Albufeira wants to impose fines for nudity, spitting and abandoning shopping trolleys
Albufeira City Council wants to impose fines ranging from 500 to 1800 euros on anyone who walks around naked, in a bikini, spits on the ground, or abandons shopping carts.
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Other offences are included too, such as spending the night, camping or preparing any type of food on public roads, and penalisation of those who make noise in residential areas, or who damage or destroy property belonging to the municipal heritage.
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All of these proposed sanctions were published on Wednesday February 12th, in the Official Gazette, and arei n public consultation.
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It is proposed that anyone in a state of complete nudity in public spaces or public transport, as well as in private space which is visible from a public space, will be fined. However, anyone who is partially naked, for instance in a bikini, trikini, swimsuit swim shorts or underwear – may also be subject to fines of between 300 and 1500 euros. It will only be possible to walk in a state of partial nudity on the beaches and bathing areas in Albufeira, in the access areas to them (namely, car parks) and in outdoor spaces intended for the collective use of hotel units.
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The practice or simulation of any type of sexual act, individual or otherwise, will also be subject to fines.
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The proposed new fines had been promised by the local authority, as a response to cases of tourists who, in various circumstances, appeared naked, simulating sexual acts or engaging in aggressive acts.
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If these new legislations come into place, the Municipal Police will be responsible for enforcing the rules.
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New rules for motorcyclists in Portugal
In recent days, four new measures, including the end of mandatory inspections for motorcycles, have been approved in the Portuguese Parliament.
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The new rules aim to increase road safety and improve mobility conditions. They are:
- the end of mandatory inspections for motorcycles
- the creation of a separate class at toll booths
- the authorisation of riding in bus lanes
- the elimination of non-slip materials on the roads
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Mandatory inspections
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One of the main changes is the annulling of the mandatory periodic inspections for motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles with an engine capacity of over 125 cm3. According to the AutomĂłvel Club de Portugal (ACP), the legislation that provided for these inspections had been in force since 2012, but was never regulated. Therefore, with the new parliamentary decision, the measure is definitively removed from the legal framework.
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Reducing toll costs
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Another relevant change concerns the payment of tolls. From now on, motorcyclists will benefit from a new tariff class, ensuring that the amount paid does not exceed 50% of the rate applied to Class 1 light vehicles. This measure, also supported by the ACP, comes in response to long-standing requests from the motorcycling community, which called for a fairer regime for this type of vehicle.
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Circulation in bus lanes
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Motorcyclists will also be allowed to use bus lanes. Until now, this decision was made by local authorities, resulting in differences in the application of the rule depending on the location. With the new legislation, permission will be uniform nationwide, with the aim of improving traffic flow and providing a safer alternative for motorcyclists in cities.
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Measures for greater road safety
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In terms of road safety, the elimination of non-slip materials in expansion joints and the installation of speed bumps on potentially dangerous bends were approved. This measure aims to mitigate accident situations, particularly among two-wheel drivers, who are more vulnerable to slippery surfaces.
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The new rules are part of a broader strategy to encourage sustainable mobility in Portugal. In recent years, the government has adopted several measures in this regard, such as deducting VAT on the purchase of bicycles and providing financial support for the purchase of electric vehicles. These initiatives, together with the new provisions for motorcyclists, aim to create a fairer and safer road environment for all users.
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Quarteira: man arrested for child pornography
Yesterday, the Judicial Police (PJ) arrested a man in the Quarteira area for child pornography, following a tip-off from an international organisation.
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In a statement, the PJ said that, as part of an investigation, a house search was carried out which culminated in the arrest of the 27 year old man and several mobile phones and computers being seized.
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“After carrying out computer searches on various devices, multiple video and image files containing pornography of minors were identified, in which children participate in explicit sexual acts with adults,” the police statement reads.
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Police suspect that part of this material may have been shared with third parties not yet identified, and will now continue the investigation to identify other possible suspects.
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The detainee will be brought before the judicial authorities today for the first judicial interrogation and application of coercive measures.
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Four gunmen invade Lagos primary school in an effort to escape the police
A group of four men carrying guns invaded a primary school in Lagos on Friday, as they tried to escape the PSP, who suspected the men of commiting a house robbery.
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According to the PSP statement, officers from the Lagos police force approached a car with four men inside, suspecting that they might have robbed a house. The men "fled, initially using the vehicle and, later, on foot".
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The PSP chased the four suspects on foot, firing warning shots into the air. The suspects jumped over the wall of the Escola do Bairro Operários primary school, and one was shot in the foot by police. All suspects were then intercepted and detained.
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The men “are suspected of committing thefts inside homes, a fact that led to the attempted approach by the PSP”.
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“The injured suspect was given first aid by emergency medical teams and taken to the hospital, where he is receiving treatment,” said the PSP, which stressed that there is “no link of criminal intent in relation to the educational establishment,” which the fleeing suspects entered “unexpectedly.”
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Police confirmed there was not “any injury or harm to users” of the school. Mayor of Lagos, Hugo Pereira, later said that most of the students did not even realise what had happened.
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The suspects will be held in prison in Évora until they are handed over to Spain, where they are wanted for many crimes such as criminal association, drug trafficking, fraud, trafficking and possession of weapons of war and explosives.
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Lagos is chosen to host the 2025 Portugal Day celebrations
Lagos is the city chosen by the President of the Republic as the venue for the Portugal Day 2025 celebrations.
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Portugal Day, officially known as Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas, is the national day of Portugal celebrated annually on 10th June. It is one of the public holidays in Portugal and celebrated by Portuguese people throughout the world. It commemorates the death of LuĂs de Camões, a poet and national literary icon, on 10th June 1580.
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Organisation of the celebrations is the responsibility of a Commission chaired by the Algarve writer LĂdia Jorge, and which includes the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic and the Chief of State Protocol.
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The Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) has already publicly welcomed this decision.
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In a statement, the organisation in charge of this event say the President “recognises the role of Lagos and the Algarve in the epic of the Discoveries, underlining the role of the Portuguese language as a link between the Lusitanian communities and the affirmation of Portugal in the world, as well as the entrepreneurial, social and cultural dynamism of the people of Lagos”.
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Burglars steal the safe from a Faro nursing home
Two armed men with their faces covered robbed a nursing home in Faro early on Saturday morning, threatened the employees on duty with a gun.
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According to reports, the robbers entered the rest home in Faro, and threatened staff at gunpoint to tell them where the safe was.
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The robbers took "money and valuables" from the safe and fled.
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Staff immediately called the PSP and the incident was reported to the PJ, due to the crime involving firearms.
