2024-07-07 12:35:06
The bet of checks, fines and businessmen reporting each other
The big “bet” for the government and the Ministry of Finance during this year’s summer period, in addition to the hunt for tax evaders, is also the observance of legality on the beaches with the sunbeds and umbrellas placed there by businessmen, who have previously received the relevant license. It is perhaps a personal “bet” of Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, who at every opportunity proclaims at the top of his lungs that there will be no discounts for anything and anyone.
The checks that will be carried out will follow the model of tax checks, i.e. ladders will be sent from other regions, in order to avoid locality.
However, it is a difficult undertaking and they know it very well in the state apparatus, since Greece has a huge coastline, while at the same time a new system has been introduced this year which, like any new system, needs time to work. Of course, this in no way discourages the co-competent government agencies (Ministry of Finance, Land Services and Police), who have put even the most remote beaches of the country on their scanner through the MyCoast application.
The aim is one and only: to avoid arbitrariness and to correctly apply the new rules that apply from the 1st of the year. In this context, audit levels have been organized, which are made up of officials of the state mechanisms and dust off the complaints that have already been made, with priority given to those deemed to be the most serious.
The relevant actors state that it is very serious work to do before the on-site inspection to discard the complaints as to their reliability and correctness. Greater weight is given to named complaints, because they are considered more reliable by default.
To date, 8,900 complaints have been made through the Mycoast app, of which 1,100 are named. Of these complaints, 600 have already been assessed, which concern 10 regions. According to the information, these are areas that have already concerned the authorities, but also areas about which nothing had been heard.
It is characteristic that in one region of the country – in Parga in the Prefecture of Preveza – there are hundreds of complaints and they concern the same beaches. After a cursory check – it didn’t even have to be thorough – it was found that they came from two IPs (email addresses) belonging to two businessmen – competitors who only wanted – probably – to cause trouble for each other. In another region of the country, Halkidiki, something similar happened, where due to the high delinquency rates, control levels were immediately mobilized.
And in this case, the mutual complaints of businessmen turned out to be groundless. The audits that will be carried out will follow the model of tax audits. Real Estate Services employees will be sent off-site, while in order to avoid the “problems” created by locality, there will not be geographically “tight”. For example, employees from Attica will reinforce audit levels in Aegean islands and vice versa. This particular practice also perfectly serves the needs of staff in areas where high delinquency is recorded and complaints fall… rain. Checks can be done in two ways:
1. With an autopsy in the seashore and beach area. After the autopsy is performed, an autopsy report is drawn up on the spot with accompanying photographic material, when possible, and delivered or posted immediately.
2. With remote photographic capture of the coastal area and the beach. Especially from unmanned aircraft (drones), which operate in the air autonomously or remotely controlled, or by using satellite images. The Real Estate Service receives the photographic supporting material. Based on this, he prepares the findings – autopsy reports, taking the prescribed administrative measures and imposing sanctions described by law.
The prescribed fines
From 2,000 euros up to 60,000 euros, the fines imposed for obstructing the public’s free access to the sea, the coast and the beach reach.
More specifically:
* For the installation of constructions such as buildings, walls, planters, fences of all types, a fine of 500 euros per cubic meter corresponding to the volume of the construction is imposed. If the use of mechanical equipment is necessary for the removal of movable elements, the present fine is quadrupled.
* For movable elements that cannot be moved easily, such as cars, motorcycles, heavy vehicles, awnings, a fine of 500 euros per meter corresponding to the width of the passage obstructed is imposed. If the use of mechanical equipment is necessary for the removal of mobile elements, a fine of 500 euros per cubic meter corresponding to the volume of objects obstructing passage is imposed.
* For throwing screeds, building materials and any kind of waste at public crossing points towards the sea, a fine of 500 euros is imposed per meter corresponding to the width of the blocked passage (double if the use of mechanical equipment is necessary for the removal of mobile elements) .
* For carrying out any type of activity or event, individual or collective, professional or non-professional, permanent or temporary, that obstructs the direct access of the public to the sea, a fine of 500 euros is imposed per meter corresponding to the width of the passage blocked.
* For any kind of physical or verbal obstruction, a fine of 2,000 euros is imposed.
* Fines cannot be less than 2,000 euros or exceed 60,000 euros.
Source of RES-EMP
Thanasis Papadis