Police ready to issue fines as stay-at-home order begins

Niagara Regional Police say they are ready to enforce the province’s COVID-19 restrictions, although their first priority will continue to be obtaining voluntary compliance to Ontario’s new stay-at-home orders that come into effect Thursday.

NRP’S corporate communications manager, Stephanie Sabourin, said in a statement that police are still awaiting information from the province regarding the stay-at-home orders announced Tuesday.

However, she said police have received further information from the province regarding the second state of emergency that has been declared since the pandemic began, “and we will continue to enforce the legislation.”

Sabourin warned that people who choose not to abide by the orders will be subject to fines and prosecution under both the Reopening Ontario Act and the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

She said police officers as well as bylaw officers and other provincial offences officers have been authorized to issue tickets to individuals who do not comply with the stay-at-home-order, or those not wearing a mask or face covering indoors in places open to the public, as well as companies that fail to enforce the requirements under the orders.

Officers can also order people attending prohibited public events to disperse, as well as order the temporary closure of a premises if they have reasonable grounds to believe that an organized public gathering is occurring there and that the number of people in attendance exceeds the number permitted under the Reopening Ontario Act. That applies to premises that have been closed or remain open, such as parks.

“We understand that these are extraordinary times,” Sabourin said.

“Throughout the pandemic, it has been our goal to obtain voluntary compliance from members within our community. This continues to be our goal as we enter the second declared provincial emergency and provincewide lockdown, but we remain committed to work with regional and municipal bylaw officials and are prepared to take enforcement action when and where appropriate.”

Sabourin said police have handed out 61 fines in Niagara related to the COVID-19 pandemic since April 5, as well as 58 documented warnings.

“This is in addition to the fines and warnings that would have been issued by municipal and regional bylaw officials,” she said.