The Spanish National Police will no longer sanction drug use or possession inside parked private vehicles, following the issuance of Instruction 7/2025 by the State Secretariat for Security (SES). This decision is grounded in recent legal rulings that consider parked vehicles to be semi-private spaces, which fall outside the scope of Article 36.6 of the Citizen Security Law, as it currently stands.
Previously, such behavior was penalized as if it occurred in a public space. However, since the law does not explicitly include parked vehicles, and legal norms prevent broad or analogical interpretations in matters of sanctions, this conduct is now excluded from punishment.
The move has sparked backlash from various police unions, notably the Unified Police Union (SUP). They argue that the directive compromises road safety and restricts effective policing, urging the Ministry of the Interior to immediately revoke and revise the instruction.
It’s important to note that drug use in moving vehicles may still constitute a criminal offense, particularly in relation to public health or road safety violations, as outlined in the Criminal Code.
