For feeding pigeons in Karlovy Vary you can get a fine<\/em><\/p>
If you carefully look at signs and notices in Karlovy Vary, besides the numerous inscriptions in Russian and Czech – store signs, advertisements, restaurant menus – you can also see a sign with no words written on it. Neither in Czech nor in Russian. Just a symbol – a crossed-out pigeon. What does it mean? "Feeding pigeons is prohibited!" The editor of Radio Prague spoke about this with the spokesperson of the Karlovy Vary city hall, Helena Kysela.<\/p>
– Why is feeding pigeons not allowed in your city? <\/em><\/p>
– Initially, the ban on feeding pigeons was not enacted by the authorities of Karlovy Vary. The fact is that there is a concept of “spa town,” a certain status established by the country’s government back in January 2013. It applies not only to Karlovy Vary but also to other resorts in the country. First, our city received this status, and only then did the city hall issue a regulation on city cleanliness. But, I want to add, and this is important, that in spa towns it is forbidden to feed not only pigeons but also stray and wild animals.<\/p>
– It should be clarified that wild animals do not mean bears or wild boars, they don't walk around the city, but small animals, for example, squirrels or hedgehogs. Tell me, has it actually happened that people feeding pigeons were fined? <\/em><\/p>
– Compliance with the orders of the government and the Karlovy Vary city hall is monitored by the municipal police. As a rule, police officers approach tourists and simply tell them that pigeons cannot be fed. But there have been cases where fines were issued. Several dozen cases. From one hundred crowns (3.7 euros) and above, the maximum fine is one thousand crowns (37 euros). When the spa town status came into effect and the city hall order was issued, the police informed all hotels in the city about it. And they in turn must ensure their guests know about this ban.<\/p>
– How do tourists behave when law enforcement officers approach them and demand payment of a fine for feeding pigeons? <\/em><\/p>
– Everyone reacts differently. The police officers who issue fines are, of course, better informed about this. But I know that some people start telling the police that they knew nothing about the ban, that they are genuinely surprised by such a ban. However, fines were still issued to them. As a rule, these fines were paid immediately on the spot.<\/p>
– Tell me, are the main violators of the law tourists? <\/em><\/p>
– No. Fines are issued even to residents of the city. Not everyone knows about this ban. And not everyone realizes what they are doing. For example, a person has a leftover dry bagel and goes to feed it to the pigeons. They don't understand that it's not just about a ban. It's about the city doing everything to reduce the number of pigeons. They carry diseases, they damage and dirty houses and monuments. Maintaining all this in proper condition and cleaning it is a considerable expense for the city.<\/p>
– You cannot feed pigeons. But can you feed, say, ducks? <\/em><\/p>
– If someone feeds wild animals and birds within the city limits, it is a violation of the law. Therefore, feeding ducks is also prohibited. And there are quite a few of them in the Teplá River. Feeding stray cats is also not allowed. Last year we tried to somehow reduce their number, we worked on it, and it was quite successful. We appealed to tourists and especially to city residents, asking them not to feed stray cats.<\/p>
– Can you come to Karlovy Vary with a dog? Is it allowed to walk it in the city center? <\/em><\/p>
– There is no ban on walking dogs here. There are places where dogs can run freely, and places where they can only be walked on a leash and with a muzzle. Dogs are not allowed near the colonnades and adjacent areas, as well as near mineral springs. In these same places, smoking is also prohibited.<\/p>
– So smoking is allowed in the city, but not everywhere? <\/em><\/p>
– According to the law, the administration of Karlovy Vary does not prohibit and does not have the right to prohibit smoking in public places. Except for a number of exceptions, such as smoking near schools and the like. But to keep the streets clean, we have bins with special metal plates attached on top, on which you can stub out a cigarette and then throw it into the same bin. Well, and as I said earlier, smoking is strictly prohibited near the springs and colonnades. Smoking is also not allowed, for example, at bus stops. If police officers see that these rules are being violated, they issue fines.<\/p>