Local Policia in El Matorral - WARNING

[decho]

I went to look at BBQs today at the Ferreteria in El Motrorral.. When I came out the local bobby was booking me for apparently crossing a single white line. Admittedly I did cross the road to park outside the shop as there were other cars parked there and there was a very faint single white line down the middle of the road. But bear in mind this was in a back street in the town with nobody about, except for this old guy hiding round the corner trying to catch misguided tourists!

As I didn't have enough cash to pay the fine with me he insisted on going to the airport with me to get cash out the machine and pay the 100 Euro fine(this was discounted from 200 Euros if I paid on the spot). He didn't speak a word of English and as my Spanish is still virtually nought(I will learn though!)
After taking me back to my car, he then went into hiding and just as I left pounced on another unsuspecting tourist going into the shop trying to bring some wealth not the locally economy.
I will not shop there again which is a pity as this local shop has lost a significant order.

Welcome to Fuerteventura and  be warned if you go shopping in El Matorral!

[Ivemovedon]

No surprise there. Woes been warning about that for a while now.

Seems to me its a police force national pastime to be hiding behind or under something in Fuerteventura. If this sort of stuff doesn't convince you that all they are after is your wallet then nothing will. Its a joke... but i really hope the joke eventually ends up on them.

Its a wonder the shopkeeper never told him to 'F' off. It can't be doing his business any favours.

[Can the Man]

These 'On the Spot Fine' payable in cash and discounted by 50% make me wonder! whose coffers the money ends up in, did you get an official receipt deco ?

[IsThisForumStillGoingWow]

Cue for Spike to say "You naughty boy/girl decho, the police are only there to uphold the law, you broke the law and should therefore be fined" 

[lionfish]

Any spare uniforms knocking around? Could be a good way to finance the next holiday.

[Ivemovedon]

we don't need any more thanks. Theres enough of them as it is.

[dandare]

Well, if he doesn't hev, then I will

"You naughty boy/girl decho, the police are only there to uphold the law, you broke the law and should therefore be fined"

I obey the law, why shouldn't you ?

[Ivemovedon]

so you've never EVER broken the law then ?. never had a bald tyre, faulty brake light, or MOT unknowingly expired?

Well done mate you must be a perfect one amongst none. (Unless maybe you've just never been caught)

[PHo]

I thought they had recently banned cash payments for these fines, and now insist they are paid through the bank. You should always ask for an official receipt - this looks like a rogue copper to me.

[dandare]

Of course I've broken the law !
But I don't whinge and whine about it to all and sundry afterward; I pay the fine, kick myself for getting it wrong, and try not to do the same thing again in the future, which is what MOST of us do.
It's called life, eh.

[Paddster]

Maybe it's called a genuine mistake dandare.........

Not everyone's perfect,least of all me 

[Ivemovedon]

Of course I've broken the law !
But I don't whinge and whine about it to all and sundry afterward; I pay the fine, kick myself for getting it wrong, and try not to do the same thing again in the future, which is what MOST of us do.
It's called life, eh.

No its not called life. Its called a number of other things though, bad policing, corporate theft, targeting unwary tourists...take your pick. And the day we don't moan and just accept what they throw at us is the day we all end up in a lot bigger trouble than just getting done for crossing a white line.

[Spike On Q]

1) I was on holiday in Nottingham in August - parked near the city centre in a parking bay and paid my £1 for 10 minutes fee in a road side machine. Went and did some shopping and returned in good time. I had a ticket for "illegal parking". The warden was still around so I asked him what I had done wrong. He showed me a photo of the front wheel of my car sitting ON the white line of the bay, He said I was not fully in the bay - REFEREE!!!!! I'm considering my options when it comes to holidaying in the UK!

2) I was towed in Milan for parking illegally - it cost me 250.00 Euros to get my car back. I've not been back to Milan since

[woe10]

No surprise there. Woe's been warning about that for a while now.

I have warned about this. Park on the wrong side of the road by a solid white line, no matter how faded, and you have crossed it. No defence - Fine - End Of

[Ivemovedon]

1) I was on holiday in Nottingham in August - parked near the city centre in a parking bay and paid my £1 for 10 minutes fee in a road side machine. Went and did some shopping and returned in good time. I had a ticket for "illegal parking". The warden was still around so I asked him what I had done wrong. He showed me a photo of the front wheel of my car sitting ON the white line of the bay, He said I was not fully in the bay - REFEREE!!!!! I'm considering my options when it comes to holidaying in the UK!

2) I was towed in Milan for parking illegally - it cost me 250.00 Euros to get my car back. I've not been back to Milan since

tut tut you are a little tearaway

[decho]

Actually I don't really think I did 'whinge and whine'. I was simply posting a warning to other tourists(like the British family about to be booked just after me) who are new to the island and maybe dont know how some of the strict traffic laws are applied and the positioning of white lines, which is very different to that in the UK. After all this was a back street in a very quiet town with  no real reason I could see to have a single white line - I just don't think you would find this in the UK.

[waggy]

Thanks again, Decho: Nice to be forewarned. I'll keep it in mind next Wednesday as I leave the airport - YES!

[KWC]

Solid white lines I do know what they look like, but when you guys are getting fined for crossing them, do you mean the ones running up the middle of the road or side of the road or elswhere?

[woe10]

A solid white line up the middle of the road is the equivalent of Double Yellow lines in the UK. You're not allowed to cross it, even to park on the other side, stop next to one while you answer the phone, or do a U-Turn.

[KWC]

A solid white line up the middle of the road is the equivalent of Double Yellow lines in the UK. You're not allowed to cross it, even to park on the other side, stop next to one while you answer the phone, or do a U-Turn.

Ah thanks for that. Hope I remember this when next over 

[decho]

I've been reading up on driving regs in Spain and it said that 2 warning triangles and yellow jacket must be carried. I don't remember seeing these in my hire car from pluscar. Anyone else hired  from them and noticed this - I don't want another fine!

[Shetlander]

I've been reading up on driving regs in Spain and it said that 2 warning triangles and yellow jacket must be carried. I don't remember seeing these in my hire car from pluscar. Anyone else hired  from them and noticed this - I don't want another fine!

I've never hired from pluscar but they have always been there with CICAR.  When we were there last summer we definitely had them but I can't remember whether the jacket was in the car or whether I collected it from the desk.

I actually think that the jacket is a good idea and picked up a cheap family set from Tesco (I think) to keep in my car at home.

[isleswing]

I've learnt a lot from this thread.
I've always known the rules about Double White centre lines. Don't cross or cause any other vehicle to cross a solid line on your side. You can cross a broken line on your side though.
Same rules clearly apply in Fuerte.
As UK never seem to have single solid centre lines - maybe we do, but I don't recall seeing one, though no doubt someone will answer that - I never realised that thay work the same way.
But I had noticed the solid line becomes broken at opposite-side turnings. Obviously to allow crossing.
Never even noticed silid lines in built-up areas at all, so definitely something to be aware of.
Thanks


edit     I just looked up our Highway Code, and UK doesn't have solid single line, so British drivers wouldn't expect to understand the rules. BE CAREFUL

[woe10]

There's a solid white line down the road outside Inpescasa in Matorral. I parked the wrong way outside the door to the shop a couple of weeks ago, and some little kids told me to shift as the Policeman that patrols the school, was around the corner, and had been booking people all day. 

[Paddster]

There's a solid white line down the road outside Inpescasa in Matorral. I parked the wrong way outside the door to the shop a couple of weeks ago, and some little kids told me to shift as the Policeman that patrols the school, was around the corner, and had been booking people all day.

Bless the little buggers - hope you bought them sweets 

[decho]

There's a solid white line down the road outside Inpescasa in Matorral. I parked the wrong way outside the door to the shop a couple of weeks ago, and some little kids told me to shift as the Policeman that patrols the school, was around the corner, and had been booking people all day.

Bless the little buggers - hope you bought them sweets 

I hope you did't - he'd probably spring out from behind the sweet counter and arrest you for something much worse than a motoring offence!

[Paddster]

There's a solid white line down the road outside Inpescasa in Matorral. I parked the wrong way outside the door to the shop a couple of weeks ago, and some little kids told me to shift as the Policeman that patrols the school, was around the corner, and had been booking people all day.

Bless the little buggers - hope you bought them sweets 

I hope you did't - he'd probably spring out from behind the sweet counter and arrest you for something much worse than a motoring offence!

LOL - Love it 

[ANDMAG]

Hi Everyone,

Have you ever noticed the absence of the Local Corralejo Police when, mostly the local residents
Park on the pedestrian crossings,
Double park to go to the hole in the wall or to chat to a mate,
Park on the corners of side roads.
Park in the bus stop when going to the Spar and numerous other places where there is no parking allowed.
Park on the roundabout at the entrance to Tamaragua to pick up the school kids.

While we have the bin police hiding by the bus stop to fine you for dumping waste at the wrong time.

I also drive an invisible car, well it must be because the locals just ignore the STOP lines on junctions and just pull out in front of you on a regular basis.

Have I missed anything out?

[Ivemovedon]

yep a big one.

The tailgaters who drive 2 feet away from your rear bumper to try and get you to move faster.

[Paddster]

yep a big one.

The tailgaters who drive 2 feet away from your rear bumper to try and get you to move faster.

Good job i don't drive over there then - one would be stepping out of the car i'm afraid...