He bought a pie and now has to pay more than 10,000 pesos – ElSol.com.ar – Diario de Mendoza, Argentina

According to the Police Code, those who buy from street vendors "promote or facilitate the use or occupancy of public space in violation of constitutional norms and jurisprudence".

In Bogota, a pie can cost you between $ 1,000 Colombian ($ 12) and $ 4,000 ($ 49), but a man who has bought a copy of this coveted snack from a street vendor will have to pay more than $ 800. 000 dollars (10,000 Argentine dollars) after several in uniform will impose a fine, three other customers and the seller, thus justifying a violation of the police code.

The 22-year-old, Stiven Claros, explained that with a few friends, he had spent his day in a traveling booth of empanadas, located in the area of ​​La Castellana, where they usually eat. "We arrived, we bought the empanada, the policemen saw us and they did not tell us anything, but when we ate, they came to ask for identity papers." not finished eating, when they gave me an appearance. They never told us that we could not eat there, "said the sanctioned.

The police argued that those who buy street vendors violate article 140 of the Police Code which considers that with this conduct citizens "promote or facilitate the use or occupation of public space in violation rules and constitutional case-law in force ". (Also read: the surroundings of La Picota prison in Bogotá intervene to avoid street vendors)

The young man said that he was very worried because his income was not enough to pay the fine, the payment of his semester, his transportation and the economic contribution he regularly made at his home.

"I want to send a message to the police to let her know that she cares more about security than people who buy an empanada or sell street vendors who have to support a family." I have even stolen in this neighborhood, but they have seven police officers for one empanadas and one for security. "

He added that after the uniforms had imposed the five subpoenas (to him, to three other clients and to the seller, La Negrita), they had started to warn the people who were arriving that he was not going to be there. 39; was not allowed to buy in this place.

Steven Claros, who has already approached a police station to present his case and seek a form of negotiation, must wait for a hearing in which he specifies whether or not he must pay the amount of the penalty for: Although he admits that he did not know that this behavior violated the law, it does not exempt him from punishment.