Four drones are to be used to make sure people are abiding by the coronavirus restrictions for parties and family gatherings throughout December and January.
Public Administrations Minister Isabel Castro announced the new measures after a meeting with Government and City Council Representatives in Palma on Wednesday.
She revealed that social media sites will also be tracked by personnel from the Analysis Unit of the General Directorate of Emergencies to prevent illegal parties and large family gatherings taking place in the Balearic Islands.
Attending a family reunion where there’s more than 6 people will result in fines of €100-€3,000 euros and arranging or attending an illegal party will result in fines of €3,000-€60,000.
Sanctions for illegal parties were introduced in July and since then 4,745 complaints have been registered. 87.4% of them were about individuals and the rest were about owners of establishments. 332 minor cases resulted in fines totalling 103,606 euros; 11 serious infractions resulted in fines totalling 80,050 euros and 6 very serious cases resulted in fines totalling 520,002. Four premises were closed down.
"Obviously we can't supply a policeman for every person, we have to rely on individuals being responsible," said Minister Castro who warned that Administrations will adopt a zero-tolerance attitude to those who don’t comply with the regulations.
Government Delegate Aina Calvo said people should avoid the temptation of risking a fine in order to throw a party.
"What is at stake is how many of us have to die before normality returns to our lives," said Calvo, “Health restriction violators are threatening their lives and everyone else’s.”