Illegal rave attendees in Marseille could face fines of €3,000 under proposed legislation

Illegal ravers in Marseille, France, could be subject to fines of up to €3,000 under a new draft law, according to France 24.

Earlier this month (April 9), MPs in Marseille proposed a new bill that would see rave organisers facing up to six months' jail time and fines of up to €30,000 for unlicensed parties with more than 250 people in attendance. 

The bill, if passed by the French senate, would also hand out punishments for partaking in illegal raves, with fines of €1,500 if caught attending an event once, and €3,000 for "repeat offenders", according to Euronews.

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MPs in support of the proposed changes say new rules are needed to safeguard against environmental damage, safety issues and lack of permits around free parties in the south of France.

Earlier this month (April 26), protestors threw an event they dubbed "the last rave" on the outskirts of Marseille ahead of the potential new bill coming into place, with a free party attended by over 300 people.

"I called it 'the last rave' because it scares me to think that I could spend six months in prison, just because I'm organising a party for 300 people," an organiser told France 24.

"We are trying to develop something really inclusive and safe for everyone," he said, arguing that "the queer community doesn't have places in Marseille to party."

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French electronic music association Technopol has denounced the "authoritarian" draft law, while free party community Techno+ shared an open letter calling for the "rejection of any legislation" that criminalises these gatherings.

"These spaces for celebration and freedom are a human, ancient and legitimate response,” they argued. "The people who gather there have a soundsystem, a space, and the conviction that freedom is not claimed, it is practiced."

Read the open letter here.

[Via France 24]

Gemma Ross is Mixmag's Associate Digital Editor, follow her on X