Much of the UK is currently under lockdown as the nation attempts to get a handle on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. These lockdown restrictions ask that people don't leave their homes for unnecessary things, like playing the popular augmented reality mobile game Pokemon GO, for instance. However, not everyone is following the rules, with one man in the UK fined for breaking lockdown rules to play Pokemon GO.
According to the BBC, a man traveled from Bedworth to Kenilworth to search for Pokemon to catch in Pokemon GO. He admitted as much to police and was fined £200 (which translates to roughly $270) for his actions. Speaking to the BBC, a spokeswoman for the police said, "We would like to remind people they must not leave or be outside their home unless they have a reasonable excuse." Despite what some Pokemon GO fans may think, playing the game is not a reasonable excuse to break lockdown.
This isn't the first time that someone has broken lockdown rules to play Pokemon GO. Last year, an Italian man was stopped by police after he and his daughter were caught outside playing Pokemon GO, as he needed to "hunt the Pokemon." The man was reportedly charged for his decision to break lockdown to play Pokemon GO, though it's unclear what punishment he faced exactly.
While recent Pokemon GO-related fines and legal troubles revolve around the COVID-19 pandemic, players used to get in trouble for other things. At the height of Pokemon GO's popularity, it wasn't uncommon for stories top pop up about people entering private property in search of Pokemon. There were also multiple instances of people playing Pokemon GO while driving, which had deadly consequences in some cases.
To its credit, Pokemon GO developer Niantic has long had warning messages in the game advising people to make sure that they are playing it safely. It has also made changes to Pokemon GO to account for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, making it easier for players to play the game without leaving their homes. This clearly still hasn't stopped people from leaving their homes to play Pokemon GO anyway, though hopefully that behavior comes to an end.
Eventually, Pokemon GO players will be able to play the game like normal again, but for now, it may be best for most players to play the game from the safety of their home instead of venturing out into the world.
Pokemon GO is out now for iOS and Android mobile devices.
Source: BBC