Morocco Imposes On-the-Spot Fines for Mask Violations as COVID Cases Rise

This new provision has been taken to enforce "the state of health emergency and the precautionary measures that citizens are required to take". In addition to the possibility of a prison sentence of up to "three months against recalcitrants and fines of up to 1,300 dirhams", already known, the Executive has just added the payment of a fine of "300 dirhams, to be paid on the spot to avoid a trial".

"Any violation of this rule will result in a report drawn up by a national security or gendarmerie agent," the government said, adding that it had been forced to act in this way following the general relaxation observed in compliance with the rules of wearing masks and physical distancing.

This provision therefore comes into force for a more effective implementation of the punitive provisions enacted by decree-law No. 2.20.292. "The payment of this fine leads to the extinction of public action," the government spokesman, Saaïd Amzazi, also said. He stated that in "the event that the offenders do not pay the fine, the report will be transmitted to the public prosecutor’s office in order to take the necessary measures within 24 hours from the observation of the offense".