Tourists visiting Majorca are being warned of hefty fines following the introduction of new tougher penalties for bad behavior or failure to follow civic rules in its biggest holiday hotspots.
The mayor of the island’s capital, Palma, says one of his main goals is to “correct uncivil attitudes,” and that applies to vacationers and locals alike.
Jaime Martínez says the new civic ordinance could result in fines of up to €3,000, depending on the severity of the offense. The new rules are expected to come into force in a few months.
The new rules include banning drinks in public places, graffiti, scooters and even nudism and semi-nudism.
This new ordinance toughens sanctions against activities that damage or dirty the city’s public spaces.
Tourists visiting Majorca are being warned of a hefty €3,000 fine following the introduction of new tougher penalties for bad behavior.
A drunken tourism decree was adopted in early 2020 for certain areas such as Magaluf in Mallorca and the West End of San Antonio in neighboring Ibiza.
According to the mayor, the current ordinance is too “lax” and requires increased penalties to promote one of the main goals of his mandate: “Correcting uncivil attitudes.”
It comes after he told leisure industry bosses at Berlin’s ITB tourism fair earlier this month that he and his administration were working to end “rampant” irresponsible tourism on the island.
According to the ordinance, if the consumption of alcohol on public roads disrupts coexistence, leads to crowds or deteriorates the tranquility of the environment, among other situations, the offense will be considered serious.
Breaking this rule will cost you between 750 and 1,500 euros. If this is considered very serious, the fine can range from 1,500 to 3,000 euros.
On this subject, the mayor highlighted that there are identified areas where “we must act with a greater presence”, such as Santa Catalina, Palma beach or Paseo Marítimo.
The amount of offenses for graffiti or slogans will be increased from €100 to €750 up to fines of €1,500 to €3,000.
In the case of minors who commit acts of vandalism by graffiti, the mayor explained that parents will be held responsible and will have to ensure the payment of penalties and cover the costs of removal by the town hall.
Regarding banners, posters and advertising brochures, their placement in buildings or municipal installations, in public spaces and on street furniture is prohibited. Thus, the sanctions will range from €750 to €1,500.
Likewise, placement on monuments, listed buildings or on road signs making them difficult to see will result in a serious offense, which can range from €1,500 to €3,000.
The civil ordinance prohibits gambling and the offering of games involving bets or money, acts which will be considered serious offenses ranging from €750 to €1,500.
Proposing trile (shell) games will result in a very serious offense of €1,500 to €3,000.
Among other fines related to cleaning, defecating, urinating or spitting in public spaces and street furniture will be penalized from €1,500 to €3,000.
Likewise, the civil ordinance affects other aspects such as attacks on the dignity of people, visual degradation of the urban environment, inappropriate use of public space for games, regulates the use and parking of motorhomes, excrement of domestic animals, prohibits street trading. , nudism and semi-nudism, and regulates terraces and cleaning.
Concerning scooters, VMPs and skateboards, the exception for the circulation of bicycles and scooters in pedestrian streets between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. is removed.
Owners of electric scooters will be required to have third party liability insurance from June, and on roads where the vehicles are permitted the minimum age to ride them will be 15.
Reflective vests will be mandatory and the use of phones and headphones while driving will be prohibited. The maximum fine for failing to comply with this rule will cost you €1,500.
As for minor infractions, such as driving with headphones or crossing urban tunnels and level crossings, among others, the fines will vary from 300 to 750 euros, while currently they are 100 to 750 euros.
“It is a very broad and comprehensive ordinance which has a very clear objective, to correct uncivil attitudes which alter coexistence, which attack heritage, urban furniture and, in short, against what belongs to each and which we all have. the duty to take care of,” said the mayor.
“The only objective is to make Palma a safer city, but also a more civic one.”
A drunken tourism decree was adopted in early 2020 for certain areas such as Magaluf in Mallorca and the West End of San Antonio in neighboring Ibiza.
It included fines of up to £50,000 for holidaymakers caught jumping from their hotel balconies and limits on the amount of alcohol served with meals at all-inclusive hotels.