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Published Wednesday, May 6,
2020
People
fined for breakingban on beach order By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The Prosecutor's Office reported on Tuesday the process against four people who failed to comply with the government orders of banning all beach activities, after they were detained in Royale Beach in Limón Province. There were two different cases heard in the flagrant criminal court of that province in regards to people not complying with the temporary laws. The flagrante delicto or flagrant is a legal term used to indicate that a criminal has been caught in the act of committing an offense. The colloquial "caught red-handed" or "caught rapid" are English equivalents. The first case was of two men surnamed Castillo- Rojas and Rowe- Orozco. Both men accepted the charges accused by the Prosecutor's Office and were ordered to each pay a fine of an equivalent to $265 in school supplies. In the second case, both men surnamed Winter - Rowe and Guadamuz - Solera also accepted the charges brought upon them. The flagrante court determined that if they commit the crime again they would go to jail for four months. According to the Prosecutor, both men had already been warned by the National Coast Guard Service to leave the beach. However, a few days later the police arrested them when they were caught on the beach. Despite the beach ban ordered by the government in March intended to contain the spread of the covid-19, people continue to visit beaches. On Tuesday, the Tourist Police of Manuel Antonio Beach in Puntarenas Province, reported having detained 10 people who were on the beach.  According to the police report, during routine patrols, the police found a group of men who were resting on the beach and planning to camp. "Of the ten people found at the scene, eight were taken to the Immigration Police, as they irregularly entered the country," said the police in its report. The other two men received a police report for disobeying the health alert by covid-19. As this was the first time they were found on the beach, they were only issued a warning and were not detained. According to the data provided by the Ministry of Security, since the prohibition to enter the beaches was ordered, 235 people have been detained for breaking the countrywide mandatory beach ban order. On April 8, the Ministry announced adding more police officers in tourist hotspots. According to Martin Arias, general director of the National Coast Guard Service, there are still people who insist on disrespecting the quarantine and prohibition of beach entry and sailing. Following the strict security measures ordered by the government lasting until May 15, it is prohibited to sail on ships or boats. The government also ordered closing beach access to everyone in the country. According to the ministry, breaking the ban is punishable by a $790 fine for first-time offenders. People who have been evicted and re-enter a beach or continue sailing will be arrested and charged for the crime of disobeying authority, which can be punished with a sentence of up to three years in prison. According to the police, most of the tourists warned were on beaches in the Provinces of Guanacaste and Limón. Among these beaches were the popular Santa Cruz, Matapalo, Matapalito, Ocotal, Potrero and El Coco. Also, coastguards of the Siquirres Canton had to dismantle tourist camps that were located near the Pacuare and Parismina Rivers, in the area of the Caribbean Coast. The government has ordered a countrywide shelter-in-place quarantine. Authorities call on people to respect the order not to enter the beaches. Stay home, they said. ------------------------ Have you heard of expats challenging the beach ban? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
