Surrey RCMP hand out four steep COVID-19 fines

The Surrey RMP were busy this weekend handing out tickets to businesses and event organizers who disregarded COVID-19 laws repeatedly.

On Aug. 21 the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General announced new fines for non-compliance of health orders. The Surrey COVID-19 Compliances and Enforcement Team issued $2,300 fines to an after-hours club, two event and banquet spaces, and one restaurant. Each of the places had received previous warnings from the enforcement team.

The police were also dealing with a large gathering of more than 1,000 people after the Vancouver Canucks won their first round playoff series Aug. 21. Fans gathered at Scott Road and 72 Avenue, but police decided to focus their attention on pedestrian and traffic safety. They issued seven violation tickets for people who were not wearing seatbelts as individuals hung out of windows or sunroofs.

“Canuck fans who gathered in large groups without masks on Friday night should consider this to be their warning,” says Sgt. Roger Green of the Surrey COVID-19 Compliance and Enforcement Team. “The public and the police are not happy with the disregard for physical distancing and expect you do to better for the sake of your families, yourselves, and your fellow residents.”

The Surrey COVID-19 Compliance and Enforcement Team conducted 429 checks over the weekend at various businesses, event spaces, and faith-based institutions, with only four of them warranting tickets.

It seems there isn't as big of an issue with non-compliance in the Interior. In Kelowna and Kamloops, no fines have been issued at all for violating COVID-19 rules.

“To my knowledge, the RCMP has not issued any fines in regards to COVID-19,” says S/Sgt. Sascha Fesenko with the Kamloops RCMP. “I think generally people are adhering to the guidelines here locally from what we’ve seen so far.”

Fesenko says he doesn’t believe police have been monitoring businesses, religious gathering places of event halls to ensure compliance.

Kelowna RCMP has not issued any formal warnings or tickets for COVID-19 non-compliance.

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