Questioned by Guardia Civil

Magnum

Magnum

RIP
Joined
14 Jan 2004
Messages
2,706
Location
Jersey
Visit site
Just returned from 5 days onboard Magnum in Palma de Mallorca.

It was sunny but very windy most of the time we were there, except yesterday when we ventured out for a lovely afternoon soaking up the winter Mediterannean sun.

We re-entered the Port of Palma at around 16.00 and noticed a Guardia Civil Rodman close to a small fishing vessel just outside the 6 knot limit but right in the centre of the approaches.

Imagine my surprise when 3 armed officers were waiting for me on my berth. Apparantly I approached them at great speed (bollocks - was doing 7 knots), and I was too close (err, they were in the centre of the approaches) and then my wash caused great danger (yeah right). I always slow to 6 knots at the breakwater.

So they demand to see my papers - passport, insurance, SSR reg, ICC. Then they give me a "Denuncia por Infraccion Administrativa" what ever that is. Actually they say they will report me to the Port Authority, but there is no fine, yet.

What a bunch of tossers. I am ultra careful with my speed and as for the wash thing, maybe they were a little bored? The marina office said not to worry and that the Guardia Civil were reknown for such chest-beating acts.

Actually I'm pretty pissed off.

I wonder what will happen next?
 
hum, with these guys yours is the wrong answer, i'm afraid. Being british flagged doesn't help either.

If it's any consolation, though, i will be amazed if anything further happens. You are "their" nick and if they don't apply a fine there and then, that's it.
 
Actually I think you probably re-acted badly to the situation! My brother has been cruising the med for eight years and I Have been with him on occasions when this has happened.
What you have to do is understand them! First you give them a big welcome on board, second you smile and say you are so sorry it was very bad of you and it will never happen again! and lastly you open a bottle of wine and offer them all a drink and tell them they all do a fantastic job!! ok I know what you are thinking, but these guys really think they are the dogs bollocks, so humour them and I can guarantee you they will leave with a smile on their faces and be treating you like a long lost friend!
Ask yourself who won?

Job done,
Try it next time, I promise you it works!

Barry
 
"Denuncia por Infraccion Administrativa" I will ask my Spanish amigo today Magnum but what I think it is is that they have "denounced you"

One can do the same for instance to a noisey neighbour out here, or as my amigo did recently he denounced his ex girlfriend for pestering him, his new girlfriend and his dog.

As matt says proably not here again
 
Hi Barry!

Yep!! Exactly the right approach! It does take some take a bit of swallowing the first couple of times if you're a bit 'anti-officialdom' like me, but it is an infallable approach. This has happened to us several times, but we have always ended up with a lot of smiles and back slapping, never a scowl.

SWMBO is excellent in these situations, huge smile, welcoming them aboard etc, and whatever else they may be, the Guardia are always very polite and civil to women - at least in our experience.

I doubt whether there's an element of jealousy, after all Magnum's boat is pretty ordinary beer down there (no offence Magnum!) so they've seen it all before.

FWIW, we found some of the Guardia in Portugal far more officious!!
 
You have committed an act of "psycological or physical harrassment". These guys are pissed off with you for freightening them on their ickle Rodman /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I doubt they'll do anything, but orders from the local council can be brought in to counter such acts.

Typically they deal with "noisy scooters" or "sexual harrassment" or aggresive begging". Things you would term as general civic nuisances.

So there ya have it Magnum - you have been deemed a civic nuisance /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

On a more serious note - if you were copped again, it wouldn't be just you that gets it, they would introduce such nuisance regulations within your marina community. And then all your neighbours would be pissed off - and you would be in trouble!
 
I've just had all the bathing platform and cockpit teak replaced so inviting them on board with their boots on wasn't an option.

I'll wait and see what happens. If I get some kind of bollocking from the port I intend to refute the allegations.
 
My Spanish dictionary gives "denuncia" as denunciation, arraignment, accusation, announcement, proclamation, declaration. Pick the bones out of that. Then you have an administrative infraction. Enough to cause a myocardial infarction!

I have been boarded by French police in a mini warship in Corsica when they just wanted to check papers. One of them fell into the water trying to climb aboard and had to make a return trip when he had dried out. Dripping French plod. Quelle joie!

I have been stopped and warned by Italian police for actually being in motion too near the shore near Naples and checked by when anchored Italian police in Sicily.

Most of the time it seems to be a way of making an entry in their books. Don't worry, you can always leave the country!
 
Excellent news, Magnum. This means that they'll leave the rest of us alone because they've got you to pick on. Serves you right for having such a monstrously large boat /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Another tip. As well as being nice to them, get any women on board to a) wear the skimpiest clothing possible and b) sob quietly in apparent fear. This will melt even the hardest Latin heart
 
i had a "proces verbal" from french gendarmes for not having an axe or summink on board a french vessel. Lots of paper turns up. I chucked it in the bin and reflagged the boat to uk.
 
We have similar guardia types to contend with on Windermere, there called lake wardens but sound just like your lot. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I think Magnum's had an ABSO put on him.

Where you wearing Burberry, have the stereo too loud etc?
 
Re: Questioned by Guardia \'un\'Civil

Prolly just wanted a look on your boat!

That's the problem with having a boat abroad - it's full of bloody foreigners!

PS - if that bloke who bought your old boat in Cowes eventually got round to adding 'of' to the transom, it ssems to have peeled off again! Can I go round to him, tell him the boat is not really his because he's broken the terms of your agreement and then claim it as salvage for myself? I promise to change the name to something entirely different! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Denuncia's can be bad news from what I have heard so you'd better make sure you grin and bear it if any of the authorities go after you again. I have heard it only takes two or three of these denuncia's for the authorities to permanently expell you from Spain (should they so wish) so they should not be taken lightly!
As someone else has said authorities can make denuncia against individuals if they see fit and private citizens can make them as well as long as there is just cause (or a big enough grudge!).

The Guardia Civil are not to be messed with and humble pie is the order of the day! It should not be forgotten they were once feared throughout Spain, and just because the regime has long since changed does not mean they have rolled over and turned into pussycats!
 
Hmm. That doesn't sound good. The thing is I didn't actually do anything wrong. Like I said if I get any communication about it I intend to refute everything.

Actually one of the Guardia's was OK, translating my denial back to his colleague, but he just shook his head and said NO.
 
The Guardia Civil are part of the military,your run in was probably due to to them being bored or needing to fill their quota of paperwork,all above advice correct ,follow the rules and if fawning does not work in the first instance full frontal attack can make them retreat,but if your staying best make them your buddies.
 
Hello there
As many of the others have said humble pie & groveling is the name of the game, the last thing you want is make enemys with the Guardia. they are a law unto themselves & can give you major grief if you get on the wrong side of them. Smee is correct you have been denounced & it generally takes 2 or three before anything of consequence happens, If I were you I would find the Guardia boat skipper & apolagise profuslly for not inviting him on board & give him a bottle of scotch or brandy.
If of coarse this does not work i will offer to boatsit for you while you serve out your sentence for bribery.
Seriously though this is the way to go.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top