A driver who accepted a sentence for reckless driving after a car meet in Pontevedra was barred from driving for eight months. He was one of two young men who appeared at the duty court five days after a Friday-night gathering at O Campiño.
The Guardia Civil warns that offences involving reckless driving at car meets and illegal races are increasing in Spain. It has not given a figure for the rise. At O Campiño, a Friday-night operation used high-resolution drones to record dangerous manoeuvres; specialist traffic officers then moved in on the industrial estate and issued complaints to drivers.
The documentary “Quemando rueda” features a 23-year-old mechanic from Pontevedra who described being at the gathering. He said police stopped several people and issued fines. The account also shows that attendees have different reasons for going: some display their cars or watch; others perform risky manoeuvres.
Summer Friday gatherings at O Campiño have brought together more than 500 cars, according to the report. Alejandro Cabaleiro, known as Alex, described taking part in illegal races away from crowds, while acknowledging the danger of losing control or a vehicle part striking someone. Another enthusiast, Rodrigo García, said the presence of a small number of reckless drivers can shape the public image of an event attended by many people.
The legal consequences depend on what happens. A breach of traffic rules can lead to an administrative fine of up to €500 and the loss of up to six driving-licence points. If a driver in a meet or illegal race causes a crash, the case can enter the criminal courts, where the stated penalty ranges from six months to five years in prison, alongside a fine and a driving ban of between one and ten years.
