Capdepera.The town council in Capdepera has now made sure that it is entitled to fine foreign visitors to the municipality if tourists abuse local bylaws by drinking in the street.
New legislation approved at the last full plenary session closed a loophole in a similar bylaw which had been passed in 2008. However, the ruling put in place four years ago didn't take account of the behaviour of tourists, so although residents could be fined for street drinking, visitors could not.
Tax Councillor Sebastià Sureda said that if the behaviour of tourists in Capdepera infringes on the right of residents to live peacefully and go about their lawful business, police officers are authorised to inform perpetrators that they are infringing bylaws on the spot. Two days will be allowed for formal charges to be brought and then the fine has to be paid within a day.
Sureda explained that in essence, there is little difference between the law passed in 2008 and the most recent legislation but technical difficulties regarding imposing fines on people who are not resident on the island had proved insurmountable at the time.
In fact one of the organisations which has complained year after year over the unacceptable behaviour of some groups of foreigners is the Cala Rajada Hotel Association. Members had wanted unruly foreigners brought to heel for the sake of the majority of peace-loving clients.
No comments
To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in
Currently there are no comments.