Swimming when a red flag is raised may not only mean interacting with lifeguards but also significantly thinning your wallet.
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There are still vacationers unaware that ignoring the red flag can result in fines ranging from 100 to 300 euros. If, after paying the fine, one still cannot resist the sea’s pull and repeats the violation – the fine can increase up to 900 euros.
However, at least the Klaipėda lifeguards do not rush to call the police when the red flag is flying and try to pull vacationers out of the water with warnings.
According to Marius Uksas, advisor to the Public Order Department of Klaipėda City Municipality, no penalties have been imposed this year for such violations.
As Aleksandras Siakki, head of Klaipėda beach lifeguards, told the news portal VE.lt, lifeguards do not have the authority to impose fines; this is done by the police or specialists from the Public Order Department of the municipality. Lifeguards at Klaipėda beaches do not warn swimmers about the size of fines for swimming when the red flag is flying, nor do they announce it over loudspeakers.
According to A. Siakki, people should already know this.
“Just as a driver knows that running a red traffic light results in fines and can cause an accident where people get hurt, it’s the same at the beaches. This summer, we have not yet had to pull anyone out of the water who was swimming when it was prohibited, but I hesitate to celebrate loudly because summer is not over yet,” said A. Siakki.
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Palanga lifeguards take a different approach and do not moralize vacationers – if they see people ignoring the red flag and splashing in the waves, they call the police.
In the country’s largest resort, information about the size of fines is constantly broadcast over loudspeakers.
“If someone goes swimming during a red flag and ignores it – we call the police officers. Our beaches have a lot of people, unlike other cities, so we inform over loudspeakers that if we see rule violations, we call the police and say that officers impose fines. We also announce the size of the fines. I can say that this tactic works. We inform the media about repeat offenders,” said Jonas Pirožnikas, head of the Palanga lifeguard service, to VE.lt.
According to information from the police and firefighter rescuers, two people drowned in the Baltic Sea this summer.
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