The career of Constitutional Court judge Enrique López came to an abrupt end on Sunday in Madrid when the helmetless official ran a red light on his motorcycle and was subsequently found to be four times over the legal limit for alcohol.
Later that evening, the 51-year-old judge did the honourable thing and announced he would be stepping down from Spain’s highest court.
The judge was stopped by the National Police after he ran a red light at the junction of Paseo de la Castellana and calle Vitruvio Madrid on Sunday evening. The National Police, who have no authority over traffic offences, had to call in the Local Police to deal with the matter.
The judge was found to be four times the legal alcohol limit. The law in Spain establishes prison terms of three to six months, which may be commuted for a fine or community work, and a license suspension of up to four years for driving over the legal alcohol limit.