8,000 fines for parking in Madrid city center in 3 days while ban in place

The Madrid Town Hall handed out 8,000 fines to drivers who parked in the city center during the three days that a parking ban was in operation as a result of high levels of atmospheric pollution in the Spanish capital.

With levels of nitrogen dioxide particles in the atmosphere having topped 200 micrograms per cubic meter for three consecutive days, the Local Government put the second level of their anti-contamination protocol into effect last Thursday, maintaining it until Saturday afternoon when levels began to drop.

This protocol, which was in effect for the first time ever, forbad all drivers except those who live inside the limits of the M-30 ring road, from parking in the city center. However, 8,000 drivers (1,646 of them on Saturday) ignored the protocol and parked where they were not allowed.

The local authority also handed out fines to 677 drivers from exceeding the 70km/h speed limit imposed on the M-30 and approach roads to Madrid in accordance with the first level of the anti-contamination protocol.

The high level of contamination was partly caused by a level of high-pressure over central Spain, which means Madrid has not seen any rain, nor had any wind for several days, allowing particles to build up in the atmosphere.

The Madrid Regional Authority has scheduled a meeting for Dec. 14 with the aim of presenting a new protocol for moments when nitrogen dioxide levels increase. Endit