Ottawa, Gatineau officers respond to calls, hand out charges to COVID-19 rule-breakers over holiday lockdown
Posted Dec 30, 2020 04:58:21 PM.
Some Ottawa and Gatineau residents were naughty this Christmas as police and bylaw handed out tickets to COVID-19 rule-breakers.
Ottawa by-law confirms it had received 138 service requests between December 24 and 28 relating to provincial orders in regards to social gathering and other activities.
Many, the city says, were requests for information and clarification surrounding the restrictions particularly the new rules that took effect on December 26, as part of the Province-wide lockdown.
As a result of investigations into reports of alleged contraventions of provincial regulations, two verbal warnings and 21 charges were issued.
Specifically between December 26 and 28, there were 108 service requests, two verbal warnings and two charges issued.
“On December 29, by-law & Regulatory Services received one complaint alleging that the store at 190 Richmond Road was over capacity, in contravention of Provincial Orders. A subsequent investigation revealed that there was no violation,” Roger Chaman, director of By-law and regulatory services, added.
As for Gatineau, police say they were busy responding to calls to service from little elves on shelves directing them to people and businesses they believed were playing fast and loose with COVID-19 safety.
On Decemeber 24, officers responded to about 20 calls, but no statements of offence were issued.
On Christmas Day, while the Gatineau Police Service responded to 15 calls, no statements of offence were issued.
But come Boxing Day, three statements of offence were issues in the summer in connection with gatherings in two private residences.
Regarding businesses, police say officers visited 133 businesses during the week of December 20 to 27, but no statements of officences were issued.
