Not wearing the mask, ignoring the curfew, secretly keeping a company open while it must be closed or not respecting social distancing of five feet, these are some examples of fines issued by the police or boas in the past year. But much more serious offenses also prompted the massive issuing of fines, such as organizing a lockdown party or gathering together with a large group. Fines are issued under the most varied circumstances. Perhaps the most striking is crossing the national border without registering in advance to refuel on the other side at an unmanned petrol station where the risk of contamination is nil.
Today is the term corona fine equally everywhere nowadays, but a year ago no one had spoken. If you do not comply with the corona rules, you can be fined in the Netherlands, thanks to the Minister Ferd Grapperhaus of Justice, of only Get € 95. Grapperhaus then talked to the police and 'Boas' after commotion for his wedding where the rules were broken en masse. But things are going faster in Flanders. Article 187 of this law provides for the punishment of violations of the measures ordered under this law with a fine of € 208 to € 4.000 and / or imprisonment of 8 days to 3 months. The so-called corona violations cost € 750 for retailers, operators and persons responsible for an activity and € 250 for all other violators.
Almost half of all violations against the corona rules can be attributed to young people, with the ban on gathering together as the cause. It is striking that people over 60 hardly received a coupon. Nevertheless, we should certainly not stigmatize the young people, almost all measures are taken the hardest by the young people, such as the ban on gathering together, the curfew and the absence of events.
HALT or child protection
If, after a warning, a young person does not comply with the regional emergency ordinance in connection with the corona measures, a HALT settlement will be chosen where possible. This warning from a BOA or police officer may, for example, come about because the young person does not keep enough distance or is in a prohibited area. If the young person agrees to a HALT settlement and completes it successfully, this will replace the fine of 95 euros. This only applies to the first time that young people violate the measures. In the HALT settlement, it is again very clearly explained what the usefulness and necessity of the emergency ordinance is and why it is so important that the young person adheres to it. Parents are also involved in this and on them responsibility pointed out.
For the second violation of the emergency ordinance established, the young person will be fined 95 euros. From the third violation by the same young person, the case is presented to the local Public Prosecution Service. There, the Public Prosecution Service looks at a tailored decision. The Public Prosecution Service is advised in this by the Child Care and Protection Board.
The Public Prosecution Service may decide that the young person must answer for himself in court. In the meantime, the young person can, for example, be banned from the area or obliged to report at set times. Fines for adults for violating the regional emergency ordinance in connection with the corona measures also amount to 95 euros. For them too, the local prosecutor's office will make a tailor-made OM decision from the third violation.
Also read: More than 37 percent of the foreign fines remain unpaid
