Spot fines on mask illegal

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
IT is illegal for any police officer to demand spot fines from people not wearing face masks in public, says Police Minister Bryan Kramer.
“There is no fine that I am aware of. However there are orders. There shouldn’t be any spot fines.”
He said he would discuss the matter with Police Commissioner David Manning.
Kramer said some officers had been abusing the public health safety orders regarding the Covid-19 such as on the wearing of face masks in a public transport and in public places.
“There is a concern about these orders on the pandemic which certain officers have abused,” he said.
“I would encourage (people told by police to pay a fine) to file a complaint when they feel something is wrong. If officers are asked to be paid, or there is a need for clarification, just write a letter to my office and the Commissioner of Police David Manning.”
He told The National that anyone ordered to pay a spot fine or threatened of arrest for not wearing a mask in a private vehicle should report the matter to the nearest police station and write a formal complaint to his office.
He said offending police officers would be dealt with.
“We are rebuilding and strengthening the Internal Investigations Unit (for this purpose),” he said.
“We want to start aggressively dealing with this issue of police officers charging those who do not adhere to the laws.
“Applying common sense is something everyone should be adhering to and wearing face masks.”