Small car-hire firms in Mallorca are being overwhelmed by notifications of fines for breaching traffic restrictions on the Formentor road.
By mid-August, 27,000 fines had been issued in all; these over a two-month period. Ramón Reus of the Aevab association explains that his members have to manage all these fines. For some firms, there have been as many as 300.
The firms have to identify the driver and communicate this to the traffic directorate, which will then send the fine to the driver's address. But this represents a great deal of work for the small firms because of the number of fines.
Reus adds that firms inform drivers about the Formentor restrictions. "But they ignore this, believing that they won't get an 80 euros fine for using the road between 10am and 10.30pm."
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Surely Traffic Light Controlls are needed on this narrow road.
If the government doesn’t want visitors to formentor close the road. Or limit by tollway charge Or is it a road charging Scheme that they won’t admit to. Either way does the Mallorca govt want tourists to enjoy the island and it’s natural beautiful scenery. Or do they want them to stay in the shabby resort camps and spend money. Be honest with visitors The rich get the islands naturally beautiful most expensive parts. For 500 euro a night plus. And the rest get the crowded drunken noisy crime and drug ridden volume resorts. If that’s trading up the value ladder sounds good by me . I certainly won’t miss the football shirt clad song chanting drunks drinking beer for breakfast. Not that I’ve ever witnessed it myself on the west side. But be good enough to tell folk who hire a car where they are and not allowed to go when they book.
It's becoming so "Formentor this, Formentor that", I'm at the point of favoring walling the place off and building a crocodile sanctuary.
As there are so many fines, perhaps, the hire companies should account for this, by issuing a €100 deposit or more when hiring cars out to help cover any fines incurred when the car is hired. The money will be returned 60 days after the car is returned to a credit or debit card account.
Reputable car hire companies should apply an administration charge directly to the credit card of customers to fully cover their costs. Otherwise they are just part of the growing problem