A Polish tourist in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park faces a fine exceeding $60,000 and a three-year ban for smoking and subsequent aggressive behavior.
Polish Tourist Fined in Chile
A Polish tourist has been fined over 60,000 złoty (approximately $15 million Chilean pesos) for smoking in Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia.
The ruling was issued by a court in Puerto Natales, local media reported on Thursday.
Charitable Donation and Entry Ban
The tourist is required to donate the fine amount to charity and has been banned from entering Chile for three years.
Incident Details: Aggression and Damage
Witnesses and authorities report the tourist was caught smoking in a prohibited area, repeatedly violating the ban despite requests to extinguish the cigarette. When a park employee attempted to intervene, the tourist reacted aggressively, snatching and throwing the employee’s recording phone to the ground.
He then allegedly attempted to leave the scene, but was apprehended by park staff, other tourists, and subsequently by police following reports on social media.
Torres del Paine: Strict Fire Regulations
Torres del Paine National Park is a popular Chilean destination known for its glaciers, lakes, and mountains, but enforces a strict no-smoking and no-open-flame policy due to the risk of wildfires in its dry, windy climate.
History of Wildfires in the Park
In 2005, a fire destroyed over 15,000 hectares of the park, attributed to a Czech tourist overturning a gas stove in a restricted area. The Czech government officially apologized and contributed over $1 million for reforestation efforts.
Another significant fire occurred between 2011 and 2012, with an Israeli tourist accused of attempting to burn toilet paper, causing the flames to spread due to strong winds.
Recent Penalties for Fire-Related Offenses
Last week, Chilean media reported fines for three Japanese citizens for lighting a campfire in the park, totaling 30 million Chilean pesos (10 million each) to be donated to Chilean firefighters.