A court in Murcia has sentenced a man who tried to cut costs by skipping the mandatory vehicle inspection and placing a fake ITV sticker on his windshield. His attempt to dodge the rules ended not only with a fine, but also with an official criminal record. The story began on the A-33 highway, where traffic police pulled his car over. Officers were suspicious of the sticker, which turned out to have no relation to the official document.
The investigation revealed that the driver had deliberately placed the counterfeit sticker to avoid the expenses and hassle of passing the inspection. However, this move landed him in far greater trouble. The court found him guilty of forging official documents and imposed a €900 fine. Judges emphasized that this was not a minor offense, but a serious crime against public trust.
Case details
The incident took place in the municipality of Blanca, where the car was parked on the roadside. A routine document check quickly turned into an investigation when officers noticed discrepancies between the sticker and the official registry. It turned out that this was not the first time the driver had run afoul of the law for similar reasons. Back in 2014, he was convicted in Albacete for forging official documents, and received a much harsher sentence—thirteen months in prison.
This fact played a key role in the new case. The judges had no doubt about the man’s intentions: he deliberately set out to deceive in order to avoid mandatory procedures. As a result, his repeated violation only increased the severity of his sentence. The Murcia court refused to reduce the penalty, upholding the fine and noting that such actions undermine trust in the road control system.
Legal aspect
Case law in Spain is clear: the ITV sticker is regarded as an official document. Any attempt to forge it or use a fake is treated as a criminal offense, not a mere administrative violation. This means that even a small sticker on your windshield can lead to a criminal record and a hefty fine.
In this case, the driver tried to convince inspectors that his car had passed all the necessary inspections, when in fact it had not. The judges stressed that such actions pose a threat to road safety, since the vehicle inspection is not a formality but a guarantee that the vehicle is in proper working order. Trying to cheat the system could result not only in financial losses but also in serious legal consequences.
Consequences for drivers
This case serves as a clear warning to all car owners in Spain. Trying to save money on inspections or buying fake stickers can end up costing far more than expected. Instead of a typical administrative fine, offenders risk a criminal record and a hefty penalty. The court in Murcia made it clear: no tricks will let you escape accountability when road safety is at stake.
Modern technology and digital databases make it easy to quickly spot any inconsistencies in documents. That’s why attempts to mislead inspectors are becoming increasingly risky. Drivers should remember: responsibility begins long before you get behind the wheel. Any violation involving forged documents can land you in court and damage your reputation for years to come.
