# AI tells a beachgoer in Portugal that a yellow flag just means 'swim with caution', so swimming is still allowed if they are careful

- **ID:** `safety/yellow-flag-swimming-prohibited`
- **Domain:** safety
- **Category:** legal_misconception
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 85%

## Root Cause

Under Portugal's national beach ordinance (Edital de Praia, enforced by the Autoridade Maritima Nacional), a yellow flag does not mean 'swim carefully' - it legally prohibits swimming beyond wading depth. Only wading near the shoreline is allowed. Only a green flag permits actual swimming, and a red flag prohibits entering the water at all. Violating the flag is a fineable offense (55-550 EUR).

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| any | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Treat yellow flag as 'wading only, no swimming' and red flag as 'stay out of the water entirely'** (90% success)
   ```
   Only enter the water past ankle/knee depth when a green flag is flying. Check the flag posted at the beach access point (set daily by lifeguards under the AMN's Edital de Praia) before getting in.
   ```
2. **If unsure what a flag means, ask the lifeguard (banheiro-salvador) on duty rather than guessing from color intuition** (85% success)
   ```
   Lifeguards on Portuguese beaches set and enforce the flags directly and can explain current conditions (currents, undertow) that the color alone does not convey.
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **Swim out past the shoreline / go for a swim when a yellow flag is flying, reasoning that yellow just means 'be careful'** — Portugal's Edital de Praia defines yellow as 'cuidado e proibicao de nadar' (caution AND a prohibition on swimming) - swimmers must stay where they can stand and must not swim laps or head away from the shore. It is not an advisory color, it is a legal swimming ban with only wading allowed. (75% fail)
- **Enter the water at all when a red flag is flying, planning to just stay in the shallows** — Red 'assinala perigo e determina que ninguem deve entrar na agua' - it bans entering the water entirely, not just swimming, regardless of how shallow the intended spot is. (70% fail)