Torrevieja residents rebel over parking fines issued by new mobility agents

Residents in the San Roque area of Torrevieja are protesting against the municipality’s new urban mobility agents after being warned and fined for parking on streets where they have left their vehicles for decades. The confrontation began when officers from the unit entered the neighbourhood to issue warnings. The situation prompted a massive turnout from local residents, which required Local Police patrol intervention due to potential clashes.

The initial warnings quickly turned into fines of up to 90 euro. Affected residents claim the sole motivation behind the enforcement is revenue collection. The dispute centres on ten dead-end streets perpendicular to Avenida Desiderio Rodríguez that stretch from La Veleta to Los Náufragos beach: Benijófar, Bigastro, Rojales, Benejúzar, Callosa de Segura, Almoradí, Dolores, Catral, Albatera, and Los Montesinos.

Residents from Calle Dolores are leading the opposition and have met with the Councillor for citizen security, Federico Alarcón. They are requesting that the City Council halt the fines and allow parking as has been done for over 40 years, or establish a park-and-ride facility during peak season. In response, the councillor stated that the City Council intends to create as many parking spaces as possible in the area. However, residents fear continuous indiscriminate fining and maintain that they will keep parking in their usual spaces.

Targets and duties of the unit

The traffic unit comprises 20 officers, a supervisor, and 10 125cc motorcycles. They commenced service on 11th July following a specific training period, starting with traffic control around the Paseo del Mar and the Virgen del Carmen procession. Selected via a competitive process, these temporary civil servants hold contracts initially lasting one year, with up to three extensions possible. The group is temporarily stationed at the Los Balcones Local Police premises until facilities next to the central headquarters are completed, which is expected by the end of the year. While they are not members of the Security Forces and Corps and cannot make arrests or file reports, they are authorised to issue administrative complaints for traffic infractions.

By late July, the unit had drawn attention for actively issuing parking tickets in central areas like Calle Ramón Gallud. While sanctioned drivers reacted negatively to the strict enforcement — with the City Council levying 1.4 million euro in traffic fines annually in 2025 — bus and taxi drivers welcomed the measure for reducing double-parking and illegal obstruction at bus stops.

Officially assigned to manage and direct vehicular and pedestrian traffic, the unit allows the main Local Police force, currently consisting of around 170 officers, to focus on public safety and administrative duties. With the beginning of the school term, the mobility agents have shifted their focus to managing traffic flow around local schools.