Three people do not have to pay fines of DKK 2,500 each for violating the residence ban on Islands Brygge in Copenhagen on 26 April.
It is the result of a judgment handed down by the Copenhagen City Court on Monday.
The court has found that there has not been the necessary evidence that the three persons could or should have been able to see the posted signs or have otherwise been aware of the residence ban.
The stay ban was temporary in the port area to reduce coronavirus infection.
Read the court’s reasoning for the verdict here:
* The defendants admitted that they had been present, but they pleaded not guilty as they were not aware of the restraining order, including either through sufficiently clear signage or otherwise.
* The court assumes that on the evening of 25 April 2020, 50 A3-format signs and 50 A4-format signs were erected by the police in the evening in various places in the area, but that no further information was available on where in the area they were set up or whether all signs were still present on April 26, 2020.
* The court further assumes that after interrogations of the officers who had stopped the accused, on 26 April 2020 there were still signs about the residence ban, but without specifying where these signs were, how many signs there were was or what size they were in.
* The defendants were shown photos and a video of some of the signs, which they had subsequently noticed.
* In the decision, the court emphasized that there was no information on whether the residence ban of 25 April 2020 had been mentioned in the media and, if so, at what times.
* In addition, the court emphasized that the necessary evidence had not been presented that the defendants could or should have seen the posted signs about the residence ban or should otherwise have been aware of the residence ban that had been decided the day before and had effect from 25 April 2020 at 9 pm.
Source: Copenhagen City Court.
Judgment of the Copenhagen City Court
Source: The Nordic Page
