The set of containment rules to combat the spread of the new coronavirus raises many questions. Where to download the new derogatory travel certificate? Can we present this certificate on my smartphone? Should we renew our certificate for each new outing? Added to these many questions are those around shopping in supermarkets. If travel to do basic shopping is authorized, how is it controlled by the police?
Can we be checked inside a store?
The police in charge of enforcing containment cannot control customers inside supermarkets, butcheries or cheese factories. On the other hand, some of them can position themselves at the exit of the big brands to carry out their verification of a derogatory travel certificate. According to the regional daily West France, a control operation was carried out by the gendarmes and the municipal police in the commercial area of Porte Océane, in Auray (Morbihan) last Tuesday. A dozen offenses have been reported.
Can the police check our shopping bags?
When you have a duly completed derogatory travel certificate and you travel to do basic necessities, in principle you are in good standing. However, the term "first necessity" raises many questions and may be misinterpreted by some. For some, a depilatory cream is essential, for others it is carbonated drinks. This observation prompts some police officers to take a quick look at what can possibly exceed the bags, without searching them. A few days ago, a report from the 19/20 television news France 3 illustrated a somewhat peculiar police check. "Madam, you are asked to comply with confinement measures and to move only when necessary. Watch what you buy ", retorts a policeman to a woman in a shopping cart full of Coca-Cola bottles. If the police are not yet empowered to sanction such behavior, they can still call to order.
When you're in confinement and you go out to buy coke #coronavirus # COVID19 # Covid_19 # Coronavid19 #COVID ー 19 # confinementjour6 #Stay at homepic.twitter.com/nUpHQgyThu
– news-alerts (@alertes_news) March 22, 2020
Should we keep our sales receipt?
Consequently, the certificate of derogatory displacement must be made on the principle of good faith. Thus, the police officer in charge of the control must be content with this duly completed form to believe the person he is controlling. Given the number of Internet users contesting their sanctions, it is therefore better to be careful and keep everything that can constitute evidence to avoid fines. Thus, an outing to the supermarket, the fruit and vegetables, butchery or even to the cheese maker can possibly be proven by the presentation of a sales receipt.
Read also :
⋙ Coronavirus: where to download the new derogatory displacement certificate?
⋙ Checking your certificate: why you should not pay a fine on the street
⋙ Containment: can we get reimbursed for subscriptions (SNCF, Navigo, UGC …)?