BC updates measures to enforce Lower Mainland COVID-19 Public Safety

Courtesy of the Government of BC:

The Hon. Mike Farnworth, BC's Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, is aligning the Province’s ticketing measures with the provincial health officer’s (PHO) orders, giving police and other provincial enforcement officers the ability to issue violation tickets for additional contraventions in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions.

The new ticketing measures under the Emergency Program Act apply to party buses and limousines. The measures allow police and other enforcement officers to issue additional fines. People who operate or permit operation of perimeter-seating vehicles or perimeter-seating buses in contravention of the PHO’s orders will be subject to a $2,000 fine. People taking part in a social gathering on a bus or limousine in these regions could face individual fines of $200.

All ticketing measures previously announced in August and September 2020 to enforce COVID-19 public safety at gatherings and events will remain in effect throughout the province.

In addition to enabling action from police, compliance and enforcement staff from provincial ministries will continue to support enforcement and help issue tickets. This includes liquor, cannabis and gaming inspectors, community safety unit inspectors and conservation officers.

Working in partnership with local governments and other agencies, a comprehensive and integrated compliance and enforcement regime has been built. These violation tickets build on existing tools, such as the ability to suspend or revoke the business or liquor licences of problematic operators.

Quick Facts:

• Section E of the PHO’s revised order on gatherings and events prohibits the operation of party buses in affected areas. This prohibition is in place until rescinded by the PHO.
• In this case, “affected areas” refers to the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions.
• Shuttles and small buses may still operate to transport people to and from work, work meetings or health-care appointments.
• The specifics around orders of the PHO, including the numbers allowable at gatherings and events, will continue to be set at the direction of the PHO.
• To report concerns around order violations from event organizers, venues or individuals, people are asked to contact their local government’s bylaw office. Local bylaw officers can help follow up on concerns and engage police departments, health officers and WorkSafeBC as necessary. If unable to reach a local bylaw office, contact the local police department’s non-emergency line.

Learn More:

All PHO orders are available here: www.gov.bc.ca/phoguidance

Violation tickets for unsafe behaviour:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/violation-tickets

Restrictions in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley: www.gov.bc.ca/regionalrestrictions

The Aug. 21, 2020, news release on ticketing measures for gatherings and events is available online: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PSSG0046-001568

For more information on non-medical issues like travel recommendations and how to manage social isolation, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/COVID-19

For more information and latest medical updates on COVID-19, follow the BC Centre for Disease Control on Twitter @CDCofBC or visit its website: http://www.bccdc.ca