Luxembourg City authorities impose fines for range of offences
From Monday, municipal agents can fine individuals €25 for offences such as not picking up dog poo, previously levied only by police
Fines for more than a dozen minor offences, including playing loud music in public spaces and not picking up dog poo, can be imposed by municipal agents in Luxembourg’s capital from Monday.
Luxembourg City Council handed a host of new powers to municipal agents patrolling the capital’s streets in February, but a “grace period” in which no fines were imposed to allow a public awareness campaign to conclude was in place until Monday, a council spokesperson told the Luxembourg Times.
The 17 offences cover a range of infringements, such as the setting off of fireworks, the dumping of rubbish bags on public thoroughfares and even the use of lawnmowers during certain times of the day.
Few councils keen on expanding powers for local agents
Anyone caught breaching the regulations will be ordered to pay a fine of €25 within two weeks of the offence. Failure to pay by the deadline will result in the case being sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the council’s website states, which may impose a fine of up to €250 on the individual concerned.
The new rules give powers to municipal agents, which were previously reserved for the police. Parliament last year approved a law to give communes the option of extending the duties of municipal agents to include this list of 17 offences.
Former Luxembourg MP will not be prosecuted for begging
The move comes amid a backlash against a begging ban introduced in the capital in recent months, which forbids asking passers-by for cash in certain streets between 07:00 and 22:00. People found begging can be ordered to pay a fine of up to €250 or face several days in jail.
City authorities had beefed up security forces in the capital, hiring private companies and accusing the former DP-LSAP-déi Gréng coalition government of not doing enough to improve security in the city. Last year’s election saw a CSV-DP coalition take office - mirroring the DP-CSV municipal council in the capital.
Private security patrols in Luxembourg City to end within weeks
In February, the capital’s mayor Lydie Polfer said that all private security agents patrolling the streets of Luxembourg City would be withdrawn within weeks, except at the city’s main public park where they will maintain a presence.
(This article was updated on 16 April 2024 at 09:50 to clarify that fines for the 17 offences added to the list of responsibilities of municipal agents were previously levied by police.)
