Tourist becomes the first person in Majorca to be fined for buying goods from an illegal street vendor
- The shocked holidaymaker was spotted making the illegal purchase by police
- They were fined 100 euros (£90) and told they must pay it before leaving island
- The incident happened in Palma, where illegal vendors flood the city’s streets
A tourist has become the first person in Majorca to be fined for buying goods from an illegal street vendor.
The shocked holidaymaker was handed a penalty notice for 100 euros (£90) after being spotted by police making the purchase.
They were told by officers that they would have to pay the fine before they leave the island.
A tourist has become the first person in Majorca to be fined for buying goods from an illegal street vendor. The transaction took place on the island’s capital of Palma, pictured
The product the tourist bought hasn’t been specified but it is likely to have been a pair of sunglasses, a lighter, a hat or a handbag.
The incident happened in Palma, the capital of Majorca, where illegal vendors flood the streets. The local council insists vendors are also being being fined or moved on.
The tourist, described as ‘foreign’, could have been fined up to 750 euros but police decided that because this was the first fine of its kind, it should be at the lowest level.
Eventually, Palma Council intends to employ an outside firm to collect fines on the spot.
Their powers are likely to include being able frogmarch tourists to the nearest cash machine so they can pay fines.
Officials say warning signs are to be put up to explain the penalties as part of tough new rules introduced in April to stamp out so-called ‘uncivic behaviour’.
Police have also reportedly been patrolling Palma, disguised as tourists, to spot possible infringements and these controls are to continue throughout the summer.
Police have reportedly been patrolling Palma, disguised as tourists, to spot possible infringements. Pictured is Palma’s main square
A police spokesman told local media that the intention was not to indirectly collect tax but to warn tourists ‘not to conduct unauthorised sales of street products as it is not safe and you do not know where the money goes’.
As well as sanctioning street-vending customers, there will also be fines for people taking part in balconing – the act of jumping between hotel balconies or from a hotel balcony into a swimming pool.
Fines will also be issued to those who bother others with the use of bicycles and scooters and to vendors who sell alcohol between midnight and 8am if it is to be consumed on public roads.