British people attempting to go on vacation while travel restrictions are still in place could face a $7,000 fine under new government legislation. The UK’s new “Roadmap Regulations,” released on Monday, proposed that anyone traveling outside England “without a reasonable excuse” should face a fine of £5,000 ($6,932) – JMD: 1,000,430.75
The legislation — coming a year after the UK first entered lockdown — will be voted on by parliament on Thursday.
Under Covid-19 restrictions, nonessential travel is currently banned. Under the “Stay at Home” order, anyone leaving the country must fill out a travel declaration form, explaining the nature of their trip. UK residents returning home are quizzed by border staff on the reasons they traveled.
Currently, the penalty is £200 for not filling out a travel declaration form. If passed, the £5,000 fixed penalty will come into force Monday, March 29.
The new law is set to remain in place until June 30, meaning nonessential travel would be banned for another three months. Until now, the earliest date for the resumption of international travel had been slated as May 17.
