The Peterborough Police Services continues to enforce the Provincial Government’s Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, and were kept busy over the long weekend.
The EMCPA includes the closure of non-essential workplaces, public places and bars and restaurants along with prohibiting gatherings of five or more people.
Officers responded to 23 complaints about people not following the Act, of those, 3 warnings were issued and no charges were laid.
Officials remind everyone that under the Act, there are consequences for individuals and businesses who choose to defy the orders that are in place.
The Provincial Offences Act (POA) has been updated to include three offences which may be enforced by police for each offence, at the following set fines:
- Fail to comply with an order made during an emergency = Fine of $750
- Obstruction of Person exercising a power in accordance with an emergency order = Fine of $1,000
- Obstruction of Person performing a duty in accordance with an emergency order = Fine of $1,000
- Corporations (as a Part 3 offence) Fine = $500,000
In addition, on March 31, 2020 the Provincial Government also announced that people charged with an offence under the EMCPA will be required to identify themselves if asked by a provincial offences officer, which includes police officers, First Nations constables, special constables and municipal by-law enforcement officers. This temporary power was approved by the Ontario government through an emergency order.
Failing to correctly identify oneself carries a fine of $750 for failure to comply with an order made under the EMCPA or $1,000 for obstructing any person in exercising a power if a provincial offences officer issues a ticket. In addition, failure to comply with an emergency order could carry punishments of up to one-year imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000 for an individual, $500,000 for a director of a corporation, or $10,000,000 for a corporation itself if a provincial offences officer charges the individual by issuing a summons.
These penalties apply in addition to the penalties for breaching other emergency orders.
The Peterborough Police Service would like to thank the residents of the City of Peterborough, Village of Lakefield and Township of Cavan Monaghan that followed the EMCPA order this long weekend.
