kiss_party

Some believe the bill will ban kissing in public places. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The Interior Ministry demands to have fines for certain violations which are now punished only with undefined sanctions. But some people think the ministry is increasing the size of the fines and are against the initiative.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs prepared a draft bill which would define and specify sanctions for certain articles in the administrative violations code. According to the draft, drinking alcoholic drinks in the streets, stadiums, yards and parks, municipal transport and other public places, also being in a condition which violates human dignity and morality, and applies a fine of USD 180 for the first time this prohibition is violated, USD 300 for the second time and USD 430 if the person repeats the crime for a third time.

If those punishing measures aren’t considered to be enough for certain cases, then the person might be also be sentenced to 15 days in prison.

The draft has caused concern among people and has become a major topic of discussion in social networks for last two days. Many think that there will also be sanctions for kissing in a public place.

However, there are no new prohibitions. The draft only specifies sanctions for actions which are already punishable under the current version of the law, including all the crimes just mentioned.

Nino Giorgobiani, head of the Interior Ministry’s press office, wrote on her Facebook that the draft bill doesn’t apply to ‘dates and kisses’ and that people’s concern is exaggerated.

The draft bill would also increase sanctions for drunk driving and not obeying law enforcers.

If a person is drunk while driving, he will be deprived of his driver’s license for one year, while today’s law defines a USD 120 fine for this. If a person under the age of 18 is drunk while driving, he will be deprived of his license for two years, while the current law defines one year for this case.

If a person doesn’t obey law enforcement, he or she will be fined USD 1 250, which is five times more than it is now. If a person verbally assaults them they will be punished with USD 1 800 or be sentenced to 15 days in jail.

The plenary sessions in parliament have ended for the summer, so parliament will review the bill at a plenary sessions in fall.