Madrid
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Plaza Elíptica is one of the hot spots considered most unfair since the Sustainable Mobility Ordinance of the Madrid City Council came into force, mainly because a section of the A-42 motorway, which connects the city with Toledo and the southern part of the metropolitan area, is affected by the regulations.
This means that, even if you are exclusively passing between two spaces, you can still drive with a vehicle that does not have the DGT environmental label. The law entered into force in December 2021, but only with an information period. The fines would not begin until February 22.
From the Association of Vehicles Affected by Environmental Restrictions (Avarm) they accuse that many of the drivers who passed through Plaza Elíptica did not receive an information letter from the City Council, alleging that they would be fined from the second month.
Originally, the planned penalty was 90 euros, but the reform of the Traffic and Road Safety Law, on March 21, made it rise to 200 euros. For practical purposes, many of the drivers have received hit penalties, some reaching more than 90, with amounts exceeding 6,000 euros.
Avarm denounces that the signage of the Low Emissions Zone is wrong, since in some accesses, such as Santa María de la Cabeza, it is too late to turn off before entering the zone. In the case of the Prague Bridge, there is no sign.
Inside the M-30, the sanctions began on May 1, which is why many of the users incorrectly considered that something similar would happen in Plaza Elíptica. Knowing if the A-42 tunnel was included or the disparity of dates in the city has generated confusion among users.
From Avarm they present cases of residents in Parla, Getafe and Fuenlabrada, who have seen up to 90 fines —and point out that there will be more to come— and more than 6,000 euros. The main problem is that these are arriving late and it is not known precisely when they will stop receiving them.
“With modern technology, it is inadmissible that it takes more than two months to receive a sanction,” accuses a driver from Puerta Bonita, with 13 fines already. “The intention is clearly collection and I do not understand how it is not better signposted,” he says.
“It is an absolute outrage to people that we have barely reached the end of the month and we have a car that is more than 20 years old, even if they think it is on a whim,” says another, from Parla. “We have not received any information note or any clear signage.”
According to the association, given the large number of those affected, they are “considering presenting a joint appeal through a law firm”, as well as holding demonstrations in front of the City Hall or blocking streets, “because the sanctions are unaffordable by the majority.”
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