11-05-2025
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.
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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
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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."
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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.
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"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
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But unaware Irish drivers in Portugal could be now penalised up to €25,000 for using dash cams while driving
Credit: VIOFO
