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Barcelona expands its legal defence in response to the rise in lawsuits over fines
In the first five months of 2026, the City Council faced 523 legal proceedings, with almost 14% related to traffic penalties. It is now seeking legal support to handle these cases.
Of the 523 legal proceedings accumulated by the Ayuntamiento de Barcelona between January and May 2026, 13.96% were related to traffic fines. The workload comes as the number of administrative disputes open at the same time has increased by almost 29% from the start of the pandemic to 2025.
A €110,000 contract for two years
The council has put out to tender a legal defence service for €110,000 for 2027 and 2028. The agreement allows for annual extensions until 2030; if exercised, the total cost would reach €242,000.
Specialised lawyer and administrative support
The successful company must provide a lawyer with at least three years of specialised experience in legal proceedings against traffic fines and for non-payment of these penalties. It must also guarantee permanent administrative support in the office.
This role will cover invoicing and document management, as well as telephone and online assistance. The service includes the preparation of reports and legal opinions, along with other tasks supporting and defending the municipality in legal proceedings arising from traffic sanctions.
The current contract ends on 22 December
The current agreement ends on 22 December. The Ayuntamiento de Barcelona considers that over the past four years it has been "very useful" in compensating for the loss of staff and maintaining efficiency in this work.
The municipal forecast that up to four lawyers will retire over the next four years adds pressure to the team. The new contract would allow for immediate staffing to provide the service.