An English player of Pokémon GO now faces a penalty for going out to hunt during the lockdown. The police stopped him and issued a fine.
This is what happened: A curious reason for a fine has emerged from England. A man from the town of Bedworth was stopped in his car and asked for his reason for being out despite the lockdown.
In response, the man stated that he was going to the neighboring town of Kenilworth to play Pokémon GO. For the English police, this was not a valid reason to break the lockdown. They imposed a fine of 200 pounds (approximately 224 euros).
Lockdowns make playing Pokémon GO difficult
This is the current problem: The UK has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. A mutated form of the virus is spreading rapidly in the country, and the government responded with a strict lockdown. One may only leave the house for a valid reason (via aerzteblatt).
In Germany, there are also lockdowns in some areas – usually only at night. The federal and state governments are still discussing this issue (via Tagesschau).
Pokémon GO, on the other hand, continues to thrive. Events are continuously lined up, and there are regularly new shinies. Trainers are therefore actively lured to invest time in Pokémon GO – which is best done outdoors. However, this does not align with the lockdowns.
What alternatives are there? Since March 2020, Pokémon GO has made playing from home significantly easier. For example, there is improved incense or more gifts from your buddy.
You do not need to go outside to effectively play Pokémon GO. Here are some tips for you:
Playing Pokémon GO at home – 6 tips on how to use your time at home effectively
We at MeinMMO also recommend taking advantage of the bonuses for staying at home and not feeling compelled to play Pokémon GO on the go – if you do play on the go, however, you should adhere to social distancing rules and wear masks.
The penalty for the English player is not an isolated case. We have already reported on this several times: Police catch trainers playing Pokémon GO outside despite the lockdown
