Speeding fines in Portugal – speed limits on Portuguese roads

The new Portuguese Highway Code introduced in year 2005 included considerably increased fines for speeding in Portugal.

In general, violating the speed limits on Portuguese roads is seen as quite a serious traffic offence.

Exceeding the speed limits by more than 20 km/h in urban areas or exceeding by more than 30 km/h outside urban areas can result in fines and possible disqualifications from driving.

The speeding fines in Portugal as of summer 2011 are as follows:

Speeding fines in Portugal within city limits, towns and built up areas:

Exceeding the limit with less than 20 km/h: €60 to €300

Exceeding the limit with more than 20 km/h and less than 40 km/h: €120 to €600

Exceeding the limit with more than 40 km/h and less than 60 km/h: €300 to €1500

Exceeding the limit with more than 60 km/h: €500 to €2500

Speeding fines in Portugal on normal roads, dual carriage ways or motorways:

Exceeding the limit with less than 30 km/h: €60 to €300

Exceeding the limit with more than 30 km/h and less than 60 km/h: €120 to €600

Exceeding the limit with more than 60 km/h and less than 80 km/h: €300 to €1500

Exceeding the limit with more than 80 km/h: €500 to €2500

The above speed fines apply to passenger cars including hire cars and motorcycles.

In addition to the fines, drivers risk losing the right to drive on Portuguese roads if caught exceeding the speed limits with more than 40 km/h in towns/built up areas or more than 60 km/h above the speed limits on other types of road.

If stopped by the police, it is best to admit to the offence without hesitation, if a violation has taken place. You may then, if the police sees fit, be able to get away with one of the smaller fines.

When stopped by a police patrol on the road, all fines will have to be paid immediately. In Portugal, the police take payment by credit card or will offer to take you to the nearest ‘Multibanco’ cash machine.

With the Portuguese police, there is absolutely no scope for negotiation. Any attempt to bribe a police officer will be taken as an offence and will probably only add to severity of the fine, and with more serious speed violations, increase the possibility of being denied the right to drive your vehicle.

Speeding fines by speed cameras in Portugal

The increased number of speed traps in Lisbon have generated a flood of fines of which a large proportion remain unpaid.

The authorities are slowly catching up on the huge backlog of fines to be issued as nobody expected the radar speed detection cameras to be such a success.

In 2009-2011, as a result, drivers exceeding the Lisbon speed limits found themselves receiving fines up to a year after the violation in Lisbon had taken place.

Speeding fines from Portugal

Some of the speed fines to citizens abroad are sent by return of post.

According to an [article in The Telegraph] <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/caradvice/honestjohn/7865823/Do-I-need-to-pay-foreign-speeding-fine-Honest-John.html>, the DVLA cooperates with Portuguese authorities supplying addresses and names of owners of vehicles.

For most British nationals on holiday in Portugal, the most likely speed fines, however, are the ones you inadvertently get going slightly over the speed limits in Lisbon in your hire car whilst being caught by speed camera.

For these minor offences, the hire car company will deduct the fine from your deposit, provided the fine is issued quickly enough from Lisbon.

If the car hire company cannot debit your credit card, or if the amount exceeds the ‘blocked amount‘ for the car rental, you will receive the fine in your country of residence based on the car hire company’s information about you. This cooperation between authorities in different European countries introduced in 2006 only applies to fines from €70 upwards.

British motorists being fined from abroad

When caught speeding by a camera in a private British registered car, the DVLA on request from foreign police authorities will supply information about the motorist and will even have the possibility of sending tickets out on behalf of the foreign country.

The DVLA, however, is currently not able to add points to British held licences based on fines from abroad.

Related article: Speed limits in Portugal