This Sunday, the gendarmes of Lunel carried out control operations on the beach of Grand-Travers in La Grande-Motte. The watchword was pedagogy. Only for Covid measures.
The donut vendor, sunglasses, swimsuit… Everything was there, this Easter Sunday, for an almost summer day on the beaches of Hérault. This was without counting on the new confinement which came into force on Saturday evening, with the possibility of walking within a radius of only 10 km.
Despite a tolerance for this Easter weekend as regards travel, the police have intensified their controls with “an educational goal with regard to the wearing of the mask on the beach”, said Commander Jean Casaubieilh, in charge of the operation, a few minutes before the start of the checks.
Complying does not necessarily mean adhering to
On their towels, however, the vast majority of tanners did not have the mask. And yet, even alone, even away from other people, it is mandatory to wear it. Alongside the secretary general of the Hérault prefecture, Thierry Laurent, some 17 gendarmes and municipal police officers were thus mobilized to carry out the control.
Arranged in line, the police went along this beach of Grand-Travers and stopped to warn people to wear their masks. “They can take it off when they eat or drink. However, when done, they have to put their masks back on. We’re not verbalizing them today about it, unless people refuse to comply. it’s quite rare “, indicated the commander in charge of the operation.
However, no interviewee was aware of this rule. Although they had all put on their masks, they were not in agreement with this measure. “We have nothing against control, but this story of wearing a mask is abused, lamented Mika and Rosalie, a Lunellois couple who came to the beach with their two daughters. To move, we understand that the mask is needed. But when we’re on our towel, I don’t see the point. “
405 € for rosé
Same story with Véronica for whom this rule is “incomprehensible”. Restricted for more than a year in their movements, the Hérault residents present this Sunday perceived this rule as being the last straw. “We’re fed up with it”some were annoyed.
While leniency was the order of the day when it came to the mask, groupings of more than six people and drinking alcohol lacked leniency. Even for a glass of rosé during the picnic. “For a year, alcohol consumption has been prohibited on public roads. Including on the beach. Since this weekend, this measure is national and we have had a ministerial order to be uncompromising on this subject”, detailed Commander Casaubieilh.
“It’s getting ridiculous!” Guillaume had come to picnic with his children, his wife and two friends. They left with three fines of € 135 for having consumed rosé. “It was our last moment to meet before going into confinement. This moment was wasted.” In addition to this alcohol having cost more than expected, Guillaume deplored the way of doing things. “Several of them arrived with their handguns. There are children with us. Can you imagine the picture for them?”
On the side of the police, the will “is not to scare but to reassure. It is not to be aggressive but to be ready to act in the event of a dangerous situation”, replied Thierry Laurent.
Anyway, all Sunday sunbathers will have, from tomorrow, to wear the mask scrupulously, to comply with the rules of 10 km and the curfew under penalty of a fine of 135 €. In addition, if the pandemic and health rules continue after these four weeks, “measures may need to be stepped up in view of the large crowds in places like this one”, wondered the commander of the Lunel gendarmerie. So let’s hope that the epidemic is quickly behind us.
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