A court ruling in Castellón has once again stirred the city’s political scene: now, not only is the reputation of a key official in question, but also public trust in the local administration. At the center of attention is the official responsible for urban mobility, who has become embroiled in a scandal over the non-payment of numerous parking fines. The situation could impact perceptions of transparency and fairness in the municipality’s work.
A panel of judges has ordered the reopening of the investigation into Cristian Ramírez, who oversees mobility issues in Castellón. The reason is 134 unpaid fines for parking in the ORA zone, which the court suspects may have been annulled for non-random reasons. The appeal filed by the Socialists was granted, and now authorities must determine whether there was any abuse of office.
Essence of the accusations
Case files show that from January 2023 to January 2024, the car used by Ramírez received 167 fines for improper parking. Of these, only 33 were paid on time via parking meters. The remaining 134 penalties went unpaid and were ultimately classified as overdue. The court noted that such a large-scale cancellation of fines for the very official overseeing the parking system appears suspicious.
The court’s decision emphasizes that Ramírez’s status as head of the mobility service and the ORA zone makes this situation particularly significant. The judges pointed to sufficient indications of possible misconduct, given his public role and direct responsibility for the department that issued these fines.
Opposition response
Opposition parties, primarily the Socialists, insist on Ramírez’s immediate resignation or his dismissal by the city’s mayor. In their view, it is impossible to manage the city’s mobility while under investigation in a case concerning the personal use of official authority. Socialist representatives stress that this is not a random mistake, but a systemic issue that requires thorough investigation.
For their part, the Compromís party is also demanding immediate action from Mayor Begoña Carrasco, who has not yet commented on the situation. According to the opposition, Ramírez’s continued presence in office undermines trust in the city administration and creates a dangerous precedent.
Position of the accused
At the city council meeting, Cristian Ramírez himself acknowledged the existence of the fines and stated that he had paid some of them, without specifying the exact number or amount. He compared the situation to forgetfulness, such as failing to turn on a bicycle light or missing a vehicle inspection. Nevertheless, Ramírez categorically denies using his position to avoid responsibility or committing any offense.
However, as the socialists point out, the police investigation revealed that most fines were not paid at all, but simply disappeared from the system due to the statute of limitations. While ordinary residents face wage garnishment for similar violations, in the case of the official, no sanctions followed, and even the notifications for fines were not sent out in 125 instances just in 2023.
Consequences for the city
The scandal over unpaid fines and possible abuse of power has already sparked public debate. Residents are questioning how fair and transparent the penalty enforcement system really is, if there are one set of rules for some and entirely different ones for others. Authorities have so far refrained from commenting, while the opposition continues to insist on personnel changes.
In the near future, the court will require the city court to conduct additional investigative actions to determine whether a crime actually took place. If the suspicions are confirmed, the consequences could be very serious not only for Ramírez himself, but for the entire city administration.
