Brits have been warned about making mistakes that could see them fined or arrested (Image: Getty)
Brits heading on holiday have been warned they could face fines of more than £160 for unknowingly falling foul of local rules. New research by Confused.com found almost a quarter of UK passport holders believe they may have broken a law overseas without realising it, while a further 5% admitted doing so knowingly.
Spain was among the destinations where British holidaymakers were most likely to have been penalised. The research found 27% of travellers who had been fined abroad received the penalty in Spain. France topped the list at 32%, while Italy was also cited by 27% of those fined.
Incidents on beaches and in public spaces, were the most commonly reported reason for being fined (Image: Getty)
Among travellers who admitted breaking a law or cultural rule overseas, 26% said they had been given a warning by local authorities.
But around one in seven were hit with a fine, with the average penalty coming in at £160.
More than a third of those fined said they had been forced to pay over £200, while 6% of people who broke a rule said they had been arrested.
Holidaymakers can be caught out by rules which may appear perfectly innocent to British travellers.
Littering and environmental offences, including incidents on beaches and in public spaces, were the most commonly reported reason for being fined, accounting for 32% of cases.
Another 27% were penalised over inappropriate clothing at religious or cultural sites, while 23% were caught taking photographs somewhere they were not permitted to do so.
Tom Vaughan, travel insurance expert at Confused.com, warned travellers against assuming rules overseas will be the same as those back home.
He said: “Many people assume that if something is acceptable in the UK, it’s likely to be acceptable abroad too. But our findings show that’s not always the case.
“But our findings show that’s not always the case. Every year, thousands of British nationals require consular assistance, after being arrested or detained overseas, often for breaking laws or cultural rules they may not have been aware of.”
6% of people asked said that breaking rules had led to them being arrested (Image: Getty)
In Majorca, tourists can also face hefty penalties for walking around public streets, shops or restaurants wearing only swimwear or without a shirt.
Fines can reportedly reach between €500 and €600, rising as high as €750 in some municipalities including Palma.
Despite the risk, almost one in five British passport holders surveyed admitted they never research the local laws or customs of the country they are visiting before travelling.
Only 40% said they checked official government or embassy advice before setting off, while more people relied on travel websites and blogs.
Mr Vaughan added that seemingly straightforward actions such as taking photographs, wearing unsuitable clothing at religious sites, carrying medication without the correct paperwork or drinking alcohol in the wrong place could result in fines or more serious consequences.
He added: “What’s particularly striking is that while two-thirds of travellers say being arrested abroad is one of their biggest concerns, almost 1 in 5 (17%) admit they don’t research local rules or customs before they travel.
“Many of the rules catching people out aren’t necessarily what you’d expect. Something as simple as taking a photograph, wearing the wrong clothing at a religious site, carrying medication without the correct paperwork or drinking alcohol in the wrong place can result in fines or even more serious consequences in some destinations.
“It’s important to be aware that if you receive a fine for breaking a rule abroad, it isn’t something you can claim on your travel insurance.
“In more serious cases, if you’re detained and required to stay longer in the country, your insurance won’t cover those additional costs either.
“That’s why you should remember to check the local laws and customs of your destination before travelling.
“Our unusual laws abroad checker is designed to help travellers avoid being caught out by unfamiliar rules overseas.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
