It's good to see the GNR has raised their profile in and around the area. Road blocks over the past 3 weeks at a number of major junctions is very reassuring and given the absence of reports on here of burglaries - it might be deterring the 'low-life' who prey on our properties

Does this not give them an opportunity to check more vehicles for tax , paperwork etc as there is less trafic now on the A22.
Are they in the usual places, close to slide and splash, Alcantahilla roundabout and coming out of Silves ?

EMM wrote:Does this not give them an opportunity to check more vehicles for tax , paperwork etc

Quite possibly - should not have any impact on law abiding motorists

I suspect that this is more to do with raising revenue through fines than deterring burglars. The GNR keep a healthy percentage of fines imposed with the balance going to swell the coffers of the Finaças and there are an amazing number of infringements which can inadvertantly be encountered. A recent newspaper article pointed out that the the level of income from fines had reached record levels in 2011
When I have been stopped there has never been a problem but the notorious Guia de Transporte can be a pain if you are driving a van or carrying certain goods in your car.
I would have greater belief in the theory of crime deterrance if there were more nighttime and early hours of the morning activity.

steve wrote:I suspect that this is more to do with raising revenue through fines than deterring burglars. The GNR keep a healthy percentage of fines imposed with the balance going to swell the coffers of the Finaças .......
I would have greater belief in the theory of crime deterrance if there were more nighttime and early hours of the morning activity

last summer I observed a taxi do a U to get into the rank at smilers, as a GNR officer was clearly issuing a fine to a British tourist who had parked illegally (but not blocking anything)around that turn in to Monte Dourado near the kiosk. Which of the two would be considered more serious in UK/Ireland?

also in December somebody (probably Lagoa Camera) threw up a detour sign at smilers and blocked the out street (working in front of Oasis), all the traffic went up restaurant hill, up past the market and down the ONE way system at Monte Dourado. This continued for a number of hours but no sign of GNR. Any traffic coming into town and familiar with the little short cut near the Millenium bank could have been in real trouble, but somehow no accidents.

I have noticed that checkpoint near Alcantarilha on numerous occasions but not stopped so far.

We can't have it both ways - this time last year there was uproar at the lack of police attention following a spate of burglaries. Now we are overrun with them - and - for the most part there is nothing approaching the same degree of burglary reports.

It's an unfortunate case of the medicine not being totally palatable - but it seems to cure the ills (albeit with some side-effects)

I see no problem in police check points and if their aim is to raise revenue from those breaking various rules and regs " thats life ".
If a biproduct is to deter any known criminals from the locality that is a bonus.

As for the other comments,. Taxi drivers throught out the world have their own ways of driving the ones in Carvoeiro are no different. The " Out road " past Oasis is closed a few times a year when various events are held in the village . When this is done the traffic has to find some way out of town.

As long as there is no corruption involved, the traffic inspections have a double effect, deterring car theft/transport of stolen property and keeping drunks off the road.
Law abiding motorists should have nothing to fear (carry your paperwork with you).

Last summer, a friend and I were stopped at the roundabout leading to slide and splash by a roadblock.
My friend produced her papers but then was asked to provide a breath test. She had not been drinking.
The first test was negative so the policeman was very disapointed, so much so that he said his equipment was faulty
and made her take two further breath tests. Surprise, Surprise all negative. We drove away leaving one very miserable Police officer.
As many have said, the police presence always increases towards the end of summer (collecting fines to see them through winter)
and again after Christmas, lets face it, we are all broke in January

As has been posted if your paperwork is in order. your vehicle is legal and you have not been drinking then you have nothing to worry about.
Drink driving is a problem that gets worse in the summer. Despite the " limit " being lower in Portugal there does seem to be a more relaxed atitude to alcohol amongst drivers of all nationalities and types. Therefore you cannot blame the police for being more vigilant.

My wife was stopped last week at the 'monument' outside the Monte Santo resort at 11.00am. She was asked if she had been drinking (she had not) but the guy in the car in front was being breathalysed.

Be careful out there if you are inclined to drive after a 'swift-half' or two

EMM wrote:
As for the other comments,. Taxi drivers throught out the world have their own ways of driving the ones in Carvoeiro are no different. The " Out road " past Oasis is closed a few times a year when various events are held in the village . When this is done the traffic has to find some way out of town.

I agree. The alternatrives are dreadful, one has a shocking bad bend and the other involves driving around for a couple of kms before coming out at Poco Partico, in fact I think the one say system at Monte Dourao causes a lot of confusion, especially during the summer, and have met traffic coming down on a few occasions, anyone familiar with the system knows to drive very gingerly to the bend and have a look up before proceeding.

the GNR were stopping motorists on the main road into carvoeiro today jast before the turn off up to solferas outside the old cottage that sells wood around late afternoon till around 6pm.

Am I right in thinking that even the passengers in the back of our car must carry ID with
them, will a driving licence be good enough? or must it be a passport.

MaisieK wrote:Am I right in thinking that even the passengers in the back of our car must carry ID

Everybody must carry an id - be they in a car or otherwise