After Lithuania banned non-essential travel between municipalities, the police turned back over 10,000 cars at checkpoints set up around the country, according to the police.
“People thought naively that they wouldn't be checked or that they could tell [made-up] stories to be let through,” Arūnas Paulauskas, deputy chief of the country’s police, told LRT RADIO on Monday.
Police officers “heard many different versions” on why people need to travel, according to Paulauskas. Until January 3, people are only allowed to travel between municipalities to provide care, seek medical help, for work, when leaving or entering Lithuania, or other essential reasons.
Read more: Lithuanian resort sets up roadblocks, bars holidaymakers during lockdown
Some 900 police teams were active during the weekend, which were assisted by the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union, the State Border Guard Service (VSAT), and the Military Police.
The police will not set up checkpoints and will only do sporadic checks during the weekdays, “as most people travel for work” which is allowed under the lockdown restrictions, said Paulauskas.
Officials have previously said that police officers will evaluate the person’s reason for travel on a case-by-case basis, with Prime Minister Ignrida Šimonytė saying that the enforcement of rules will be mostly down to the people themselves.
Find the full list of rules here.
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