72-year-old woman in Palma caught with alleged forged disabled parking permit

Driver in the old town caught with suspected forgery

In Palma's old town, the local police stopped a 72-year-old woman in mid-November after a seemingly forged blue ORA sticker was found behind the windshield. The car was parked directly in front of the busy Olivar Market in a loading zone – hardly the place where passers-by expect special consideration.

The notable detail: the scene nobody likes to see

Officers who were out that morning as part of a municipal control operation noticed the vehicle. When the driver returned, she immediately grabbed the card and tried to put it in the glove compartment. That made the police suspicious.

The woman claimed that the card belonged to the car, which she had previously bought in Germany. But the officers' closer inspection revealed inconsistencies: the print, serial numbers and official stamps did not appear authentic. Investigators then contacted the issuing authority named in Germany.

Background and response

Interestingly, this is not a new case: in 2021 there was already a report against the same woman because she was said to have parked with an expired card of a relative. At that time it was said that the supposed holder had long since died. In the current matter the German city named confirmed the suspicion: no corresponding document was registered there.

The 72-year-old was recorded as a suspect but was released after initial measures. The investigations were handed over to the judiciary; how long such proceedings take is something those in Palma know all too well.

Why this matters

These cases are more than just parking annoyances: forged permits take real parking spaces away from people who rely on close access. Incidents involving forged documents have been reported elsewhere, for example Fake Driver's Licenses in Palma: Fifth Case – An Isolated Incident or a System?. For traders, market visitors and residents it is a nuisance – for those affected often a real problem. The city has announced increased checks, especially around weekly markets and the narrow lanes of the old town.

By the way: anyone who spends time in Palma knows the small everyday frictions. Sometimes it's tight parking spaces, sometimes frustrating procedures at inspections. This time it was a piece of paper that caused a lot of trouble.

The incident occurred on November 18. The investigations are ongoing.