Behave badly in Santa Cruz and it could cost you a great deal of money

As promised by the Mayor a few months ago, a clean-up act of 1986 has been reinstated as a deterrent to those tempted to damage public property.

Stiff new fines will also cover urinating in the street, dropping litter or cigarette butts, graffiti and illegal fly-posting.

The crackdown was announced by the city’s Department of Public Utilities and councillor in charge Dámaso Arteaga warned that police would be intensifying their patrols.

The fine for throwing down litter or cigarette ends will go up from 150 euros to 200 euros, urinating in public will cost you 100 euros and putting up posters without permission will set you back more than 700 euros.

Sr. Arteaga said they were working hard to improve the maintenance of recreational areas but deterioration was often caused by vandalism. Putting this right last year cost the authority around 100,000 euros.

The new campaign will also include big fines for those who dump litter or exceed waste treatment sites.  If you feed stray cats or pigeons, you will be fined 30 euros and 150 euros if you leave a bag or rubbish next to a refuse bin. Anyone found painting graffiti will be fined 902 euros.