Spain Drone Fine

[Kellyjb]

Hello everyone,

I visited Spain last summer and few my DJI Mavic Mini for a mere three minutes close to the Port City of Tarragona. Today I received a fine in the mail of 250,000 Euros and I don't know where to turn. I honestly cant pay that huge fine but I also understand that I was totally ignorant of the strict drone rules in Spain. Does anyone have any experience with receiving a fine from the Spanish authorities and how did you handle it? Also, will I be banned from visiting Spain and the EU in the future if I am unable to pay this very very hefty fine? I look forward to any feedback.

 

[Cafguy]

First:
1. Are you sure you received that from the Spanish Government and not some sort of scam?
2. 250,000 Euros!! WHAT DID YOU DO?!!!! Fly without insurance?, Commercial without permit? attept to overthrow the Government?!
3. Do you plan on Traveling to the EU in the Future....Thats gonna be a problem.
4. How do you feel about being inundated with calls from collection agents?
5, The U.S. has an extradition treaty with Spain and Spain could issue an arrest warrant for you. if you try and reenter the U.S. or are questioned by any customs official you stand a good chance of being Arrested.
6. You need a good Attorney.
7. You need a good Attorney.

 

[Felix le Chat]

Hello everyone,

I visited Spain last summer and few my DJI Mavic Mini for a mere three minutes close to the Port City of Tarragona. Today I received a fine in the mail of 250,000 Euros and I don't know where to turn. I honestly cant pay that huge fine but I also understand that I was totally ignorant of the strict drone rules in Spain. Does anyone have any experience with receiving a fine from the Spanish authorities and how did you handle it? Also, will I be banned from visiting Spain and the EU in the future if I am unable to pay this very very hefty fine? I look forward to any feedback.

I think the time to get nervous is when you hear a knock on the door.... because ...

 

[jaja6009]

Contact a lawyer. This is a forum.

 

[Bad Santa]

How did they find you??

In Spain, operating a recreational drone without adhering to established regulations can lead to significant penalties. The severity of the fines varies depending on the specific violation. For instance, unauthorized flights in restricted areas, such as near airports, airfields, or controlled airspaces, can result in fines ranging from €4,000 to €30,000. Additionally, failing to register as a drone operator, when required, or not obtaining the necessary permits for certain flight categories can also lead to substantial fines.drone-traveller.com+1canifly.in+1drone-laws.com


To avoid these penalties, it's essential to familiarize yourself with Spain's drone laws, which include:nexttools.net+2droneller.com+2drone-laws.com+2

• Operator Registration: All drone operators must register under European Regulation (EU) 2019/947. This includes providing details about your drone, such as its make, model, and weight. Remember, if your drone weighs over 250 grams, registration is mandatory. propelrc.com+1drone-laws.com+1droneller.com+1nexttools.net+1
• Operational Restrictions: Drones must be operated within visual range of the pilot and should not exceed 120 meters in altitude. It's also prohibited to fly drones near airports, airfields, or other aircraft. cazahar.com+2grupooneair.com+2drone-laws.com+2canifly.in+1drone-traveller.com+1
• Liability Insurance: While not legally required for recreational use, obtaining liability insurance is highly recommended to cover potential damages or injuries caused by your drone. nexttools.net
• Respect for Privacy: Ensure that your drone operations do not infringe on individuals' privacy rights. Avoid filming or photographing people without their consent and be cautious with the public disclosure of captured images to comply with data protection laws. grupooneair.com

By adhering to these regulations, you can enjoy flying your drone in Spain responsibly and avoid potential fines.nexttools.net+1droneller.com+1

 

[MARK (LI)]

Stop pulling my leg....where did they find out who you are?....how did they get your address?

 

[DARKSeifer]

Tarragona is under controlled airspace, so you probably appeared on the local Aeroscope as there's an airport nearby. The ways of being busted are basically this:

1. You were naive enough to put your operator ID on the Fly App, so the drone was emitting your data through RID/Aeroscope.
2. You used a real email on the DJI app, like for example “[email protected]”. Your DJI email is shared through Aeroscope, so that's how they got it.
3. You published some videos or photos on social media, and they find you through there.
4. You were caught on the spot, gave your data to the authorities, confessed to them naively thinking they wouldn't prosecute, but they did.

The thing is, do they really have your data and know who you are, and enough proof to prosecute you, or just have a random email and are teasing you to get a confession and all the data and then, prosecute you?

Do not answer (email is not the proper way to communicate with the authorities), do not confess and do not pay, also, if you are not familiar with your rights check with a lawyer, you are innocent until proven contrary.

PS: They must've realized that the Aeroscope logs every emaill of the drones it detects and started to send emails to everyone to try to get some coin.

 

[Cafguy]

Tarragona is under controlled airspace, so you probably appeared on the local Aeroscope as there's an airport nearby. The ways of being busted are basically this:

1. You were naive enough to put your operator ID on the Fly App, so the drone was emitting your data through RID/Aeroscope.
2. You used a real email on the DJI app, like for example “[email protected]”. Your DJI email is shared through Aeroscope, so that's how they got it.
3. You published some videos or photos on social media, and they find you through there.
4. You were caught on the spot, gave your data to the authorities, confessed to them naively thinking they wouldn't prosecute, but they did.

The thing is, do they really have your data and know who you are, and enough proof to prosecute you, or just have a random email and are teasing you to get a confession and all the data and then, prosecute you?

Do not answer (email is not the proper way to communicate with the authorities), do not confess and do not pay, also, if you are not familiar with your rights check with a lawyer, you are innocent until proven contrary.

PS: They must've realized that the Aeroscope logs every emaill of the drones it detects and started to send emails to everyone to try to get some coin.

One would think that this pilot was confronted while flying?...We are talking more than a quarter of a million U.S. Dollar's in Fines!!!!
Something must have happened to make the supposed fine so high!! so O.P. what happened?

 

[Dale D]

How did they find you??

In Spain, operating a recreational drone without adhering to established regulations can lead to significant penalties. The severity of the fines varies depending on the specific violation. For instance, unauthorized flights in restricted areas, such as near airports, airfields, or controlled airspaces, can result in fines ranging from €4,000 to €30,000. Additionally, failing to register as a drone operator, when required, or not obtaining the necessary permits for certain flight categories can also lead to substantial fines.drone-traveller.com+1canifly.in+1drone-laws.com


To avoid these penalties, it's essential to familiarize yourself with Spain's drone laws, which include:nexttools.net+2droneller.com+2drone-laws.com+2

• Operator Registration: All drone operators must register under European Regulation (EU) 2019/947. This includes providing details about your drone, such as its make, model, and weight. Remember, if your drone weighs over 250 grams, registration is mandatory. propelrc.com+1drone-laws.com+1droneller.com+1nexttools.net+1
• Operational Restrictions: Drones must be operated within visual range of the pilot and should not exceed 120 meters in altitude. It's also prohibited to fly drones near airports, airfields, or other aircraft. cazahar.com+2grupooneair.com+2drone-laws.com+2canifly.in+1drone-traveller.com+1
• Liability Insurance: While not legally required for recreational use, obtaining liability insurance is highly recommended to cover potential damages or injuries caused by your drone. nexttools.net
• Respect for Privacy: Ensure that your drone operations do not infringe on individuals' privacy rights. Avoid filming or photographing people without their consent and be cautious with the public disclosure of captured images to comply with data protection laws. grupooneair.com

By adhering to these regulations, you can enjoy flying your drone in Spain responsibly and avoid potential fines.nexttools.net+1droneller.com+1

This post is very scary for me because I am planning an upcoming tourist visit to Poland in April (Krakow, Warsaw,Gdansk). I am bringing my Mavic Mini 4 Pro, which I have registered on the Polish web site, and have obtained a Polish operator number and taken their pilot competency test. Also on the form I have placed my insurance information. My drone is labeled with the Pilot Institute FAA ID free label and home address in the US. Bad Santa seems very knowledgeable about these issues. What do you think?

Dale
Miami

 

[MS Coast]

How did they find you??

In Spain, operating a recreational drone without adhering to established regulations can lead to significant penalties. The severity of the fines varies depending on the specific violation. For instance, unauthorized flights in restricted areas, such as near airports, airfields, or controlled airspaces, can result in fines ranging from €4,000 to €30,000. Additionally, failing to register as a drone operator, when required, or not obtaining the necessary permits for certain flight categories can also lead to substantial fines.drone-traveller.com+1canifly.in+1drone-laws.com


To avoid these penalties, it's essential to familiarize yourself with Spain's drone laws, which include:nexttools.net+2droneller.com+2drone-laws.com+2

• Operator Registration: All drone operators must register under European Regulation (EU) 2019/947. This includes providing details about your drone, such as its make, model, and weight. Remember, if your drone weighs over 250 grams, registration is mandatory. propelrc.com+1drone-laws.com+1droneller.com+1nexttools.net+1
• Operational Restrictions: Drones must be operated within visual range of the pilot and should not exceed 120 meters in altitude. It's also prohibited to fly drones near airports, airfields, or other aircraft. cazahar.com+2grupooneair.com+2drone-laws.com+2canifly.in+1drone-traveller.com+1
• Liability Insurance: While not legally required for recreational use, obtaining liability insurance is highly recommended to cover potential damages or injuries caused by your drone. nexttools.net
• Respect for Privacy: Ensure that your drone operations do not infringe on individuals' privacy rights. Avoid filming or photographing people without their consent and be cautious with the public disclosure of captured images to comply with data protection laws. grupooneair.com

By adhering to these regulations, you can enjoy flying your drone in Spain responsibly and avoid potential fines.nexttools.net+1droneller.com+1

Sounds like AI-generated text.

 

[Dale D]

Do you happen to have a link to EU Registration European Regulation (EU) 2019/947.?

 

[MS Coast]

Hello everyone,

I visited Spain last summer and few my DJI Mavic Mini for a mere three minutes close to the Port City of Tarragona. Today I received a fine in the mail of 250,000 Euros and I don't know where to turn. I honestly cant pay that huge fine but I also understand that I was totally ignorant of the strict drone rules in Spain. Does anyone have any experience with receiving a fine from the Spanish authorities and how did you handle it? Also, will I be banned from visiting Spain and the EU in the future if I am unable to pay this very very hefty fine? I look forward to any feedback.

This sounds like a scam, joke, or other foolishness.

It's difficult to imagine that any government would pursue a fine that large solely by mail. And it's impossible to imagine a fine that large for a simple drone regulation violation.

Where did the correspondence direct you to send the money?

 

[Felix le Chat]

Hello everyone,

I visited Spain last summer and few my DJI Mavic Mini for a mere three minutes close to the Port City of Tarragona. Today I received a fine in the mail of 250,000 Euros and I don't know where to turn. I honestly cant pay that huge fine but I also understand that I was totally ignorant of the strict drone rules in Spain. Does anyone have any experience with receiving a fine from the Spanish authorities and how did you handle it? Also, will I be banned from visiting Spain and the EU in the future if I am unable to pay this very very hefty fine? I look forward to any feedback.

At more than 8 times the published maximum fine: I'd say this smacks of being a scam. See if you get any more threatening reminders, if you do: take it to a lawyer and they'll do the checking for you.

 

[Cafguy]

agree thats a ton of money for just a letter or email!

 

[Cafguy]

Phishing and smishing scams​

Be on the lookout. Messages are easily fabricated!


Phishing and smishing scams

As we spend more time online, fraudsters are getting more creative with scams in the digital space.

The OP should also note the following:
PHISHING:
Phishing is when you get an unsolicited email that claims to be from a legitimate organization, such as financial institutions, businesses or government agencies. Scammers ask you to provide or verify, either via email or by clicking on a web link, personal or financial information, like your credit card number, passwords and social insurance number.

SMISHING:
Smishing is the same thing, except it occurs via text messages.


These messages often copy the tone and logo of organizations you trust, and usually include a call to action. They take many shapes and forms but the bottom line is that they seek your personal details.


Tips to protect yourself:

• Know that reputable organizations will never ask for your personal information through email or text.
• Ignore communications from unknown contacts.
• Delete suspicious messages as they can carry viruses.
• Don't reply to spam messages, even to unsubscribe, and don't open any attachments or follow any links.
• To verify a hyperlink without clicking, hover your mouse over it. Carefully check if it is accurate.
• Update your antivirus software on all devices.
• Never use the phone number or email address provided in the suspicious message—use contact information listed on verified websites.

 

[paulhackerllc]

Hello everyone,

I visited Spain last summer and few my DJI Mavic Mini for a mere three minutes close to the Port City of Tarragona. Today I received a fine in the mail of 250,000 Euros and I don't know where to turn. I honestly cant pay that huge fine but I also understand that I was totally ignorant of the strict drone rules in Spain. Does anyone have any experience with receiving a fine from the Spanish authorities and how did you handle it? Also, will I be banned from visiting Spain and the EU in the future if I am unable to pay this very very hefty fine? I look forward to any feedback.

I’m a law and order type of guy, but that’s ridiculous. I think the punishment needs to fit the crime. Government’s and collection agencies usually pick the lowest hanging fruit. So, you being across the pond might not be low enough.

Let’s say it’s not a scam, my guess is the Government might work with you, but they’ll never (imho) cut the fine down to zero. Depending on what the fine ends up being, that leaves you in a quandary. Pay it or not?

Does Spain have a statute of limitations on those types of collections? If so, decide from there.

 

[Chip]

Tarragona is under controlled airspace, so you probably appeared on the local Aeroscope as there's an airport nearby. The ways of being busted are basically this:

1. You were naive enough to put your operator ID on the Fly App, so the drone was emitting your data through RID/Aeroscope.
2. You used a real email on the DJI app, like for example “[email protected]”. Your DJI email is shared through Aeroscope, so that's how they got it.
3. You published some videos or photos on social media, and they find you through there.
4. You were caught on the spot, gave your data to the authorities, confessed to them naively thinking they wouldn't prosecute, but they did.

The thing is, do they really have your data and know who you are, and enough proof to prosecute you, or just have a random email and are teasing you to get a confession and all the data and then, prosecute you?

Do not answer (email is not the proper way to communicate with the authorities), do not confess and do not pay, also, if you are not familiar with your rights check with a lawyer, you are innocent until proven contrary.

PS: They must've realized that the Aeroscope logs every emaill of the drones it detects and started to send emails to everyone to try to get some coin.

Very good points. Especially, that "Aeroscope logs every email of the drones it detects." Could be useful tool to law enforcement or extortionists alike.

Closely inspect the document and email address where it came from because that should tell you how to respond if at all. The FAA has certainly mailed citations to people in Europe who flew drones in the USA. One famous case from years ago involved a Swiss national cited for reckless FPV flying on a college campus. The FAA gave the guy the choice of pay or contest the fine in the USA, or suffer a default judgment which may be entered in federal court. The FAA took the case very seriously because the guy was famous, posted the flight on YT, and the flight was rather bold for the time.

I think the maximum fines in Spain for illegal drone flights can in fact be as high as 250,000+ but distinctions are made between recreational and commercial pilots and flights and the relative seriousness of the offense much like the FAA would do in most cases. If you research social media postings about getting fined for drone flights in Spain you can see that it happens but 250,000 would be a real outlier for the kind of flight you describe.

 

[jacquespa]

Hello everyone,

I visited Spain last summer and few my DJI Mavic Mini for a mere three minutes close to the Port City of Tarragona. Today I received a fine in the mail of 250,000 Euros and I don't know where to turn. I honestly cant pay that huge fine but I also understand that I was totally ignorant of the strict drone rules in Spain. Does anyone have any experience with receiving a fine from the Spanish authorities and how did you handle it? Also, will I be banned from visiting Spain and the EU in the future if I am unable to pay this very very hefty fine? I look forward to any feedback.

I am sorry about your situation. I am curious how they got your address but it sounds more legitimate than a random email or text. You are going to need legal counsel and hopefully this can be negotiated down to a more reasonable fine. Please keep us updated on how this turns out. It could help others.

 

[Cafguy]

To determine if you owe money to AESA for a fine, you'll need to contact AESA directly or check their website for information about your specific case or outstanding debts.

Check AESA's Website:
AESA (the Spanish State Agency for Aviation Safety) may have a section on their website where you can check for outstanding fines or debts.
Contact AESA Directly:
If you can't find information online, contact AESA directly through their official channels (phone, email, or website contact form) to inquire about any potential fines or debts.
Provide Relevant Information:
When contacting AESA, be sure to provide any relevant information, such as your name, address, and any case or reference numbers you may have.

 

[Bad Santa]

Yes, my reply was AI generated.
I have zero personal knowledge of such situations.

I agree, however, that this wreaks of a scam.
Scammers would be wise to stop asking for such ridiculous amounts of cash. If they had said the fine was $500 it's more likely the recipient of the "fine" would just cut a check.