BC introducing measures to make sure COVID-19 fines are paid

Apr 15 2021, 5:45 pm

Additional measures are coming to ensure that COVID-19 fines issued by police and enforcement officers are paid.

The Ministry of Public Safety has confirmed with Daily Hive that “the government will be introducing new measures.”

At this point in time, it’s unclear what steps will be taken. But more than 1,500 COVID-19 violation tickets have been issued in BC since late August and less than one-fifth of them have been paid.

ICBC spokesperson Brent Shearer tells Daily Hive that between August 21, 2020, and April 10, 2021, a total of 1,280 provincial violation tickets have been issued. This amounts to a total of $898,145 in provincial COVID-19 fines but only $115,415 of that, 254 tickets, has been paid.

There are more than 400 tickets that are currently being disputed and awaiting a court date, and close to 500 during which the offender was found guilty.

When it comes to tickets issued for breaching the Federal Quarantine Act, just 5% of them have been paid.

A total of 230 federal COVID-19 tickets have been issued, yet only 12 are paid. The total value of the fine amounts is $487,947, with only $20,695 of that paid.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) also says that over 100 travellers arriving at the YVR Vancouver International Airport have refused the mandatory hotel quarantine since the program first began.

Vincent PlanaVincent Plana

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