The €75 swimwear fine no one can enforce or explain
The issue of tourists walking around in swimwear has long irked residents
Tourists walking along Sliema’s promenade in bikinis and swim shorts are being warned they could be slapped with a €75 fine, but the authorities cannot say who will enforce the new rule or how the penalty was set.
In recent days, Sliema local council installed signs warning beachgoers they would face the hefty fine for walking around outside designated swim zones in beachwear. Similar signs were erected in Valletta and Gżira.
But when Times of Malta tried to understand how the fines were being enforced or how the amount was determined, the authorities passed the buck.
Sliema mayor John Pillow, who was on vacation when contacted, said he would need to check with the council’s administration, adding: “I want to find out exactly how it works.”
Sliema deputy mayor Anton Debono said: “Questions relating to the issuing of fines, the amount of any applicable fines, the number of fines issued, and the specific enforcement criteria should be directed to the competent enforcement authorities, as these matters do not fall within the remit of the council.”
LESA, which issues fines for a range of offences, told Times of Malta the €75 fine refers to laws under the Criminal Code, which are handled by the police.
When Times of Malta approached the police, a spokesperson said they are not the authority responsible for enforcing the fines.
The police can only issue a person with an infringement ticket, he explained. That ticket would typically go before a local tribunal, and it is up to a magistrate to decide the penalty based on the gravity of the case. There is no fixed €75 fine in these cases.
What the law says...
Article 338 (q) of the Maltese Criminal Code does state that anyone would be guilty of a contravention against public order if “in the harbours, on the seashore or in any other public place, exposes himself naked or is indecently dressed”.
The law does not specify a fine of €75.
If the Sliema local council devised this figure, it should have enacted a byelaw, which is a specified localised regulation enacted by a local council. The latest byelaw the Sliema local council published was in 2023.
The police also said the €75 charge is not part of the wider initiative that requires tourists to pay on-the-spot fines, which have yet to be formalised through parliament.
The issue of tourists walking around in swimwear has long irked residents. It prompted a debate in Sliema local council last year, where politicians grappled with the wording of signs and argued what constituted ‘suitable clothing’.
A sign erected in August warned tourists: “Beach mode off! Dress smart and respectful clothing.” But it did not suggest beachgoers would face a fine.
The deputy mayor told Times of Malta the latest signs “specifically address behaviour that is considered inappropriate away from designated bathing areas, including the wearing of swimwear, bikinis, or walking shirtless in urban areas, such as the promenade and the inner streets of Sliema.”
Debono said the council’s role “is to promote awareness, encourage responsible behaviour, and help maintain a pleasant environment for residents, businesses and visitors alike.”
Gżira mayor Neville Chetcuti also could not give an explanation how the fine was established, while the Valletta council did not reply to a request for comment.
No-one was able to explain how the €75 fine would be enforced.