Hefty fines have been handed to Londoners caught violating emergency orders to stay out of parks and other outdoor recreational spaces due to COVID-19.
Municipal bylaw officers issued a total of 21 provincial offence notices over the weekend to people busted using shuttered multi-use courts, skateboard parks, and soccer fields in the city.
“These orders are in effect to help protect the community from the spread of COVID-19,” London's Bylaw Manager Orest Katolyk said in a statement. “We know this is a difficult time for everyone and people want to enjoy the warmer weather outdoors. Now, however, is not the time to be taking these orders lightly. Now is the time for everyone to be doing everything they can to stop this virus from spreading.”
Bylaw officers are proactively patrolling outdoor recreational spaces to ensure individuals are complying with the provincial state of emergency order that left skate parks, multi-use courts, sports fields, community gardens, off-leash dog parks, and golf courses off-limits.
The spaces have been closed since March 24.
Under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, anyone found to be violating the emergency order can be fined up to $100,000 and jailed for up to one year. Corporations found to be breaking the order for all non-essential businesses to close can be hit with a fine of up to $10,000,000. Anyone who doesn't correctly identify themself to police or bylaw officers can be fined $750, while obstructing an officer could result in a $1,000 ticket.
The city has set up a tip line where people can phone or email in concerns about people who may be disobeying self-isolation orders and non-essential businesses that are still open. More than 1,500 tips were sent to the line in its first week in operation.
Concerns about businesses or individuals believed to be in violation of COVID-19 related orders can be emailed to COVIDOrderConcerns@london.ca or phoned in to 519-661-4660.
Parks, green spaces, trails, and pathways in London remain open for walking only. People who choose to use these spaces are reminded to physically distance themselves from others.
