In the district of Vorpommern-Rügen (state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), authorities plan to implement fines for residents of refugee accommodation centers.
This decision comes as a response to the increased costs of repairs due to acts of vandalism and violations related to alcohol and smoking, as reported by the Ostsee-Zeitung.
The proposal, which will be discussed by the district council on March 17, includes 19 types of fines, ranging from 50 to 150 euros. For example, smoking in rooms will incur a fine of 50 euros, noise at night will result in a 100-euro fine, and repeated drug use will be fined 150 euros. The district’s financial committee has already approved this initiative.
Local authorities emphasize that the number of violations in refugee centers has significantly increased in recent months, and the costs of repairing damaged property are putting additional strain on the budget. This also worsens the living conditions for those who follow the rules.
It remains unclear how the fines will be collected. If a violation is not paid, a reminder will be sent to the offender, but it is still undecided whether the fines can be deducted from the social welfare payment cards. The fine system is expected to be in place for a year, after which the authorities will evaluate its effectiveness.
