A new petty offense in the Code of Petty Offenses in connection with the propagation of the COVID-19 virus

20.04.2020 r.

A new petty offense in the Code of Petty Offenses in connection with the propagation of the COVID-19 virus

A new article - Article 65a of the Code of Petty Offenses - was introduced under Article 2 of the “Act on the modification of the Act on specific solutions related to the prevention, counteraction, and combating of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, and the crisis situations caused by them and other Acts” of 31st March 2020. This new article states that “whoever intentionally fails to comply with either a police officer or border guard officer’s instructions, on the basis of law, concerning specific orders of behaviour, or prevents or significantly impedes the performance of these officers’ official duties, is punishable by detention, restriction of liberty, or fine.” This provision entered into force on 31st March 2020.

This petty offense is a new criminal act and can only be committed intentionally. The introduction of this provision into the legal order is aimed at ensuring the effectiveness of the actions of Police or Border Guard officers, not only during the present epidemic, but also during the officers’ implementation of their ordinary statutory tasks.

The application of this new prohibiting act has not been limited in time, specifically not just for the duration of the epidemic status in this country. However, the introduction of the provision of Article 65a is associated with the introduction of various restrictions related to the COVID-19 virus.

 

/ADK/