Calling the police to report your neighbours for dubious public health violations during the COVID-19 pandemic “may not be the best use of your time and energy,” according to the Coquitlam RCMP.
Cpl. Michael McLaughlin told The Tri-City News the detachment routinely receives complaints about everything from people jogging in the park to residents being out in public without a mask. While genuine cases are more appropriately handled by municipal bylaw enforcement, he said some of the reports are not actually violations.
“The easiest thing to control is your own behaviour,” McLaughlin said, later adding: “We are all human and sometimes have over-emotional reactions to things that we observe. But that doesn’t mean we should follow up by immediately calling the authorities or posting to social media. Pause, take a breath and try to be objective and empathetic.”
Anyone who believes they have witnessed physical distancing transgressions should call their municipal bylaw officials so they can follow up, he said.
McLaughlin also noted that Mounties have been making proactive patrols on foot, bicycle, ATV and motorcycle in an effort to remind people to adhere to the provincial health orders.
“One of our goals is to remind people of appropriate social distancing protocols during COVID-19, but we are not seeing serious issues so far,” he said.
Bylaw enforcement has been busy in the Tri-Cities since the pandemic began, receiving hundreds of reports of people not complying with the public health recommendations.
In Port Coquitlam, 62 complaints were made about businesses either allowing too many people in their store or selling masks and gloves at inflated prices. Another 65 calls were made concerning people using playgrounds, dog parks and other outdoor amenities while the closures were in place.
“While the city continues to monitor updates from local, provincial and federal health authorities, we are now shifting our attention to how we can all recover from this challenging time,” said Pardeep Purewal, Port Coquitlam’s manager of communications. “We recognize that as the days get warmer and longer, people will want to enjoy the outdoors with their families.”
In Port Moody, bylaw officers have dealt with 75 reports of neighbours not wearing masks in public or adhering to physical distancing protocols.
Coquitlam has yet to tally all of the complaints it has received, which corporate communications manager Kathleen Vincent said are reported through a variety of channels, including telephone calls, emails and social media.
The city continues to respond to calls ensuring residents are aware of the protocols and health recommendations, she said, including keeping two-metre physical distance from people who are not from your household, washing your hands and staying home if you are displaying any symptoms.
Vincent added that Coquitlam residents have done a good job of adhering to the advisory.
“Overall, our community has been demonstrating responsible behaviour and following the recommendations of the Provincial Health Officer and the city’s public notices,” she said in an email. “And we’re grateful to everyone in Coquitlam who has been taking the actions necessary to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community.
