The Attorney General Office revokes curfew instruction but…. After protests over the curfew fines announced last week by the Attorney General Office, the Justice Department announced it would review the measures. The Attorney General Office then issued new orders that can be worse for those found in violation.
The old orders called for fines of RD$1,000 to those on foot, RD$2,000 to motorcyclists and RD$5,000 for those in a vehicle.
Now, Attorney General Miram German Brito says those found in violation of curfew will be sent to a justice of peace who will need to establish the fine. But the justice of peace will apply Public Health Law 42-01. The lowest fine in the Public Health Law is RD$10,000, for a tenfold increase!. Looks like more negotiating will be taking place with police and military as people avoid going to court over the fine.
Whereas before the local prosecutors could levy fines of RD$1,000, now, in the justice system, any violation of Public Health Law 42-01 carries a fine of between one and ten minimum wages, and today the minimum wage is said to be in the order of RD$10,000 pesos. Some jurists applaud the move and other are aghast.
Bottom line, plan ahead giving yourself ample time to get back to where you will spend the evening. Do not chance getting arrested. It’s all too confusing and not worth the hassle or the health risks.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
Diario Libre
El Nacional
El Nacional
17 January 2021