No conflict in Soller toll protest but drivers fined

The demonstration, consisting of two lines of cars which drove through the tunnel without paying, causing serious delays in the meantime, had been planned to coincide with similar protests taking place elsewhere in the country. There is a growing body of support nationwide for organisations which are claiming there should be no need to go on paying for the use of tunnels and motorways once the construction has been paid for.

In Soller, two lines of cars set out at around 12.30pm, one from Soller and another from Bunyola, heading for the tunnel where the Guardia Civil confirmed that the caravan caused about an hour's delay.

The staff of the tunnel management company told drivers who were supporting Majorca lliure de peatges that they could go through the tunnel but if they refused to pay, their car number plates would be photographed and the Guardia Civil informed. The fine would amount to 100 euros for failure to acknowledge the toll paying zone. The majority of drivers from Bunyola and Soller, seeing that the Guardia Civil were stopping further traffic from entering the tunnel to prevent the interior from becoming jammed, nevertheless made an “about turn” once they could see that their objective had been achieved.

No Guardia Civil officers however, interfered in the protest. A spokesman said: “There were no incidents or conflict. The delays were caused only by staff warning drivers and photographing the number plates.”