Police put convoy protesters on notice: ‘You must immediately cease further unlawful activity or you will face charges’
Staying put as a convoy protest doesn't only mean the potential of fines, it could be charges, licence suspension, revocation, and the inability to cross the U.S. border.
That's what police told convoy demonstrators in Ottawa's downtown core on Wednesday, February 16 by handing out a letter informing them of their options, and the repercussions should they decide not to comply.
“You must leave the area now,” the letter reads. “Anyone blocking streets, or assisting others in blocking streets, is committing a criminal offence and you may be arrested. You must immediately cease further unlawful activity or you will face charges. If you are arrested, you may be released on bail depending on factors contained in Part XVI of the Criminal Code.”
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Police go on to say that charges and/or convictions related to unlawful activity associated with the demonstration may lead to denial in crossing the U.S. border.
“The Federal Emergencies Act allows for the regulation or prohibition of travel to, from or within any specified area,” the letter says. “This means that anyone coming to Ottawa for the purpose of going to the ongoing demonstration is breaking the law. The act also provides police with a number of measures, including the ability to seize vehicles that are part of this demonstration.”
Ontario Law, the letter explains, now prohibits interference with any critical infrastructure. That includes 400-series highways, railways, airports, and international border crossings.
The law also prohibits someone from seriously interfering with the safety, health or well-being of residents.
The notice is the first see-able action the country's capital has seen from the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) since the resignation of former police chief Peter Sloly was announced on Tuesday, February 15.
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To date, more than $14 million has been spent on the truck convoy protests in Ottawa, which works out to about $785,000 a day.
The protest is now in its third week of occupation and coming up on its fourth weekend.
