Montreal police issued over 550 COVID-19 infractions last week

Over the past week, Montreal police issued 552 COVID-19-related infractions to citizens not following protocols.

The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) received 357 calls from neighbours and locals worried about Montrealers breaking public health guidelines during the week of February 22 to 28.

Of the 552 infractions, 332 were related to curfew violators.

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Anyone outside of their home from 8 pm to 5 am without a valid reason could be subject to infractions. It’s also still fineable in the province to gather indoors or outdoors with people outside your household (at any time), and businesses must function at a specific capacity relative to its size.

Police throughout the province have been told to “use their judgement to assess” situations when it comes to rule-breakers and curfew defiers, with fines ranging from $1,000 to $6,000.

Données #COVID19 | Du 22 au 28 février, le #SPVM a reçu 357 appels en lien avec l’application du décret de la Santé publique. Les policiers ont remis 552 constats ou RIG et, de ce nombre, 332 ont été émis pour le non-respect du couvre-feu. pic.twitter.com/QX4gPhIzGL

— Police Montréal (@SPVM) March 1, 2021

Exceptions to curfew non-compliance are being made for people who have a note from their employers that prove they are supplying an essential service and for Quebecers buying medication outside of curfew hours (though a receipt is needed as proof).

Pet owners are permitted to walk their pets past 8 pm within a 1-kilometre radius from their home.

Grocery stores and depanneurs are required to close at 7:30 pm nightly to give people enough time to get home.

Montreal police did not comment on fine amounts of the 552 offences.

COVID-19 restrictions have been eased over the past two weeks but Premier François Legault has not mentioned if or when the nightly curfew could be altered.