforcement measures are:

• Seizure of bank accounts.
• Seizure of part of the salary or pension (respecting the limits of non-seizability).
• Seizure of vehicles and preventive annotation in the Register of Movable Property.
• Seizure of tax refunds and other credits against the Administration.

If the interested party cannot be located, notifications may be published in the *Tablón Edictal Único* (Single Edict Board) (TEU), which makes the actions fully valid even if you have not collected the notification at your home.

Prescription and expiration: deadlines you should know

• Prescription of traffic violations: 3 months for minor offenses and 6 months for serious and very serious offenses (*Ley de Seguridad Vial* (Road Safety Law)).
• Prescription of the sanction (fine): 4 years (*Ley de Seguridad Vial* (Road Safety Law)).

These deadlines can be interrupted by actions of the Administration that are duly notified. Therefore, even if you think that "a lot of time has passed," it is advisable to check if the deadline has been interrupted.

DGT Fines vs. Municipal Fines in Murcia

Both are governed by the general framework of sanctioning administrative law. In traffic matters, the *Ley de Seguridad Vial* (Road Safety Law) establishes a 50% prompt payment discount, deadlines, and finality. Municipal fines (for example, parking, cleaning, noise) follow the applicable ordinance and the common administrative procedure, but their collection, if not paid, will also go to executive proceedings with the surcharges of Article 28 of the *Ley General Tributaria* (General Tax Law) and possible seizures.

Can I appeal a fine if I do not pay it?

Yes, but you must do so within the deadline. The usual procedure is:

• Submissions within the first 20 calendar days from the notification.
• Subsequently, a voluntary appeal for reconsideration before the same sanctioning body and, if applicable, a contentious-administrative appeal before the courts.

If you opted for the prompt payment with a 50% reduction, generally speaking, you waive ordinary submissions and appeals, so only exceptional cases are allowed (for example, error in the identity of the driver or duplicate payments).

Practical tips to avoid surcharges and problems

• Check the *TEU* (Tax Identification Number) periodically if you are often away from home or have changed your address.
• Consider prompt payment if the fine is correct: the 50% savings usually compensates.
• If you disagree, submit your allegations within the deadline and request the available evidence (photos, radar calibration, etc.).
• Negotiate a deferral or installment payment if you cannot pay in one go; the *AEAT/ATRM* (State Agency for Tax Administration/Regional Tax Administration of Murcia) usually accepts this under certain conditions.
• Keep payment receipts and communications; they can be key to closing files or avoiding duplications.

GVC Lawyers in Murcia: Sanction Defence and More

At GVC Lawyers (García Valcárcel & Cáceres), located at Plaza Fuensanta, 3 – 6ºB, 30008 Murcia, we help you review the legality of the fine, assess the viability of the appeal, and negotiate deferrals to avoid surcharges and seizures. Our experience in administrative and contentious law, combined with decades of professional practice, allows us to offer you a solid and realistic strategy.

Moreover, if you are looking for trusted lawyers in Murcia in other areas, our team is also a reference in family law and inheritance lawyers, as well as in medical negligence, civil liability, real estate, and commercial law. We serve you with rigor, closeness, and transparency.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can my salary be garnished for not paying a fine? Yes, with the limits of non-garnishment provided by law. Partial garnishment is common until the debt, surcharge, interest, and costs are covered.
• What happens if I changed my address? The Administration can notify by edicts in the TEU. Even if you do not receive the letter, the notification may be valid; check the TEU periodically or update your address with Traffic and the Register.
• Can I pay the fine in instalments? Normally yes, if you meet the requirements for deferral/installment payment before the AEAT/ATRM or the City Council. It is preferable to request it before the enforcement progresses.
• Is it worth appealing or paying with a 50% discount? It depends on the case. If there are defects in form or substance (non-homologated radar, incorrect identification of the driver, lack of evidence), it may be worth appealing. If the evidence is solid, prompt payment is usually the most economical option.

How we can help you

We analyse your case, the deadlines, and the available evidence; we review the statute of limitations and possible defects; and we accompany you in allegations, appeals, and negotiation of deferrals. Contact GVC Abogados in Murcia for an initial consultation and receive a clear strategy to avoid surcharges and garnishments.

Legal reference basis

• Law on Traffic, Circulation of Motor Vehicles and Road Safety (*Ley sobre Tráfico, Circulación de Vehículos a Motor y Seguridad Vial*) (Royal Legislative Decree 6/2015): prompt payment of 50%, deadlines, and statute of limitations (3/6 months for infractions; 4 years for sanctions).
• Law 58/2003, General Tax Law (*Ley 58/2003, General Tributaria*): surcharges of 5%, 10%, and 20% during the enforcement period (art. 28), late payment interest, and enforcement procedure.
• Publication of edicts in the Single Edict Board (*Tablón Edictal Único* or TEU) when personal notification is not possible.