11 BC teens fined $230 each after police break up gathering in parking lot

Some teenagers in the Vancouver Island city of Nanaimo will find their wallets a little lighter this holiday season after being fined for not following COVID-19 protocols, police said.

According to Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien, the fines were issued after patrol officers noticed a large gathering of youths, and “a number of vehicles” in the parking lot of a high school around 11:45 pm on Saturday, December 19.

“The attending officer engaged the youth in discussion and discussed the risks associated with their behaviour, and then told them needed to disperse,” said O’Brien.

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The officer left the area, “but returned a short time later to find more cars and more youths,” many of whom were seen walking about in the parking lot without masks on and visiting other vehicles to speak with friends.

“Given their lack of regard after being told to disperse, the officer elected to issue each with a violation ticket in hopes that the behaviour would not continue throughout the holiday season,” said O’Brien. “In total, 11 youths received a $230 fine under Section 4 of the COVID Related Measures Act.”