Spain to slap €500 fines on drivers parking in these spaces – Here’s what’s changing

In Spain, parking in an area reserved for disabled people without authorization could soon be very expensive.

The government wants to send a clear message to inconsiderate drivers who continue to take up these spots – even when they don’t need them.

Fines to be increased by the government

Spain’s Congress of Deputies will debate a new initiative from the Socialist Party (PSOE) that aims to raise the fine from €200 to €500 for anyone parking illegally in a disabled space.

At present, this offence is considered “serious” under Spain’s traffic law and punished with a €200 fine (or €100 if paid early). The PSOE wants it reclassified as ‘very serious’, which would raise the fine to €500 – or €250 for early payment.

Socialist legislators claim that the existing penalties are simply not sufficient to deter repeat offenders. “Many people who have reduced mobility face great challenges in finding parking, not just because there aren’t enough adapted spaces available but also because they are misused by others,” explained the group.

Disability rights groups back the campaign

The proposal has the support of several organisations, including CERMI (Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities). The association has called for more severe penalties in order to protect the rights of disabled people and their mobility.

CERMI says that this change will discourage disrespectful behavior, and increase awareness of accessibility rights. They have said in the past that it’s not just about a penalty, but also about respect and dignity.

PSOE representatives also emphasized that the measure is a response to requests made by social organizations who want to see real penalties for selfish parking habits. They said that it was time to make the penalties reflect the severity of the behavior.

After months of silence, a renewed push is underway

The Socialists are not the first to bring up this idea. This proposal is a revival of an amendment that was first proposed in May 2024, as part a larger traffic reform bill. That earlier draft also covered lower drink-driving limits and a ban on alerting other drivers about police checkpoints – but it stalled after more than 30 amendments blocked its progress.

PSOE legislators are now bringing back the debate in the hope of finally pushing the measure through the Parliament. If approved, the new law would officially raise fines to €500 and reclassify parking in disabled spaces as a “very serious offence”.

The move could mark a turning point for accessibility enforcement in Spain – a step that disability advocates say is long overdue.