What the photographer describes
Atlántico Hoy reports that professional photographer Bogdan Gorbay, who lives and works in Tenerife, clashed with attendants at a free car park near Loro Parque before his visit. When he returned, the men had gone, but his car had been damaged. The paper’s standfirst says two people threatened him because he would not pay. All of this is his account. The authorities have not publicly named any suspect, and no arrests have been reported. The paper does not give the car park’s name or say who owns it. Other users write under the video that this has been going on “for years”. So far, only Atlántico Hoy has reported the case.
What the town hall says and what remains open
The council told Atlántico Hoy: “Tanto el Ayuntamiento como la Policía Local del municipio estamos actuando ante este caso con el objetivo de solucionarlo lo antes posible.” It said security measures have been reinforced and that “vigilancia y rastreo” (surveillance and tracking) is under way in the affected areas. It added that the problem is not limited to Puerto de la Cruz but occurs in several places across Tenerife. How many patrols are deployed, and whether signs have gone up or fines have been issued, has not been published. As of 21 September, puertodelacruz.es had no press release on the matter. Atlántico Hoy describes the “gorrillas” as people with little money who ask for a voluntary tip.
What the town bylaw prohibits
The Ordenanza Municipal reguladora de la Convivencia Ciudadana is clear. Article 34.3 expressly bans “el ofrecimiento del servicio de aparcacoches o de vigilancia ocasional de los vehículos en los espacios públicos”, meaning offering to guide drivers into spaces or to watch vehicles in public areas. Under Article 35.2 this is a serious offence, with a fine of 750.01 to 1,500 euros. Article 3.2 expressly includes municipally owned “aparcamientos” in the bylaw’s scope. However, Article 36.2 says that officers should first inform and mediate, and only repeat offences become more costly. Officers may provisionally seize the takings, and Article 36.1 refers people to help from social services. The bylaw only targets offering the service, so drivers who pay are not breaking it.
When criminal law applies
Asking for money is not a crime. Damaging someone else’s car is. That counts as criminal damage under Article 263 of the Spanish Criminal Code and carries a fine of six to 24 months’ day-fines, or one to three months where the damage does not exceed 400 euros. Forcing someone to do something by violence may amount to coercion (coacciones, Article 172), and threats are covered by Articles 169 to 171. Whether a specific case meets these definitions is for a court to decide, not a video. The national public-safety law (Ley Orgánica 4/2015) has no specific provision on parking attendants, so in Puerto de la Cruz the main legal basis is the town bylaw.
The alternatives: the park’s own car park and the free train
Loro Parque’s FAQ states: “Tenemos parking propio a disposición de nuestros clientes por 7€ al día.” Spaces cannot be booked in advance. If you come without a car, the park’s free train leaves Plaza de los Reyes Católicos in the town centre every 20 minutes. The website gives two different start times: the FAQ says “a partir de las 9:00”, while the visit-planning page says 9.30am. According to the visit-planning page, the last train leaves the centre at 4.30pm and the last return from the park is at 5.30pm. The park is open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm.