Three men fined under COVID-19 act for being belligerent at Port Moody restaurant
Posted September 22, 2020 10:47 am.
Last Updated September 22, 2020 10:48 am.
PORT MOODY (NEWS 1130) — Three men have been fined a total of $700 under the COVID-19 measures act for belligerent behavior that included playing with a knife and vomiting on a table at a Port Moody restaurant Saturday night.
Several officers from the Port Moody Police Department were called by restaurant staff around 8:00 p.m. about the men, who were described as acting erratically.
Officers say the men were noticeably under the influence of alcohol and had been causing a disruption that was upsetting to staff and customers.
They refused to abide by COVID restrictions — and even puked and spit on their table.
On Saturday night, @PortMoodyPD issued fines at a local eatery. @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/w4mZWxbaYH— Amanda Wawryk (@AmandaWawryk) September 22, 2020
They refused to sit down and yelled at staff, played with a pocket knife, entering a staff-only area, vomited on their table, and spit on it when they were asked to leave, according to police.
An officer issued the three men multiple violation tickets, totaling hundreds of dollars.
The group was escorted out of the restaurant.
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“As a public safety agency, as it relates to COVID-19, the first priority of the Port Moody Police Department is to educate the public about social distancing, and other reported COVID-related concerns,” Const. Jason Maschke says in a release.
“However, in this unfortunate instance, the irresponsible actions of the patrons most certainly necessitated the issuing of fines, under the COVID Measures Act.”
On Sunday, the provincial government expanded who can be fined for violating COVID-19 health and safety orders, along with who can issue those tickets.
The province introduced ticketing measures in August to help curb the transmission of COVID-19.