Malaga city council has vowed to refund every fine paid under its low-emission zone scheme following a court ruling against its enforcement rules.

Finance councillor Carlos Conde announced on Monday that 49,652 penalty cases had been opened since December, with 13,694 fines paid.

Those payments total €1.38 million, which the council has pledged to return.

The council’s tax collection agency, Gestrisam, will handle the refunds automatically, without drivers having to submit a claim or challenge their penalty.

However, anyone who paid a fine must provide an IBAN identifying the bank account into which the refund should be paid.

This can be done through the form on the council’s official website.

Drivers can also provide their details in person at municipal customer service offices, known as OMACs, or at Gestrisam offices by appointment. Appointments can be requested via citaprevia@malaga.eu.

The channels opened on Monday so the council can prepare payments ahead of the judgment becoming final.

When will refunds begin?

Conde said that, provided no appeal is lodged, the ruling will become final on November 25.

Refunds would then begin and outstanding penalty cases would be cancelled. Until that point, unpaid cases are being provisionally suspended.

The council has confirmed it will not appeal, although Conde said it did not know whether Vox would do so.

Why are the fines being refunded?

The High Court of Justice of Andalucia partially upheld a challenge brought by Vox, finding fault with the scheme’s different treatment of vehicles registered in Malaga and those registered elsewhere.

The council subsequently sought clarification before announcing it would accept the judgment.

Cameras used to enforce the zone have already been switched off.

The ruling concerned the penalty arrangements, rather than striking down every aspect of the low-emission zone ordinance.

Conde denied that the scheme had been designed to raise revenue, while Vox claimed the refund announcement vindicated its legal challenge.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.