FILE PHOTO - Police in Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health Authority are being given powers to issue additional fines for contraventions of the province's health officer's orders.
(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
November 13, 2020 - 4:39 PM
The province is taking steps to show it means business when it comes to enforcing COVID-19 protocols.
British Columbia police are being given additional power to issue violation tickets for health contraventions in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions.
The move aligns the province’s ticketing measures with the provincial health officer’s orders.
The new ticketing measures will apply to party buses and limousines, allowing police to issue additional fines to those who operate or allow operation of perimeter seating vehicles or buses.
The $2,000 fines will be levied under the Emergency Program Act. People taking part in a social gathering on a bus or limousine in these two regions could also face individual fines of $200.
Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth made the announcement in a release issued this afternoon, Nov. 13. All ticketing measures previously announced in August and September that enforce COVID-19 public safety continue to apply at gatherings and events.
The enabling action from police is complemented by liquor, cannabis and gaming inspectors as well as community safety unit inspectors and conservation officers who are part of the provincial enforcement support staff.
The violation tickets build on existing tools, including the ability to revoke or suspend the business or liquor license of problem operators.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to tips@infonews.ca and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2020