Barcelona City Council is strengthening its legal defences to combat unpaid traffic fines, launching a public tender for a new service contract to provide legal and administrative support. The move comes as the current municipal contract for similar work is due to end on 22nd December 2026. The council described the existing arrangement as "very useful" over the past four years in maintaining efficiency despite staff losses. Under the new contract, the council aims to ensure immediate availability of personnel amid anticipated retirements of up to four lawyers within the next four years.

Contract Details and Costs

The new service will cost 110,000 euros to cover 2027 and 2028, with the possibility of annual extensions up to 2030, raising the total cost to 242,000 euros. The contract will be awarded to a contractor able to provide both legal and administrative resources. According to the technical specifications, the contractor must assign a lawyer with at least three years of experience in judicial proceedings related to traffic fines and their non-payment. An administrative officer will also be required to handle permanent office tasks, including invoicing, document management, and telephone and online customer service.

Scope of Work

The successful bidder will be responsible for issuing reports, legal opinions, and providing other assistance and defence services to the City Council in judicial proceedings arising from traffic sanctions. This includes defending the city's interests in administrative lawsuits linked to traffic violations.

The council faces a growing workload in this area. Administrative lawsuits related to traffic matters have increased by nearly 29% since the start of the pandemic up to 2025. In the first five months of 2026 alone, 523 new procedures were opened, with 13.96% stemming from traffic sanctions. The increased volume underscores the need for sustained legal capacity, particularly as internal staffing levels are expected to decline. The new contract is designed to bridge this gap and ensure the city can continue to pursue unpaid fines effectively.

Sources: Metrópoli Abierta (CA), Metrópoli.