Parking Ticket from Portugal

highmorale

Hi there,

I have recently received a parking fine notice from Portugal (Tavria) where I spent a vacation last year (June 2012), sent to my home UK address, where I am resident.

It looks like Tavria authorities have obtained my details (including passport number which is shown on the notice) from the car rental company I used to hire a vehicle.

The entire notice is naturally written in Portuguese so frankly I'm very confused by the whole thing.

At the top of the notice it states...

SANCOES: Coima: Euro 30,00 a Eur 150,00 Prevista em Art.

At the bottom of the notice it reads...

Instrucoes para pagamento:

Atraves de rede multibanco, durante os 15 dias uteis imediatamente posteriores a data da notificacao.
Operacao pagamento de servicos. Introduzir os elementos indicados abaixo:

Could anyone offer any advice on this, specifically:

1) As a UK resident, am I legally obliged to pay this fine?

2) How much is the fine actually for?

3) Will the fine increase/further action be taken if I don't pay it?

Any info would be very welcome.

Thanks

bizzles

These are becoming quite common in Portugal. Yes, your details will have been obtained from the car hire company you used. The payment system is quite complicated for those without a Portuguese bank account as you have to make an international payment. The fine is 30euros if paid within 15 days of receipt of the notice in the UK, after that it rises to 150euros. They will chase you for it and they are issued by the Police.
If you would like to send me a PM I will give you some contact details with a telephone number. Was it at the airport?

[Deleted User]

Ignore it unless you're going back there soon. Interpol might come after you when they get round to it in 10 years time but I won't hold my breath.

mad_rich

Being a UK resident doesn't make you above Portuguese law.

If you ignore it, one of three things will happen

- nothing

- they will give up on you and go after the car hire company for the fine (which will now have risen because it wasn't paid on time). The car hire company will pay on your behalf, slap on an admin fee, and debit the credit card they hold on file. Possibly without even bothering to tell you.

- nothing will happen for a very long time, but it will eventually catch up with you and be both expensive and inconvenient.

You did the crime? Do the time.

Maybe find a Portuguese student at local college and ask them to translate for you. £25 seems pretty decent if that's all it will cost you.

highmorale

Thanks both...

I think that's part of my concern - I was planning to return for another holiday...

Should I pack a fake moustache?

TrickyWicky

IF you're going back at some point then like all police forces they'll be using technology to pick you up at the ports. As soon as your passport is recognised you're going to end up getting detained at the port - quite possibly with the use of rubber gloves!

Pay up and be done with it.

Also don't forget, the EU is slowly stitching up all of its citizens in the name of money and enterprise. What you might be able to ignore today temporarily will in 10 years be enforceable across the entire EU especially if its government related debt as the EU wants its slice of it.

highmorale

So...fake 'tash AND loose clothing?

Thanks again. Before this point I was just mildly concerned about a minor infraction. Now I feel like an absolute fugitive and will be checking my mirror during every car journey for 'tails'.

Matt_Nixon

Free Babel Fish transalation:

SANCTIONS: Fine: € 30.00 to 150.00 Eur provided for in Art instructions for payment: Via ATM network, during the 15 days immediately following the date of notification.
Operation of payment services. Introduce the elements indicated below (English)

bizzles

They are issued by the Police in Portugal and they do chase you