These distinctions can make all the difference for those travelling between the two countries, helping to avoid unexpected fines and ensure safer driving, according to Postal.

In Spain, publicising the location of STOP operations is now considered a very serious road offense, and drivers who share this type of information could be fined between €3,000 and €20,000.

Currently, there is already a law that prohibits publicising police operations in situations that could compromise the safety of officers or the effectiveness of actions. This regulation is present in the Citizen Security Law, but the new reform of the Traffic Law worsens the penalties.

The recent amendment, approved by the Spanish parliament, registers these actions as a very serious offense, a common habit by Portuguese drivers, which includes using social networks, messaging apps, or other digital means to alert people to the location of police checks on the roads.

This new legislation is yet to be officially in force, but the authorities have already begun to step up enforcement, and the Court of Vigo judged a case earlier this month involving a WhatsApp group dedicated to sharing information regarding police operations.

The group’s administrator and 20 other users were held responsible for hindering investigations by the Civil Guard, particularly the Central Operative Unit (UCO), which fights organised crime. The dissemination of this information is said to have jeopardised the success of several missions.

As a result, the group’s administrator was fined €1,200, while the other members were penalised €600 each, serving as an example of the authorities' new stance on sharing alerts about STOP operations.