Lanzarote’s council says most bus passengers behave, but two have been fined €4,000 each. Credit: Retroscania! / Flickr
Two passengers on Lanzarote’s Line 3 have each been fined €4,000 and face losing their travel passes for a time, yet the council hasn’t said what they actually did. It has, however, used the case to remind everyone riding that swimwear, vaping and even a snack are off limits.
Two passengers on Line 3 fined €4,000 each
The Cabildo de Lanzarote (the island council) announced on Monday October 19 that two passengers on Line 3, the route linking Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen, have each been sanctioned €4,000 for seriously disrupting the island’s bus service. Both breaches were classed as ‘very serious’ under the island’s rules for bus passengers, with both people also facing a temporary withdrawal of their personal travel passes.
However, the council hasn’t said exactly what either of them actually did, when it happened or how long the passes will be taken away for. So what went on aboard is still a mystery, though a €4,000 is a hefty bill for a bus journey whatever it was, and points towards something fairly serious.
For context, when the Cabildo’s governing council approved the new passenger rules in July 2025, it allowed for fines of up to €6,000 for the worst breaches.
The rules the council has just repeated
Alongside the announcement, the council reminded passengers what’s banned on board. Smoking and vaping are out, and so is eating or drinking anything other than water. Passengers also mustn’t distract the driver while the bus is moving, and can’t board in swimwear, which could catch out anyone heading straight from the beach.
They’re also expected to follow instructions from bus staff, keep seats reserved for people with disabilities or reduced mobility free and avoid damaging or dirtying the vehicles.
The council says most passengers behave
Transport councillor Miguel Ángel Jiménez said most people use the buses responsibly, and that the rules are there to protect passengers and staff. He added that the department will keep applying sanctions where behaviour disrupts the service or threatens the safety or comfort of others.
So, with nobody telling tales about what the two naughty passengers actually did to earn the €4,000 fines, it’s safe to say travellers should definitely follow the driver’s instructions and save the vaping and snacks for after having stepped off.