The 1,000-euro fines that thousands of drivers will receive in 2025
Imagine receiving a 1,000 euro fine in your mailbox without even having had an accident. Well, that is exactly what will happen to thousands of drivers after 2025, when the new DGT regulation begins to put things very clearly on the table.
The Civil Guard Traffic has intensified drug controls to record numbers, and anyone who thought this was just a warning was very wrong: sanctions with point losses are now final and harsher than ever.
Drug controls and sanctions: data that doesn't lie
The reality is that in 2025 144,346 drug tests were carried out, the highest figure since 2021, when there were 123,211. The Civil Guard sanctioned 70,717 drivers with point deductions for driving under the influence of substances, an increase of more than 6,400 compared to the previous year.
Fines and point losses: the painful combo
Driving with drugs present in saliva carries an administrative fine of 1,000 euros and the withdrawal of 6 points from the license. The amount or whether it actually influenced driving does not matter: mere presence is enough to incur this sanction.
Annual comparison of tests and sanctions
Drug tests have steadily increased: 58,126 controls in 2022, 101,927 in 2023, 122,938 in 2024, and 144,346 in 2025. Sanctions with point losses rose from 41,067 in 2021 to 70,717 in 2025, a growth leaving no room for doubt.
Alcohol and the new reality of controls
Alcohol controls have also reached historic figures, with more than 6 million tests conducted in 2025, although with methodological changes that complicate direct comparisons.
Sanctions for alcohol and their evolution
Final sanctions with a loss of 6 points for drunk driving were 25,977 in 2021 and rose to 36,074 in 2022, then stabilizing below 34,000 sanctions in the following years.
Report from the University of Valencia and accident rates
According to a study from the University of Valencia, up to 0.5 g/l blood alcohol level can triple the risk of an accident. For this reason, the DGT acts with constant campaigns and controls within the Road Safety 2030 strategy.
The DGT measures and the safe system
The Directorate General of Traffic maintains a transversal approach with surveillance, regulatory measures, and road safety education campaigns, which are part of the "Safe System" approach to reduce accidents and their consequences.
The role of the Civil Guard
The Civil Guard Traffic is the protagonist in these controls, having constantly increased both the number of tests and sanctions imposed, thus reinforcing prevention and safety on Catalan and Spanish roads.
Recommendations and sanctions to keep in mind
Remember that the mere presence of drugs in saliva already involves fines of 1,000 euros and a loss of 6 points. It’s not worth risking it, especially when the DGT misses nothing and increasingly has more resources to detect violations.
The reality is that 2025 closed with a historic increase in drug and alcohol controls and sanctions, and the trend seems set to continue. If you haven’t considered it yet, better be very cautious because the fine can arrive when you least expect it.
