EWN FRONT EXTRA
Noise control LOS ALCAZARES has been ordered to implement noise pollution laws by the High Court. The town hall has been obliged to control noise since 2001 but has failed to enforce the rules.
Jobless fall UNEMPLOYMENT fell in 426 of the Valencian Community’s 542 municipalities. The jobless figure fell by 6.61 per cent compared to 2013’s total.
Transplant rise A TOTAL of 299 organ transplants were carried out in 2014 in the Murcia Region, an increase of 9 per cent on 2013.
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM 22 - 28 JANUARY 2015 WE DO! Winter Fuel Allowance: Your say Page 14
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EU expats must renew their driving licences EXPATRIATES who have been legally resident in Spain for two years or more must renew their driving licences to meet new regulations or face a €200 fine. The new measure for European Union (EU) expats living in Spain requires people from the 28 EU member states to renew any driving licence they hold which is valid for 15 years or more in the case of car and motorcycle drivers (Group One) and five years or longer in the case of drivers of transport and larger vehicles (Group Two). The new rule - which came into effect on Monday - applies to all EU expats who have been legally living in Spain for more than two years, and will apply to newer residents two years after the date they legally became resident in Spain. Spain’s department of motor vehicles – DGT – confirmed to the EWN that any EU expat who has legally lived in Spain for two years or more must immediately renew their licence to a Spanish EU licence or face a fine of €200. The licence changes are required under a new EU guideline aimed at eliminating the more than 110 types of licences valid to drive in EU
CORDON PRESS DRIVERS
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countries and provide a standard licence for all citizens. Residents can renew their driving licence by contacting the nearest traffic authority, calling 060 or via the DGT traffic authority website www.dgt.es. Proof of identity, proof of residence, the original driving licence and a copy are required for the initial appointment, plus a recent photograph and official form. The fee for the new licence is €23.50. Drivers are also reminded that – as previously reported in the EWN – speed limits on many Spanish roads
are to be reduced this spring. The speed limit on motorways will remain at 120 kilometres per hour (km/h), but roads with a current limit of 100km/h will drop to 90km/h and those currently at 90km/h will drop to either 70 or 50km/h. Motorists in Spain are also reminded that the fine for breaking the speed limit starts at €100 for speeds of up to 150km/h. The fine for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is €1,000. Have your say on this story at www.euroweeklynews.com