A traveller who was supposed to quarantine at a Richmond hotel was hit with a whopping $8,625 in fines after leaving.
The person was quarantined at the Pacific Gateway Hotel, a quarantine centre, in early March, but decided to leave without authorization, earning a ticket for violating the Quarantine Act.
Furthermore, the recent traveller was fined for obstructing a quarantine officer.
“That person earned the ticket,” said Richmond RCMP Chief Supt. Will Ng.
In total, 21 violation tickets were issued in March, Ng explained at Tuesday’s Richmond Community COVID-19 Task Force.
A second recent traveller received a $1,150 fine after a neighbour in the same apartment building complained the individual wasn't quarantining.
RCMP also responded to an "angry disturbance" in a home where there were nine “intoxicated and belligerent” people, Ng said.
Eight people were issued $230 fines and the host received a fine of $2,300.
Also in March, Richmond RCMP gave fines at a licensed karaoke establishment in a Richmond industrial area where there were nine occupants inside.
Ng reported one RCMP officer and one municipal employee working with the RCMP have contracted COVID-19 and are currently off work.