VICTORIA, B.C. – The Province is expanding its COVID-19 enforcement measures, this following an announcement, on Tuesday, by Premier John Horgan.
As part of enforcing Public Health Orders and holding violators accountable for paying their provincial COVID-19 violation ticket fines, Solicitor General Mike Farnworth is directing ICBC, which collects ticket fines on behalf of the Government, to send deemed-guilty offenders immediately to collections.
Currently, payment reminders may be sent to guilty offenders for up to a year before the overdue account is sent to collections. ICBC will now eliminate this reminder period and instead send unpaid files directly to collections as soon as the initial 30-day payment or dispute period ends, or an offender is found guilty in court.
Additionally, the Province has asked WorkSafeBC to enhance its inspection presence in workplaces by reducing reliance on virtual checks and move to more in-person inspections, particularly in sectors where COVID-19 transmission is occurring.
Between August 21 and December 14, 290 violation tickets have been issued across the province, including:
* 45 $2,300 tickets to owners or organizers contravening the provincial health officer’s (PHO) order on gatherings and events;
* 21 $2,300 violation tickets for contravention of the PHO Food and Liquor Serving Premises Order; and
* 224 $230 tickets issued to individuals who refused to comply with direction from law enforcement.
Since the pandemic began, police agencies in B.C. have issued 72 violation tickets to individuals who were in contravention of the Federal Quarantine Act, totalling $78,500.
