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The Irish Sun
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Major warning to Irish holidaymakers over €25k fine for using ‘illegal' device in popular hotspot
IRISH holidaymakers could be whacked with a whopper €25,000 fine for using "illegal" device while driving in Portugal this summer. Dash cams are now completely banned in the popular hotspot as the devices are considered a serious breach of privacy. 2 Irish drivers who uses dash cams should be careful when sharing any clips Credit: VIOFO It is a popular gadget among millions of Irish. But this device can now land Irish holidaymakers in trouble in Dash cams are often used to protect drivers against fraudulent It is also used as a neutral witness in Read more in Travel But unaware Irish drivers in Portugal could be now penalised up to €25,000 for using dash cams while And even if Irish drivers travel with the device disabled, they could still be fined as the device is now considered "illegal" in Portugal. Dash cams are also illegal in Speaking to the Mirror, Tim Rodie from Motorpoint, an expert on driving, said: "When driving in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria, it's not permitted to operate a dashcam as they're deemed as an invasion of privacy and carry hefty fines." Most read in News Travel A car insurance company has also urged drivers to "obey the law" to avoid eye-watering five-figure fines. RAC Insurance said: "In a few countries – such as Austria and Portugal – dash cam use is completely banned. 'It's very important' - Ryanair's 'baggage sizers' warning to Irish passengers ahead of busy Easter break amid €75 fine "Repeat offenders in Austria face eye-watering five-figure fines. "The message therefore is to make sure you obey the law on dash cam use in whichever country you're driving in." Irish drivers who uses dash cams should be careful when sharing any clips. And they should keep data protection laws in mind when talking about "usage allowed." The Portuguese government said: "[Dash cams are] contentious; not explicitly illegal, but fraught with privacy concerns.' MAJOR AER LINGUS WARNING Separately, a major warning has been issued to Some holidaymakers using a well-known cost-cutting tactic may find themselves banned from Called skiplagging or hidden city ticketing, the hack involves booking a flight with a layover in the intended destination and skipping the final leg. This is typically used to take advantage of lower fares, as And although it may seem harmless, skiplagging violates most airlines' terms and conditions and it is considered a breach of contract. They also have serious consequences in place, ranging from cancelled return tickets to permanent bans from the airline. These systems often trigger automatic reviews when segments are skipped, making it difficult to use this strategy without being flagged. Another major issue involves checked baggage, which is typically routed to the final destination listed on the ticket - not the stopover. Some travellers have faced consequences such as loss of frequent flyer status, denied boarding on future trips or even Along with 2 But unaware Irish drivers in Portugal could be now penalised up to €25,000 for using dash cams while driving Credit: VIOFO
Glasgow Times
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
Warning issued to anyone travelling to Portugal this year
Brits who use dash cams while driving in the EU could face a big fine this summer, with fines reaching £21,000. Dash cams have become a popular device for UK drivers, often allowing drivers to get discounts on car insurance. However, in some countries in the EU, the devices are considered a serious breach of privacy. Warning to Brits driving in Portugal this summer with dash cams Driving expert Tim Rodie from Motorpoint told the Mirror: 'When driving in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria, it's not permitted to operate a dashcam as they're deemed as an invasion of privacy and carry hefty fines." The warning also comes from RAC, who add: 'In some EU countries, including Spain and Italy, dash cams can be used without restrictions, but in France and Belgium, dash cams can only be used privately, with any recorded evidence sent directly to the police. 'In other countries such as Portugal and Austria, the use of dash cams is completely banned, and drivers breaking this law in Austria face five-figure fines if caught.' If you are seen with a dash cam in your car, even if it's not in use, the best advice is to take the device down while in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria. Recommended Reading In the UK, it's legal to film public roads and use dash cams, along with being able to share footage online. However, the RAC warns that owners of dash cams need to 'be aware that the captured footage can also be used against them.' This includes if a police officer pulls a vehicle over for a suspected motoring offence like speeding.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Anyone travelling to Portugal issued warning over ‘illegal' device usage
Anyone travelling and driving to Portugal this year is being urged to check their cars amid warnings of a common device that is 'illegal' in the country. Brits who use dash cams while driving in the EU could face a big fine this summer, with fines reaching £21,000. Dash cams have become a popular device for UK drivers, often allowing drivers to get discounts on car insurance. However, in some countries in the EU, the devices are considered a serious breach of privacy. Driving expert Tim Rodie from Motorpoint told the Mirror: 'When driving in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria, it's not permitted to operate a dashcam as they're deemed as an invasion of privacy and carry hefty fines." The warning also comes from RAC, who add: 'In some EU countries, including Spain and Italy, dash cams can be used without restrictions, but in France and Belgium, dash cams can only be used privately, with any recorded evidence sent directly to the police. 'In other countries such as Portugal and Austria, the use of dash cams is completely banned, and drivers breaking this law in Austria face five-figure fines if caught.' If you are seen with a dash cam in your car, even if it's not in use, the best advice is to take the device down while in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria. Recommended Reading DVLA £1000 fine warning to drivers over licence mistake Is the Highway Code the law and is it illegal to ignore it? DVLA fine warning to millions who passed test before 2015 In the UK, it's legal to film public roads and use dash cams, along with being able to share footage online. However, the RAC warns that owners of dash cams need to 'be aware that the captured footage can also be used against them.' This includes if a police officer pulls a vehicle over for a suspected motoring offence like speeding.
Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Portugal issues warning to UK tourists over 'illegal' device owned by 33 million
Many UK drivers have dash cams installed in their cars to provide them with footage in the event of a crash - but using them abroad could land you in hot water and facing hefty fines Portugal has issued a warning to British holidaymakers over a common device owned by 33 million UK tourists which they say is 'illegal' British holidaymakers could face eye-watering fines for using dash cams while driving in the EU this summer, with potential penalties reaching a whopping £21,000. Although dash cams are installed by 32.7 million Brits, these gadgets might land them in hot water abroad where some countries consider them a serious breach of privacy. Tim Rodie from Motorpoint, an expert on driving, has warned: "When driving in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria, it's not permitted to operate a dashcam as they're deemed as an invasion of privacy and carry hefty fines." While UK drivers commonly use dash cams to protect against fraudulent insurance claims – potentially saving thousands – unaware tourists could be penalised up to €25,000 (£21,300) for repeated infringements in places like Austria. The RAC has issued a warning: "And in a few countries – such as Austria and Portugal – dash cam use is completely banned. "Repeat offenders in Austria face eye-watering five-figure fines. The message therefore is to make sure you obey the law on dash cam use in whichever country you're driving in." Moreover, Skoda has cautioned that "Portugal has the strictest approach: you're not even allowed to own a dashcam! So you can expect the police to give you a hard time even if they find a dashcam on a seat in your car, in the glove compartment or in the boot." Drivers may also face a conundrum when their only entry into Portugal is through Spain, where there are no restrictions on the use of dashcams, despite many countries outlawing them due to the impact on personal privacy. Snapping pics or filming private property without consent could land you in hot water with fines, reports Birmingham Live. Yet, some folks reckon they've been using dash cams trouble-free, provided they don't share any footage that could identify someone. As for whether this kind of evidence will fly in court, it's all down to what the judge thinks. Dash cam users should tread carefully and keep data protection laws in mind when sharing any clips. When talking about "usage allowed", Portugal warns: "Contentious; not explicitly illegal but fraught with privacy concerns."
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Portugal warns tourists of 'illegal' device owned by 33 million British people
UK tourists planning to drive to Portugal this summer, should be aware of the country's rules regarding dash cams For many Brits, summer plans typically revolve around packing up the car and taking the Eurotunnel to France, with the ultimate goal of spending their holiday soaking up the sun on the beaches of Spain and Portugal. However, this long-standing tradition could now pose a problem for tourists planning to drive around Portugal. New regulations and potential restrictions could make driving with certain devices, such as dash cams, a challenge. A new European driving law could potentially hit British tourists with a hefty fine of up to £21,000 this summer. Despite the fact that 32.7 million drivers in the UK have dash cams installed, using this technology abroad could lead to some unexpected consequences. Some European Union nations consider dash cams to be a significant invasion of privacy, the Yorkshire Live reports. Tim Rodie, a driving expert at Motorpoint, states: "When driving in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria, it's not permitted to operate a dashcam as they're deemed as an invasion of privacy and carry hefty fines." "Dashcams are popular among UK drivers as they can save you thousands of pounds in insurance claims, however, they could set you back an eye-watering €25,000 (£21,300) fine for repeat offenders in Austria." The RAC warned: "And in a few countries - such as Austria and Portugal - dash cam use is completely banned. Repeat offenders in Austria face eye-watering five-figure fines." "The message therefore is to make sure you obey the law on dash cam use in whichever country you're driving in." While car manufacturer Skoda said: "Portugal has the strictest approach: you're not even allowed to own a dashcam! So you can expect the police to give you a hard time even if they find a dashcam on a seat in your car, in the glove compartment or in the boot." "What drivers are supposed to do if the only route into the country goes through Spain, where the use of cameras is unrestricted, is anybody's guess." Although the situation can become complicated if the only route into Portugal is through Spain, where dash cams are allowed. While in Portugal the dash cam is deemed illegal due to privacy regulations. Recording people or private property without consent can result in fines. However, some users claim they have used dash cams without issues, as long as they refrain from distributing identifiable recordings. Whether this type of footage is admissible in court is ultimately up to the judge. Users should exercise caution and take data protection laws into account when using or sharing recordings. As for "usage allowed," Portugal advises: "Contentious; not explicitly illegal but fraught with privacy concerns." When driving to Portugal this summer UK tourists should take the country's advice into account to make sure they stay safe and always stay vigilant whilst on the road.
