The 2025 annual report by the Girona Citizen Ombudsman, presented in an extraordinary plenary session, has revealed a concerning recurrence of fraudulent use of cards intended for people with reduced mobility. This practice, which includes the use of cards belonging to deceased individuals, causes significant harm to those who rely on these authorizations to park in reserved spaces within the city.

In response to this situation, the ombudsman has proposed several measures to improve the system. These include the need to change the control over the validity and ownership of the cards, as well as establishing effective mechanisms to facilitate the exchange of updated information between the involved administrations. The goal is to ensure that data is as accurate and current as possible.

The report also includes a specific case of disagreement over a sanction related to the fraudulent use of a card. The ombudsman explains that these types of authorizations constantly generate problems, whether due to ignorance, carelessness, or, in some cases, bad faith. Furthermore, she points out the difficulty in controlling actual use in situations where the cardholder is not the driver, as the card is only valid if the holder is inside the vehicle.

In one of the analyzed cases, two fines were imposed: one for 200 euros for incorrect parking and another for 301 euros for the fraudulent use of the card. The ombudsman noted that, in this particular situation, there had been no malicious intent or profit motive. The municipal ordinance sets fines of 200 euros for unauthorized parking in reserved areas, while fraudulent use, regulated by another law, carries penalties ranging from 301 to 6,000 euros. According to City Council data, 921 fines were issued in 2024 for improper parking in these spaces.