Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri has announced new regulations allowing authorities to issue immediate on-the-spot fines to foreign nationals who do not reside in Malta, including tourists and irregular immigrants, for a range of offences committed while in the country.
The measures, which will come into force on 1 June through a legal notice, will empower Police officers, LESA officials and Environment and Resources Authority officers to electronically collect payments immediately from offenders.
The government said the new system was introduced to address longstanding difficulties in enforcing fines against non-residents, many of whom reportedly leave the country without settling penalties issued against them.
According to the regulations, foreigners who refuse to pay fines on the spot may face additional legal consequences. However, individuals who pay a fine but contest it will still retain the right to challenge the penalty before a Commissioner for Justice through a specially established tribunal.
The new regime is expected to apply to a variety of offences, including littering, excessive noise and other breaches of public order regulations.
Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri stated that the measures form part of broader efforts aimed at increasing enforcement and discipline in tourist-heavy areas and public spaces. The government also linked the initiative to previous security measures introduced in areas such as Paceville, including increased surveillance and specialised police units.
The announcement was welcomed by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, whose president Tony Zahra said the hospitality sector had long raised concerns regarding enforcement against non-residents who commit minor offences while visiting Malta.
Newsroom
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