Since February, accessing the centre of Sóller without authorisation incurs a €200 fine. The number plate recognition cameras are now operational and penalise every unauthorised entry.
The Sóller Town Hall has launched its Low Emission Zone (ZBE) with an automatic surveillance system that has already begun issuing fines. The number plate recognition cameras installed at the entrances to the urban area register each vehicle and cross the data with the municipal register and the granted authorisations. Any driver not listed receives an automatic fine proposal of €200.
Restrictions for Non-Residents
The municipal ordinance, in effect since the beginning of the year, restricts circulation in the perimeter of the historic centre. Only three groups are allowed access: registered residents, vehicles with explicit authorisation, and 100% electric cars (Zero emissions label). Other drivers, including those with hybrid or diesel cars with an ECO label, are prohibited from entering.
The control does not require police presence. The cameras continuously read the number plates and, when they detect an unauthorised vehicle, generate the fine automatically. The fines are cumulative: if a driver enters twice without permission, they receive two fines of €200 each.
To organise traffic, the town hall has established a perimeter 'ring' that allows unauthorised vehicles to circle the centre without crossing the restricted streets. The main entrance to the urban area is via Cetre Street and the exit via Isabel II, using the path of Murterar.
Park-and-Ride Options
For visitors who do not meet the requirements, the safest option is to leave the car outside. The four park-and-ride facilities located on the Desvío road —known as 'el desviament'— are about a ten-minute walk from the centre and operate as a blue zone regulated by ORA. The council recommends checking the vertical signage and not entering the urban area without authorisation.
The municipal warning is clear: the cameras do not distinguish between a lapse of attention and voluntary access. Any entry is recorded, and if there is no permission, the fine arrives automatically. Parking in the park-and-ride facilities is the only way to avoid the penalty.
The €200 fine for entering the ZBE of Sóller without authorisation is cumulative and is activated with each unauthorised entry; the only way to avoid it is to leave the car in the park-and-ride facilities and walk ten minutes.
Exceptions and How to Appeal
The regulations include up to 28 exceptional cases, such as medical emergencies or justified needs. If a driver accesses for one of those reasons, they have five days afterwards to process the authorisation and halt the fine. After that period, the penalty proceeds.
Anyone receiving a notification who believes their access fits an exception must contact the town hall and provide the documentation to support it. Outside of those cases, the fine is processed with the usual early payment discount (50% if paid within the first twenty calendar days), although the base amount remains €200.
More ZBE in Mallorca
The activation of the ZBE in Sóller adds to that of Palma, which already has its own restricted perimeter and different rules. Both cities share the same common denominator for drivers: without an environmental label or permission, access to the urban core can cost €200. And with the cameras now operational, the likelihood of being caught is virtually total.
For those visiting the island, the lesson is clear: before approaching the centre of any municipality with a ZBE, it is advisable to check the restrictions, consult the park-and-ride options, and, in case of doubt, leave the car outside. The €200 fine is the same in Sóller as in other cities, and automatic surveillance leaves no room for error.
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