Fining frenzy
Minority of the population continue to flout the rules
Alicante led the way during the weekend confinement with 183 sanctions issued for trying to the leave or enter the municipality – while in Benidorm 79 people were fined for the same reason.
MORE than 4,000 people were issued with fines from Friday to Sunday in the Valencia region for breaking rules designed to halt the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The figures were released by state news agency EFE.
They reported that in Valencia province alone the security services started proceedings against 667 people for taking part in outdoor illegal drinking parties.
On Saturday the National Police issued 1,500 fines to people who had broken the confinement regulation for towns with more than 50,000 inhabitants, along with those who were not wearing face masks as well as other infractions.
In Alicante province, the city of Alicante led the way with 183 sanctions issued for trying to the leave or enter the municipality, with six of the offenders arrested – while in Benidorm 79 people were fined for the same reason.
Operations carried out over the weekend involved the coordination of four forces – the National Police, Guardia Civil, regional police and local police.
According to EFE, local police officers in the towns and cities which had been cordoned off issued 1,206 fines, which included 207 for ‘meetings’ not allowed under the regulations.
The regional government reminded that the borders of towns and cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants are closed from 15.00 on Fridays until 06.00 on Mondays, meaning people can only enter or leave for justified reasons.
The affected municipalities are Valencia, Alicante, Elche, Castellon de la Plana, Torrevieja, Torrent, Orihuela, Gandia, Paterna, Benidorm, Sagunto, Alcoy, San Vicente del Raspeig, EldaPetrer and Vila-real.
Border checks
Orihuela local police set up 53 checkpoints and is posting approximately 65 officers on duty at weekends to enforce the closure of the municipal borders, in coordination with the National Police and Guardia Civil. Between Friday and Sunday they filed a total of 130 reports for violating the border closure or breaking the curfew, reported security councillor Ramón López on Monday.
Among the most common excuses for violating the border closure was people from neighbouring municipalities visiting Orihuela to do their weekly shopping, said Sr López.
Like several other cities, Orihuela has asked the regional government to set up a speedier procedure for hiring extra local police officers, since they are constantly being asked to enforce more measures against Covid-19 without being able to neglect their usual duties, he noted.
On Sunday, Elche local police reported having issued 150 proposed fines and identified 1,200 vehicles during the weekend.
Security councillor Ramón Abad praised the public’s ‘high level of compliance’ with the border closure, as well as the assistance provided by the National Police and Guardia Civil, and Santa Pola and Alicante local police.
Most of the fines were for people trying to enter or leave the municipality from or towards Santa Pola or Alicante without proper justification.