Scots travelling to Spain have been warned they could face hefty fines if they need to be saved from the sea by emergency services.
Ahead of what is likely to be a busy summer season in the country, one popular seaside resort city has put forth the legislation in an effort to reduce drunk and reckless swimming. As reported by Birmingham Live, San Sebastian will issue fines to people who need to be rescued from sea as a result of negligence or recklessness.
It is hoped the measures will be passed this summer, following a rise in the number of tourists who have needed to be rescued after swimming in the sea while drunk. Others have been pulled out from the shore after falling asleep on jetties and having scrambled on a hidden beach with infamously ferocious waves.
READ MORE — Urgent BP fuel card scam warning issued as drivers targeted on Facebook
In response, the resort wants to reduce the number of call-outs in an effort to keep costs down and limit the number of times rescuers and emergency services need to put their lives on the line to help others.
Speaking to The Guardian, city councillor in charge of citizen safety Martin Ibabe said: "I would love to never charge a single euro, pound or dollar. The objective here is to prevent these types of incidents from happening.
"The confrontational nature of this law is aimed at making people think twice.” He added that if the measures are passed it would mark a "blazing a new path" as they would be the first of their kind in Spain.
However, some have been critical of the proposed measures, stating that it may make people in need more unlikely to call for help. Others have said that the rules may unfairly punish those who get swept out to sea as a result of an accident.
Fellow resorts in Spain have reportedly already expressed interest in replicating the measures.
Similar measures in the country have recently been introduced in an effort to clamp down on rowdy behaviour. These include a megaphone ban in Barcelona and fines being handed out drunken behaviour in the Balearic Islands.
READ MORE —
- UK’s favourite supermarket beats out discount rivals Lidl and Aldi to top spot
- Love Island Edinburgh contestant Jay 'barely shown' in challenge as viewers fume
- Queen 'still got it' during Edinburgh visit according to viral TikTok
- Martin Lewis issues urgent scam warning with victims losing £12,000 on average
- Scottish influencer visiting Edinburgh baffled by road crossing etiquette in city
