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ARCHIVED - Torrevieja to introduce hefty fines for begging and drinking in the street
Behaviour such as spitting, throwing firecrackers and playing ball in public squares also look set to be banned in the Vega Baja town
Torrevieja Council is cracking down on "anti-social" behaviour and plans to fine "offenders" up to 1,500 euros for "organised" begging, drinking in the street, spitting and urinating in public.
The new Municipal Ordinance on Citizen Coexistence in Public Spaces, expected to be in force by April, also prohibits throwing noisy firecrackers, the bane of many lives, and playing ball or using skateboards in public squares "if it causes a nuisance or is disrespectful".
In addition, the document, which was approved in plenary this week, includes a ban on harassment or bullying of minors in public spaces, in particular "acts of aggression carried out by groups of people".
Furthermore, the ordinance prohibits organised games/challenges in public spaces that involve betting with money or goods.
According to the Town Hall, the measures against begging is designed to safeguard "the right of citizens to move around the municipality without being disturbed against their will, the free movement of people, the protection of minors, and the correct use of roads and public spaces".
In particular, it aims to target "insistent, intrusive or aggressive begging", as well as "organised, direct or disguised begging in the form of unsolicited small services", such as cleaning windscreens at traffic lights.
And the ban seeks to protect children from being "lured into carrying out this sort of activity".
However, there are exceptions, and in the case of socially motivated begging, police will contact social services to try to offer support.
Organised begging is a problem in the centre of Torrevieja, in Calle Ramón Gallud and surrounding streets and pedestrian areas, as is street drinking.
"To prevent street binge drinking, the Town Hall, in addition to applying the measures already provided for in regional and state legislation, prohibits the supply of alcoholic beverages through the increasingly popular 24-hour vending machines in facilities open to the public," added the local authority.
Vending machines selling alcohol are actually only allowed to be located in places where they can be controlled to prevent under 18s buying booze, and are therefore banned in parks and public roads and streets.
In addition to regulating behaviour, the coexistence ordinance devotes an entire chapter to the relationship between police and the public, and the council will penalise "any lack of respect and consideration for the Local Police in the line of their duties" when such conduct does not constitute a crime.
And similar to the regulation on the bullying of minors, the council will sanction "discriminatory practices of xenophobic, racist, sexist, homophobic or any other personal, economic or social condition or circumstance, especially when aimed at the most vulnerable groups".
The ordinance will go through another plenary session for debate and is expected to be in force by April.
Image: Archive
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