On Wednesday (January 26), a bill known as “lex Kaczyński” or “lex Hoc 2” was submitted to the Sejm. The bill on special measures concerning the protection of citizens’ life and health during the COVID-19 epidemic contains provisions intended to ensure free coronavirus testing for employees, as well as regulations concerning claims for compensation from co-workers or an employer for coronavirus infection.
The bill signed by Law and Justice MPs, including Jarosław Kaczyński, also proposes introducing a new prohibited act constituting a minor offense. The new provision would apply during an epidemic threat or a state of epidemic. The bill also raises the penalties for failing to comply with restrictions.
What penalties could apply for failing to comply with COVID restrictions and committing a prohibited act?
The Rzeczpospolita website:
The prohibited act would consist of failing to comply with prohibitions, orders, restrictions or obligations set out in regulations on preventing and combating infections and infectious diseases in humans, issued in connection with the COVID-19 epidemic. This could mean, for example, not wearing a mask or failing to keep a distance.
For committing it, an officer acting in penalty proceedings could impose a fine of up to PLN 2,000. If the person refused to accept the ticket, the officer would submit a request to the court to punish the offender, specifying the amount of the fine imposed on the accused. When ruling on the penalty, the court could not impose a fine lower than the amount specified in that request. The maximum fine the officer could request would be as much as PLN 6,000.
At present, the ticket for violating epidemic restrictions is PLN 500. A court may increase the fine if provided for by the provisions of the Code of Petty Offenses.
More about the bill can be read on the rp.pl website