Parliament approves bills for tougher penalties for decree violators

Parliament on Friday passed into law two bills providing for significantly higher penalties for businesses that violate coronavirus decrees.

The bills passed into law by a majority amend the Quarantine Law, increasing penalties and the amount of the extrajudicial fine that can be imposed on owners or managers of any business or other economic activity related to goods and services that violate provisions of regulations or decrees in force to manage the coronavirus pandemic.

In the event of criminal prosecution, the law amendment also provides authority to the Chief of Police to file for a temporary suspension order for the businesses or economic activity for a maximum of two weeks, while the Chief can lift the order at any time. Appeals can be filed within seven days.

Out-of-court fines will depend on the net area of the space where businesses receive customers, indoor or outdoor. Specifically, business and economic activity premises are divided into four categories based on size, with different fines to be imposed on businesses falling into each category.

1. Business premises that serve customers in spaces of up to 50 square meters will be fined €750 upon their first violation, €1,500 upon their second, and €3,000 for any further violations.
2. Business premises that serve customers in spaces larger than 51 square meters up to 101 square meters will be fined €1,500 upon their first violation, €3,000 upon their second, and €6,000 for any further violations.
3. Business premises that serve customers in spaces that are between 101 square meters and 200 square meters large will be fined €2,000 upon their first violation, €4,000 upon their second, and €8,000 for any further violations.
4. Business premises that serve customers in spaces larger than 200 square meters will be fined €4,000 upon their first violation, €8,000 upon their second, and €16,000 for any further violations.