The Barcelona Urban Police has used its official Twitter account to report on the location and punishment of a truck driver who was traveling along La Ronda Litoral with the rear license plate not visible.
According to the tweet, the driver would have implemented a homemade system to hide the license plate, presumably with the aim of evading control measures in the low emissions zone.
The publication, which initially wanted to highlight the work of the Guàrdia Urbana in compliance with traffic and environmental regulations, has generated an unexpected response from Twitter users. Instead of expressing support for the authorities for ensuring compliance with the law, numerous comments show support for the sanctioned driver.
Some of the comments suggest that the driver could be facing financial difficulties and that driving restrictions in low emission zones could negatively affect his ability to earn a living. Others argue that stricter measures could be counterproductive, also pointing out the comparison between the pollution of a truck like the one in the photo and that of the ships that arrive at the port of Barcelona.
A tone of sympathy and support toward the sanctioned driver is evident in several comments, calling him a “hero” and expressing solidarity with his situation. Some comments even suggest that authorities should focus on more pressing issues rather than imposing these types of sanctions on self-employed drivers.
The unusual reaction from the community on Twitter highlights the complexity of the debates around environmental measures and their impact on the lives of citizens.
While the Urban Police seeks to guarantee compliance with the regulations, the response on social networks reflects the concerns and diverse opinions of the population about this type of measures and their application.