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Motorhomers still being fined on Algarve
- Thread starter TerryL
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- Jul 5, 2013
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That's worrying. We were there in the Spring so still time. Where exactly were you parked? Mind you we rarely bother with ramps.
scotjimland
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You DO NOT get fined for having your step out...
JJ
I'll let you boys fight it out..
- May 1, 2008
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Were the papers written in English?
Were they in Portuguese?
Do you read and understand Portuguese?
See my post above...
JJ
PS. Will heading south in a couple of weeks... it will be great to hear all the "information" that is currently being spread on the notorious motorhome grapevine...
camperstop messines
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I'll let you boys fight it out..
We don´t fight here in Portugal, way too nice people over here. Just different practical experiences. Btw, I was referring to the steps you put on the ground, not the pop-out thingies mounted on your motorhome. Bit of a language skills shortage on my side perhaps.
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Hagstrom
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We were parked during the day at Cacela Vehla on the grassed parking area overlooking the creek that flows into the lagoon.
The fine papers were written in Portugese. QuintaPedro kindly translated them for us. As we intend returning to Portugal in future winters there seemed no point in trying to evade the fine. As my Grandma used to say, you should pay up and look cheerful!
(She also said, of anything that looked futile, "You may as well sh*t and play with the smoke". It was a Lincolnshire phrase.)
The fine papers were written in Portugese. QuintaPedro kindly translated them for us. As we intend returning to Portugal in future winters there seemed no point in trying to evade the fine. As my Grandma used to say, you should pay up and look cheerful!
(She also said, of anything that looked futile, "You may as well sh*t and play with the smoke". It was a Lincolnshire phrase.)
scotjimland
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ah yes.. caravan steps.. not too many of use them
camperstop messines
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Well
Well, I´m no lawyer so your friend will know best, but...bit strange that one should not have to pay a fine if it is written in the language of the country where you make your mistake, and not in your own language. With all the google translate options one should be able to understand what was written. On the upside, I do have some French and English speed fines that I can contest...Were the papers written in English?
Were they in Portuguese?
Do you read and understand Portuguese?
See my post above...
JJ
PS. Will heading south in a couple of weeks... it will be great to hear all the "information" that is currently being spread on the notorious motorhome grapevine...
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The GNR wear uniforms and guns.
So folk, in the unlikely event of being fined for parking a motorhome (where a car would be okay) just pay up to give themselves peace of mind.
Fair play to them BUT...
...according to my Portuguese lawyer, the GNR are breaking their country's law by not issuing the details in a way that can be understood by the recipient.
Please don't shoot the messenger...
JJ
- May 1, 2008
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And MY fault too!
I was referring to the slide out steps fitted to the van...
Putting steps on the ground outside the motorhome is obviously "camping" and the GNR can move you on under laws designed to deal with Gipsies... (so a GNR man told me.)
JJ
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- May 1, 2008
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I have posted this incident earlier on Fun but think it bears repeating here.
A Funster was "off site" parked beachside at Boca Da Rio in the National Park, where it does have a sign saying no over nighting. He was among 6 or 7 other Rufty Tufty vans, one of which was also on British number plates.
He had just sat down to enjoy his evening meal with his child bride when there was a light knock on the door. It was a GNR bod with a clip board on which there was a document with his number plate recorded by hand in the blank space.
"Please come in sir, would you like a beer?" said the Funster.
"Thank you but not allowed" was the reply.
It was explained to the Funsters that they would have to move on...
"Shall we go right now or can we go after we have eaten?"
"Oh don't worry tonight," came the reply, "you can go tomorrow morning. Do you read Portuguese?"
"I am afraid not."
"Oh well then... you don't have to sign this form..." and he removed it from the clip board and handed it to him. (Later the Funster handed it to me to get it translated by one of my people...)
Meanwhile, a bit of a shouting tantrum was going on outside the other "Brit" van.
"I am not "effing" signing this... why can't I park here?... these other people are... why don't you go and catch some "effing" real criminals" etc... and he tore up the paper and threw it on the ground (litter bug).
The Funsters took a sip from their glasses as they tucked into their supper and watched the other Brit van being escorted off the place there and then.
Everyone else enjoyed a quiet night and moved off, in due course, the next morning.
JJ
A Funster was "off site" parked beachside at Boca Da Rio in the National Park, where it does have a sign saying no over nighting. He was among 6 or 7 other Rufty Tufty vans, one of which was also on British number plates.
He had just sat down to enjoy his evening meal with his child bride when there was a light knock on the door. It was a GNR bod with a clip board on which there was a document with his number plate recorded by hand in the blank space.
"Please come in sir, would you like a beer?" said the Funster.
"Thank you but not allowed" was the reply.
It was explained to the Funsters that they would have to move on...
"Shall we go right now or can we go after we have eaten?"
"Oh don't worry tonight," came the reply, "you can go tomorrow morning. Do you read Portuguese?"
"I am afraid not."
"Oh well then... you don't have to sign this form..." and he removed it from the clip board and handed it to him. (Later the Funster handed it to me to get it translated by one of my people...)
Meanwhile, a bit of a shouting tantrum was going on outside the other "Brit" van.
"I am not "effing" signing this... why can't I park here?... these other people are... why don't you go and catch some "effing" real criminals" etc... and he tore up the paper and threw it on the ground (litter bug).
The Funsters took a sip from their glasses as they tucked into their supper and watched the other Brit van being escorted off the place there and then.
Everyone else enjoyed a quiet night and moved off, in due course, the next morning.
JJ
Last edited:
- Apr 12, 2010
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I totally agree. When there are plenty of places to stay cheaply, why does everything have to be free. As long as someone else pays eh !
Phil
scotjimland
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because the view is always better when it's 'free'
it's a bit like when you went scrumping.. they were the sweetest apples you ever tasted..
- May 1, 2008
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I believe this post was nonsense in August when it was posted...
...and I still believe the post is nonsense now.
There is no way anything I do spoils anything for the poster at all.
Yesterday I saw a man who lives in a house having a wee in the hedge.
OMG
He is "spoiling it" for all the other people who live in houses...
He wees in the hedge... he lives in a house... therefore people who live in houses wee in the hedge...
Obviously... nonsense.
JJ
- May 1, 2008
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The places you mention (where you pay to stay) come with loads of rules and regulations about what you can or can't do.
If folk want to follow the "rules", park where they are told to and don't mind being a few feet away from a stranger then so be it...
People who think the only reason motorhomers park "off site" is because it is free are badly mistaken... indeed they are so badly mistaken that, in fact, they are wrong. (Wrong)
And my dad is BIGGER than your dad... so there!
JJ
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2657
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The places you mention (where you pay to stay) come with loads of rules and regulations about what you can or can't do.
If folk want to follow the "rules", park where they are told to and don't mind being a few feet away from a stranger then so be it...
People who think the only reason motorhomers park "off site" is because it is free are badly mistaken... indeed they are so badly mistaken that, in fact, they are wrong. (Wrong)
And my dad is BIGGER than your dad... so there!
JJ
Not arguing with you about the rights and wrongs of parking/camping wherever but your statement about some people following rules as though they are sheep is irritating.
I personally do not like rules and regulations but in a civilised society rules are necessary to stop others from riding roughshod over everyone else, absolute chaos and anarchy otherwise.
Incidentally it seems more common to be a few feet from a stranger on some of the free camping areas than most of the sites that I visit
- Jul 5, 2013
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I stop in or close to interesting places that I want to visit. The cost of staying there is of secondary importance to me, given that it is usually peanuts compared with the other costs involved in motorhoming. Unfortunately many camp sites are miles from anywhere interesting. On the other hand Aires and free parking spots are often much closer and within walking distance. That is why I use them.
And the other thing is that being only a few feet from others actually means you get into some very interesting conversations, rather than sitting on the hedge protected plot you have paid for ignoring everybody.
Judge Mental
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My son received an £80 fine this week for unavoidably crossing into a Barnet bus lane for 2 seconds spotted by camera not a bus in sight. Portugal you have never had it so good.......
My wife last week. So much for CCTV protecting us!
hayley claire
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Such an interesting read and eye opener I've noted down the places to avoid on my tight budget!!
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Same as in Spain, you will rarely have a problem as long as you do not leave table/chairs outside, or the step down, etc. That way you are just "parked" & not camping.
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hayley claire
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Good point to remember thanks
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