Holidaymakers and residents in Majorca are being slapped with fines up to £642 for buying from illegal street vendors under a new crackdown. Palma Police have swung into action, enforcing the city’s latest ordinance that came into effect on May 26, by dishing out the initial fines to those caught purchasing goods from unlicensed sellers. The Spanish holiday hotspot is notorious for counterfeit sunglasses and knock-off handbags.
Year after year, scores of tourists are tempted by street sellers with drinks, snacks, and counterfeit designer clothes and accessories, but now they must tread carefully as such dealings could lead to hefty fines or even arrests. Despite the illegality, the police have historically struggled to stamp out this black-market trade.
The Litoral district police, responsible for the coastal area from Can Pere Antoni beach to Arenal, are ramping up their campaign to put an end to these so-called bargains.
In one recent case, Palma Police seized eleven pairs of fake sunglasses from an illegal seller who was promptly fined.
The buyer was also penalised for “making a purchase from an unlicensed street vendor on the public way”, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reports.
This enforcement drive means that purchasers can face fines ranging from £85 to £642, while vendors could be hit with even heftier penalties from £642 to £1,281.
However, despite the issuance of fines to sellers, many remain unpaid due to the lack of a registered address to send the fine notice to.
Regulations against purchasing from illegal vendors have been in place since 2018, with most of the bylaws established on May 26 simply updating existing rules.
To educate both locals and tourists, the town hall has launched an awareness campaign warning about the dangers of buying goods from unlicensed sellers.
Authorities emphasise that such trade harms legitimate businesses and could result in a hefty fine for the buyer.
This suggests that Britons planning a holiday to the Mediterranean country might want to brush up on Spanish laws before visiting the popular tourist hotspot to avoid any potential issues.