Telegraph: 'Traffic police in Portugal targeting tourists

**bb1** Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:07 pm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/9494660/Traffic-police-in-Portugal-targeting-tourists.html

Traffic police in Portugal 'targeting' tourists

British motorists visiting Portugal have been warned to expect little leniency from the country’s traffic police, with seemingly trivial offences attracting large fines.

By Rayner Otter1:19PM BST 23 Aug 2012

Earlier this year Portuguese media reported that the country’s National Republican Guard (GNR), which enforces motoring laws, had been told to increase their annual revenue from traffic fines, to help support the country’s ailing economy.
Offences such as parking against the flow of traffic, and driving while wearing flip-flops, have reportedly attracted fines in excess of €200 (£160), while the GNR has been accused of targeting overseas tourists in order to meet its targets.
One British resident of the Algarve, who asked to remain anonymous, was stopped by police while driving last month. Although her paperwork was in order, she claims that authorities were only pulling over foreign-registered cars, and says she saw an elderly British couple having their vehicle confiscated.
Another expat reported seeing several UK-registered cars clamped outside a supermarket in Albufeira, despite no sign prohibiting parking. He claimed that tourists were seen as a “soft target” as they tend to pay, and get on with their holiday, rather than contest the fines.

Meanwhile, a shopkeeper in Guia claimed that foreign motorists in the town had been targeted using a law that requires drivers carrying commercial loads to possess a document of ownership. Drivers had been fined, he said, after visiting a supermarket and then being unable to show police a receipt.
The Foreign Office warns that “fines for traffic offences are substantial in Portugal”. It adds that police will carry portable ATMs in their vehicles to facilitate immediate payment of on-the-spot fines.
A spokesman for the Automobile Club of Portugal said it was “struggling with the government” over the issue, adding that it was “certainly not good for tourism”.
Authorities in Portugal were criticised earlier this year following the introduction a controversial road toll on the Algarve’s main motorway, the A22.

**Sabot** Tue Sep 18, 2012 5:02 pm

Actually, and I hate to say this, but The Spanish and The French do this, and so do The Brit Police. But I find that in Britain it helps if you pretend you can't speak English.
Although I also have to say that none of them make a big deal of it.

But with The Portuguese Police making a general habit of targetting mainly British Tourists for all sorts of reasons, they aren't helping their Tourist Trade, which they seriously need.

Telegraph: 'Traffic police in Portugal targeting tourists

Telegraph: 'Traffic police in Portugal targeting tourists

Re: Telegraph: 'Traffic police in Portugal targeting tourists