A motorcyclist warns other drivers of the presence of the Traffic helicopter, but ends up being fined for an infraction that people don't understand: "Have you lost your mind?"

The Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) shared a video on social media this Tuesday of a punishable act on the road. The incident involved a motorcyclist who, upon detecting the presence of a police helicopter hovering overhead, decided to abruptly reduce his speed and warn other drivers with hand signals. This incident occurred on Saturday, October 4, at noon on the BP-1101 highway near El Bruc.

"We detected this motorcyclist who, upon seeing the traffic helicopter, impeded the movement of other vehicles by traveling at an abnormally low speed and warned other road users of the police presence. We arrested him and filed a complaint," the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police).

The post quickly filled with comments from users complaining about the police action and not understanding why the motorcyclist was fined: "Could you explain exactly what the violation is?" "Now they're fining you for going 42 km/h in a 70 km/h speed limit zone. Have you lost your mind?" writes one of the most critical.

RAC1.cat has contacted the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan Police) to clarify the details of the case. Sub-inspector Ivan Clotet, head of the Central Traffic Area of ​​the Mossos d'Esquadra Traffic Division, confirmed that the motorcyclist's fine is for " obstructing the normal movement of other vehicles by traveling at an abnormally low speed, without justified cause." This is an infraction classified under Article 49.1 of the General Traffic Regulations .

"Upon detecting the helicopter, this motorcyclist braked suddenly, forcing the other vehicles to stop and creating a traffic jam," Clotet explains. Therefore, the Mossos d'Esquadra officer in the helicopter notified the highway patrol to stop and fine him. That day, the police were carrying out a specific prevention operation for motorcyclists.

It should be noted that Article 49.1 of the regulations explicitly prohibits "travel at a speed lower than half the general speed limit" for each type of road.

But it's not essential to go less than half the legal speed limit (in this case, 35 km/h). If the police officer deems the speed reduction excessive, unjustified, and disrupting traffic, it is also punishable: "It can lead to distractions and accidents," warns the sub-inspector.

The Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) explain that signaling the presence of a helicopter with one's hand is not punishable. Therefore, if the motorcyclist had only done that without abruptly changing speed, he would not have been fined. He now faces a serious violation with a fine of 200 euros, 100 euros reduced by early payment.