Red Light / Priority Infraction Details
📊 Sanction Severity & Appeals
What is the fine in Spain for running a red light or ignoring a STOP sign in 2026? In Spain, traffic light compliance and intersection priority rules are strictly monitored by police patrols and automated cameras known as “Foto-Rojo.” Running a red light, failing to stop at a STOP sign, or ignoring pedestrian crossings are classified under Article 146 of the Spanish General Traffic Regulations as serious violations. These offenses carry a fixed fine of €200 and an automatic 4-point deduction from your driving license. However, if you choose to pay within 20 calendar days of receiving the ticket, you qualify for the pronto pago (early payment) discount, reducing the fine to €100. To get a complete breakdown of other traffic violations and analyze point losses, we recommend using our general Traffic Fines Calculator and checking your current points balance with the Driving Points License Calculator.
🔍 Spanish Traffic Light & Priority Regulations
The DGT applies strict fines for priority violations at intersections:
- Running a Red Light (Serious Violation):
- Passing the stop line when the light is red is penalized with a €200 fine and a 4-point deduction from your license.
- Solid Amber Light:
- Solid amber requires drivers to stop as if the light were red, unless the vehicle is too close to stop safely. Passing an amber light when it was safe to stop is fined €200, but no points are deducted.
- Ignoring a STOP Sign:
- Failing to make a complete stop (wheels must come to a total halt) at a STOP sign is fined €200 and 4 points, even if there is no traffic on the crossing road.
- Foto-Rojo Speed Cameras:
- These are automated cameras installed at urban intersections that take two photos: one of your vehicle before crossing the stop line when the light is red, and a second photo once you have crossed the intersection.
📝 Worked Examples
Example 1: Red light violation caught by Foto-Rojo camera
Profile: Carlos, photographed by an automated Foto-Rojo camera at a busy intersection in Madrid.
- Infraction type: Running a Red Light | Evidence: Two Foto-Rojo photos
- Nominal fine: €200.00 | Points deducted: 4 points
- Pronto Pago discount (within 20 days): €200 × 50% = €100.00
Example 2: Rolling stop at a secondary road junction
Profile: Laura, observed by a Guardia Civil patrol as she rolled through a STOP sign without coming to a complete halt.
- Infraction type: Failure to Stop at STOP Sign | Evidence: Officer report
- Nominal fine: €200.00 | Points deducted: 4 points
- Pronto Pago discount (within 20 days): €200 × 50% = €100.00
Example 3: Accelerating through a solid amber light
Profile: Albert, ticketed by local police for accelerating to pass through an amber light when he had plenty of time to stop safely.
- Infraction type: Passing Amber Light | Evidence: Officer observation
- Nominal fine: €200.00 | Points deducted: 0 points
- Pronto Pago discount (within 20 days): €200 × 50% = €100.00
⚠️ 4 Common Mistakes for Drivers
- Thinking solid amber lights are optional: Many drivers assume amber lights mean “hurry up.” However, the Spanish traffic code states that a solid amber light requires you to stop, just like a red light, unless stopping would cause a rear-end collision. Accelerating through amber is fined €200.
- Treating a STOP sign like a Yield sign: Slowing down but not bringing your wheels to a complete stop at a STOP sign is fined €200 and 4 points. It does not matter if the crossing road is empty; you must make a complete stop.
- Appealing Foto-Rojo fines without concrete technical proof: Foto-Rojo cameras record both sequential photos and a short video clip showing your vehicle before crossing the line. Appealing without solid evidence (such as proving a traffic light synchronization error) will forfeit your 50% discount.
- Failing to identify the driver on a Foto-Rojo ticket: Because Foto-Rojo cameras capture the rear license plate, the ticket is mailed to the vehicle owner. If the owner fails to identify the driver, the DGT issues a failure to identify fine of €600 (triple the original) with no pronto pago discount.
🏠 Special Scenarios in Spain
Emergency Vehicle Exemptions
Police, fire brigade, civil defense, and ambulance vehicles are exempt from stopping at red lights or obeying priority signs when responding to an emergency service (with sirens and lights active), provided they verify that they can proceed without creating danger.
Amber Light Sinking Rules
A common legal defense for amber light or Foto-Rojo appeals is proving that the amber light phase was too short. Under Spanish road guidelines, amber lights should last between 3 and 5 seconds (depending on the speed limit) to allow drivers to stop safely.
📋 What This Means for You
If you drive in cities with Foto-Rojo cameras
Ensure you stop completely behind the white line. Even if you stop the car halfway across the pedestrian crossing after the light turns red, the ground sensors will trigger the camera and issue a €200 fine.
If you encounter a STOP sign with poor visibility
Perform a double stop. First, stop completely at the white line (complying with the law to avoid the fine). Then, roll forward slowly to a position with clear visibility and stop a second time before entering the intersection.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The standard fine is €200. If paid within the 20-day voluntary window, the pronto pago discount reduces the net cost to €100.
Running a red light results in a deduction of 4 points from your Spanish driving license once the sanction becomes final.
Running a STOP sign costs 4 points and a €200 fine. Running a Yield sign costs a €200 fine but points are only deducted (4 points) if you cause immediate danger to other drivers or pedestrians.
It is a traffic monitoring system with a camera focused on the stop line and pedestrian crossing. It triggers when the light turns red and takes photos of any vehicle crossing the white line.
Yes. You can appeal by requesting the camera's calibration certificate, proving the amber light lasted less than 3 seconds, or proving you crossed to make way for an emergency vehicle.
Passing a solid amber light when you had sufficient space to stop safely is a serious violation fined €200 (reduced to €100 with pronto pago), but no points are deducted.
If the white stop line is faded or missing, drivers are legally required to stop immediately before the traffic light post itself. Crossing past it when red remains a fineable offense.
Because running a red light is a serious infraction, the statute of limitations is 6 months. If the DGT does not notify you within this period, the fine is void.