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Spanish Cities Start Low-Emission Zone Fines as Valencia Stalls With Cameras Only

Valencia's stalled ordinance puts EU mobility funding at risk.

Overview

  • Málaga activated sanctioning on December 1 with €200 fines for vehicles without a DGT label, using camera checks against DGT and municipal registers and allowing local-resident protections and logistics exceptions.
  • Sabadell and Terrassa shifted from grace periods to enforcement with €200 penalties, deploying the ATM access-control platform and license-plate cameras, though December’s 24-day allowances mean few fines will be issued this month.
  • Reus began fining vehicles without an environmental label during weekday hours despite four pending legal challenges, while residents who pay vehicle tax in the city are exempt until December 31, 2027.
  • Valencia switched on its ZBE monitoring network but cannot fine without an approved ordinance, and PP and Vox rejected the opposition’s citywide proposal in a special plenary session.
  • Vox supported a non-sanctioning ZBE in Castellón, and a UPV/Instituto Ítaca study concludes that ZBEs must be paired with parking regulation and broader mobility measures to meet air-quality targets.