Lawmakers approve bill that would allow fines, arrests, and closures during states of emergency

Santo Domingo.- The Chamber of Deputies approved this Tuesday, in second discussion, the bill that modifies chapter IV of Law 21-18, on the regulation of the states of exception contemplated by the Constitution of the Dominican Republic, which would allow the imposition of fines, the making of withholdings and temporary arrests, as well as ordering the closure of businesses to those who fail to comply with the restrictions imposed by the Executive Branch during the states of emergency. The legislative initiative, authored by Congressman Eugenio Cedeño, now goes to the Senate of the Republic for its consideration in that Chamber of the National Congress. The modification to the aforementioned law aims to establish provisions regarding the organization of the sanctioning regime, in which the type of infractions that may be committed in case of non-compliance and the sanctions to be imposed by the competent court are determined with greater clarity and precision.

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If approved in the Senate, the legal provision would establish three levels of infractions, which are:

• Minor: infractions that cause a minimal degree of impact on health, citizen security, and public order.
• Serious: infractions that cause an intermediate degree of impact on health, citizen security, and public order.
• And very serious: infractions that cause a high degree of impact on health, citizen security, and public order.

The approved piece establishes that the National Police may issue infringement reports manually or through electronic devices implemented by the Ministry of Interior and Police. Also, the deputies approved a group of resolutions through which they request the Executive Branch to build and renovate civil works, as well as the installation of offices of public entities in different municipalities of the country. Prior to the start of the session, the plenary observed a minute of silence in memory of Mrs. Ramona Rodríguez, mother of congresswoman Nelly Feliz Rodríguez, as well as for Mrs. Dulce Ali Filpo, who in life was a leader of the community service of San Francisco de Macorís.

Upon completion of the legislative work this Tuesday, the deputies were summoned for tomorrow Wednesday, at 12:00 noon.