The prefect of police announced on Thursday a ban on “freedom convoys” in Paris, inspired by a movement launched in Canada to protest health restrictions, which planned to “block the capital” from Friday.
“A specific device will be set up (…) to prevent road blockages, verbalize and arrest violators of this ban,” the Prefecture of police added in a statement.
Thousands of opponents of the vaccine pass announced on social networks that they wanted to “ride on Paris” as part of “freedom convoys”, inspired by Canadian truckers blocking the center of their country’s capital, Ottawa.
Several convoys have already left Nice, Bayonne and Perpignan on Wednesday.
They plan to rally in Paris on Friday evening and some are then calling to join Brussels for a “European convergence” scheduled for Monday, February 14.
The prefect of police, who gave “firm instructions” to the police officers, recalls that obstructing traffic is punishable by a two-year prison sentence, a fine of 4,500 euros, the immobilization and impounding of the vehicle, the halving of the maximum number of points of the driver’s license and its suspension for a maximum of three years.
“The organizer of a prohibited demonstration can be punished with six months in prison and a fine of 7,500 euros and participants will be verbalized with a fourth-class ticket,” or 135 euros, adds the prefecture.
