A West Vancouver resident has been slapped with a $2,300 fine under the COVID-19 Related Measures Act after allegedly hosting a late night gathering at a local business.
Read more: B.C. to increase enforcement of COVID-19 rules
Shortly before 11:30 p.m. on Fri. Jan. 8, West Vancouver police were called to the 1400 block of Clyde Avenue for a report of a party at a ground-level business.
The complainant told police they could hear loud music and voices inside the storefront.
When officers arrived they spoke with three intoxicated people standing outside and could hear more voices inside, police said.
Read more: Two COVID-19 fines handed out at 100-person University of Victoria gathering
The trio denied a party was in progress but refused to divulge how many others were inside. One man said the other people were his “clients.”
Police were not convinced that the late night soiree was a business meeting.
“In this case it was the totality of the circumstances that really was the concern,” said Const. Kevin Goodmurphy.
“I don’t know what level of business you can actually speak to when you’re at that level of intoxication and what kind of business you can actually do legitimately.”
The 40-year-old party host was issued the stiff fine for allegedly contravening B.C.’s public health order on gatherings and events.
Read more: Vancouver man jailed on Christmas Day for allegedly hosting parties had ignored warnings: police
Because police say he refused to ask his remaining guests to leave, officers stuck around and watched three people eventually depart using a rideshare service.
Police are reminding the public that being in business together does not exempt you from provincial COVID-19 restrictions.
Since March 1, 2020, West Vancouver police have handed out eight COVID-19 tickets and 10 tickets under the Quarantine Act.
Source: Global News
