The Mayor of Santa Cristina d'Aro Fined for Drunk Driving at a Mossos Checkpoint

Josep Xifre, mayor of Santa Cristina d'Aro, was administratively reported by the Mossos d'Esquadra after testing positive for alcohol at a checkpoint on the C-65 on August 23. The official has admitted his mistake and taken responsibility.

The Mossos d'Esquadra reported the mayor of Santa Cristina d'Aro, Josep Xifre, for riding his motorcycle under the influence of alcohol. The positive result was detected during a routine traffic check on the C-65 road, within the municipality of this town in the Baix Empordà.

The incident occurred on August 23, although it has only come to light now. The officers conducted a breathalyser test on the councillor and, upon finding he exceeded the legal limit, issued a fine. The exact result of the test has not been disclosed.

Xifre has acknowledged his mistake in statements to the Diari de Girona. According to him, "he is human and made a mistake", but "he took responsibility". The mayor also wanted to express his support for such checks: "they are perfect and necessary", he stated.

"He is human and made a mistake. He took responsibility"

The regulations establish that the threshold between an administrative fine and a criminal offence is 0.60 milligrams of alcohol per litre of breath. If an accident occurs, the limit drops to 0.40. In this case, as it is an administrative report, the fine can range from 500 to 1,000 euros, with a possible loss of between four and six points from the driving licence.

The news was made public this Saturday, October 10, coinciding with the holiday of October 12. The Servei Català de Trànsit has reported that around 543,000 cars have left the metropolitan area of Barcelona during these days. The Mossos d'Esquadra have deployed 1,086 checkpoints on Catalan roads with 1,555 agents to enhance safety and prevent accidents.

The case of the mayor of Santa Cristina d'Aro adds to the regular traffic checks in the province of Girona and the rest of Catalonia. The sanction, being administrative, does not involve imprisonment, but does entail the loss of points and a financial penalty that Xifre will have to pay himself.