The local administration has addressed claims attributing 273.11 million euros in traffic fine revenues to the City Council in 2025. According to official data, the amount actually collected for circulation ordinance violations was 112.4 million euros, a figure significantly lower than that published by the drivers' defense organization.
Sources from the Mobility Area explained that the discrepancy stems from the technical difference between “recognized rights” and final collection. While the association referenced the total imposed fines, the City Council emphasizes that this figure never matches the money ultimately received into public coffers. Although the 112.4 million euros collected represent a 20.4 percent increase compared to the previous year, they remain below initial estimates.
“"It is common for initial budgets, based on previous year's forecasts, to differ from the final outcome."
To contextualize these variations, the municipal government noted that in 2025, 208 million euros were budgeted, implying a 31 percent deviation from recognized rights. This margin is considered normal by the City Council, which compares it to 2018, when the difference reached 40 percent.
Furthermore, it was recalled that the highest volume of fines in the last decade was recorded in 2017, with nearly 2.9 million penalties. In contrast, last year closed with 2.46 million infractions. The increase in revenue is also attributed to the 2022 Road Safety Law reform, which raised fines for improper access to Low Emission Zones (ZBE) from 90 to 200 euros.
