Had almost 3 weeks on the island and not one road block or police stop and check the whole time. Very noticable there were far fewer police cars on the roads but just enough to make their presence felt. Have to say i noticed it on my last visit so maybe they have learnt its not a good idea to harass motorists that are trying to enjoy a holiday. Obviously they have to police the roads for drinking and speeding etc but the continual search for minor misdemeaners and resultant exhorbitant fines looks to be a thing of the past. Another big plus for the island in my opinion
Or have i just been exceptionally lucky?
In 10 years of visits I can't say I've ever had a problem. The only time the police have ever paid me any attention was when a crew deliberately waited for me to pass at Aguas Verdes and then followed me out to the main road. Even then they lost interest and disappeared.
Maybe I'm lucky too, or my driving style doesn't attract attention. Touch wood for next month anyway.
Yep not seen many myself not even a speed trap in their favourite haunt,behind the bus stop just before the turn off to Vallebron on the FV 10
perhaps they've all been demoted from traffico to tamaragua bin duty. ;)
Duncolm yep i reckon you've been lucky as up till not so long ago the island was definately over policed on the roads. I was never sure how with Spain being in economic trouble they could afford all the local policia and guardia vehicles that were whizzing about going who knows where.
We noticed the same thing in July, during two weeks we didn't see any by Macca D's (which is unusual) the only ones we saw were opposite Oasis park...
I would agree, had two visits this year and the Guardia were almost as rare on the roads as the UK ones. That said I would`nt expect that they have got rid of or parked up their scruffy umarked speed camera vehicles though..Always expect the unexpected... 8)
The number of Guardia and Policia National have been reduced hugely over the last few years, especially on the mainland, although Correlejo was a training base for the Guardia but not sure if it still is..Hence the very large building for a relatively small town..
It seemed to hit a peak a few years back when on a visit there we hit our first roadblock 20 minutes out of the airport at La Oliva. We were waved on through. On same visit on the short drive from Lajares to Corralejo we hit two road blocks, one we were pulled up at and documents produced the other waved through. When we hit corralejo we saw a load of guardia rousting some morrocan looking youths from one of the arcades near the music square. It all felt too much and way over the top. When you are a careful and law abiding driver you don't need the constant threat of police intervention every time you get in your car.Its a real turn off for anyone looking for a pleasant touring holiday.
A training base for traffic police would explain it. Maybe its Lanzarotes turn.
15 Years and not had any issues with the police. Even being waved through or ignored on a good few road blocks.
Maybe its because they can see I have my Flouro flack jacket on, two pairs of specs on and my documents sitting on the dashboard. Works every time lol ;)
They were all over the Horizonte roundabout late Friday night, and Matorral roundabout Saturday night, stopping and breathalyzing every driver.
Apparently not to long back they had a speed trap near El Roque it caught over a thousand in a week or so ,thats off someone who lives in Lajares so they are still around ,maybe they have made their bonuses from this for the summer ;D ;D ;D
Not last week ,but the week before,we drove from Costa Antigua to Antigua,think its the FV-413 and there was a speed trap along there...two had been caught as we drove past ;) It was the silver car,that I have heard talk of ;D
Quote from: Red Russki of the Rovers on September 21, 2015, 16:18:48 PM
Apparently not to long back they had a speed trap near El Roque it caught over a thousand in a week or so ,thats off someone who lives in Lajares so they are still around ,maybe they have made their bonuses from this for the summer ;D ;D ;D
Looks like they are still needed out by El Roque - there was a bad smash there a week or 2 ago, a head on collision in which a driver was killed :(
Going through La Oliva from the direction of Lajares a friend of ours was driving and was flagged down by the guardia and handed a speeding fine of 100 euros for doing 62k in the 50k zone.His fault I know but quite a fine.This was reduced to â,¬50 on payment within 10 days.
There have been less guardia about because they have been on holiday too but they are back out there again.
Quote from: TamaraEnLaPlaya on September 22, 2015, 00:24:46 AM
Quote from: Red Russki of the Rovers on September 21, 2015, 16:18:48 PM
Apparently not to long back they had a speed trap near El Roque it caught over a thousand in a week or so ,thats off someone who lives in Lajares so they are still around ,maybe they have made their bonuses from this for the summer ;D ;D ;D
Looks like they are still needed out by El Roque - there was a bad smash there a week or 2 ago, a head on collision in which a driver was killed :(
Tamara I was there it was not very nice There was an article in la provincial
Quote from: TamaraEnLaPlaya on September 22, 2015, 00:24:46 AM
Looks like they are still needed out by El Roque - there was a bad smash there a week or 2 ago, a head on collision in which a driver was killed :(
Ah, was that the outcome? I was afraid of that :(.
Head on smash in El Roque?. You can see about 2 miles ahead either way as the road is so straight. can only have been drink driving as that stretch of road through the village goes down to 50 kph which if adhered to is almost walking pace. If you can have a head on there you could have one anywhere.
On the mainland I saw
One roadblock to collect drunken teenagers leaving a club. So you had them all walking down the street instead of driving.
One roadblock that seemed to me terror related. That week they arrested a few.
OTOH if you aren't doing anything wrong what's the problem. You pull over and have a chat. I can often use the rest 8)
i'd say thats the whole problem. if you aren't doing anything wrong you don't want to be pulled over. I can see the attraction of a mid journey chat if you have an abundance of time on your hands but i would say most of us could do without a roadside natter with the local plod when we have somewhere to go. I'm sure there are times when a road block is necessary but not having anything else to do is not a valid reason in my humble opinion.
Quote from: Holierthanthou on September 25, 2015, 21:19:21 PM
Head on smash in El Roque?. You can see about 2 miles ahead either way as the road is so straight. can only have been drink driving as that stretch of road through the village goes down to 50 kph which if adhered to is almost walking pace. If you can have a head on there you could have one anywhere.
We've seen it a hundred times. A line of traffic, and the driver behind you ( usually Spanish, and 2 feet away ) just has to be in front. They overtake, and there's no space to get back in. The driver who was killed in this case was Columbian.
I once saw a girl at Parque Hollandese, overtake straight into a truck carrying a ship's container. Not a pretty sight.
In my experience a very high percentage of tailgaters are young women. I often check it out when looking in the rear view mirror.
not being sexist here before i'm jumped on. Its just an observation.
Or in my case, this week, a TUI bus. I guess late for the airport. Had a number 77 in the front window if the TUI management doesn't fancy wiping out 60-odd tourists.
yeh but was it a woman driver :D