The Spanish city of Valencia has introduced a wave of strict new rules targeting anti-social behaviour, with fines reaching as high as €3,000 (£2,500) for the most serious offences.
The measures are aimed at curbing littering, rowdy pre-wedding celebrations and other disruptive behaviour in the popular tourist destination.
New rules and penalties
Visitors caught dropping litter, chewing gum, cigarette butts or paper, or failing to clear up pet excrement, face fines ranging up to €1,500 (£1,250). More serious offences, such as spitting or urinating in public spaces, carry penalties climbing as high as €3,000 (£2,500).
To combat congestion, tourist cycling and e-scooter groups are now capped at a maximum of 10 people, down from the previous limit of 15. Larger groups must split up and maintain a distance of at least 50 metres from one another.
Official response
Innovation and tourism minister Paula Llobret said: "We want Valencia to remain a city where tourist mobility is compatible with the day-to-day life of those who live here."
Llobret added that the objective was "not to limit tourism", but to "better manage its activities and ensure that we can all share the streets in appropriate conditions".
The city council is also launching a "responsible cyclist" campaign in conjunction with Visit Valencia, including a ten-point code of good practice for anyone getting around the city by bike.
Stag and hen party restrictions
The latest crackdown builds on new rules proposed this year targeting rowdy stag and hen parties. Under the proposals, groups participating in such celebrations on public streets between 10:00 PM and 8:00 PM (Sunday to Friday, and until 9:30 AM on Saturdays) would face fines ranging from €750 to €1,500 (£625 to £1,250), unless the event has been officially authorised by the council.
Wearing items that represent human genitalia or carrying inflatable dolls and other explicit sexual props through public spaces would result in fines of up to €750 (£625). The proposal would make Valencia the first Spanish municipality to explicitly target hen and stag parties with a specific regulation.
This comes as Benidorm, part of the greater region of Valencia, banned two-seater mobility scooters in October as part of a campaign to crack down on accidents and rowdy behaviour. Tenerife recently introduced a £2,500 fine for camping, overnight stays, littering, smoking and playing loud music on beaches.
Last year Spain introduced stricter drink-driving laws, with a universal alcohol limit of 0.2g per litre in the blood or 0.1mg per litre in breath. Mallorca has also set new requirements for tourists, including a compromise on walking tours to a maximum of 35 people per group, and a ban on tour guides using loudspeakers or megaphones in public areas.
