The owner may be responsible for some acts committed with the stolen vehicle if the driver is not identified
It is a highly undesirable situation: one day you discover that your car has been stolen and, moreover, some time later you receive a report of a fine for an offense that was committed when the car was no longer in your possession. It can happen for any type of penalty, whether speeding, reckless driving or hit-and-run, if a witness gives the license plate. The reason is that the owner can be held liable for offenses and crimes committed with the vehicle in his name if the driver is not identified.
And the problem can be big, as some crimes, such as excessive speed, can be punished with prison sentences of 3 to 6 months under the Penal Code. But there is a solution to avoid getting these fines if the vehicle is stolen: reporting it should be the first step when the owner notices the theft. It is essential that the notice is given as soon as possible so that you can be free from the consequences of the offender’s actions with your car. This is how they explain it in the digital magazine of Rijkswaterstaat Verkeer.
So if you have reported the theft of your car and you receive a fine in your name some time later, you must object to the report and file a report. “Normally, the DGT will exonerate the owner who reports the theft from liability, provided it is filed in a timely manner,” they specify, as there are cases where the theft is reported to cover up speeding tickets. «There is picaresque. Thefts are reported after receipt of the report in order to try to avoid the fine,’ they explain from the Traffic Group of the Guardia Civil.
And in the event that the stolen vehicle causes damage to third parties, who will cover those payments? According to Unespa, the employers’ association of insurance companies, “damage to persons and property caused to third parties by a vehicle usually parked in Spain, which is insured and has been subject to theft or theft of use, is reimbursed by the Consorcio de Insurance A compensation”. As for the vehicle itself, “the material damage caused will be taken over by the insurance company, in the terms stipulated in the insurance policy, as long as the theft damage cover is taken out”, the employer specifies.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
