Barcelona is changing. We all know that: new places are opening, old ones are closing, and every now and then, the city’s “instruction manual” also needs to be revised. After twenty years with the same regulations, the City Council has decided that it was time to update the Coexistence Ordinance. The date marked on the calendar is February 15, which is when this new text will officially come into force, seeking to bring some order to the chaos that sometimes reigns in our streets.
It is not just a matter of prohibiting for the sake of prohibiting, but of adapting to a Barcelona that is nothing like the city of 2006. To get things started, from now until mid-February, you will see informants on the streets explaining the new rules in an educational manner. The goal is to ensure that no one is surprised by a fine for doing things that, until yesterday, may have gone unnoticed or carried a lesser penalty.
Alcohol, noise, and drinking routes in the spotlight
One of the areas the city council has focused on most is the consumption of alcohol in public places. Fines for drinking alcohol in front of minors or in areas with nighttime restrictions can be as high as €1,500. But the big news is the direct war on “drinking routes, “ those organized tours that go from bar to bar and often test the patience of neighbors. In areas with noise problems, such as Ciutat Vella or Gràcia, fines for noise and anti-social behavior can be as high as €3,000.
On the other hand, one of the most common complaints from Barcelona residents, urinating in the street, will also be punished more severely. Urinating in sensitive areas such as narrow streets or near entertainment districts could cost up to €750.
There’s more: walking around without a shirt (something often seen among tourists in the city center) will be fined up to €300, and “exhibitionism or disrespect” (insulting other people, masturbating in public, etc.) will be fined up to €600.
In addition, the law has become stricter with regard to unauthorized graffiti and tagging. Now , not only will the offender have to pay a fine, but they will also have to cover the costs of cleaning and repairing any damage caused.
Immediate collection of higher fines from tourists
There has also been a change in the collection of fines from tourists and foreigners. For some time now, the local police have had card machines to collect fines instantly at a reduced rate, but until now only the most minor penalties could be collected immediately.
With the update, serious fines with higher amounts can also be collected immediately. However, as always, the City Council has no control over fines that a tourist decides not to pay and to send to their country of origin.