Peterborough police issued 14 COVID-19-related tickets under the Reopening Ontario Act over the weekend.
According to the Peterborough Police Service, five of the tickets were laid in relation to a gathering at Confederation Park where an estimated 250 people gathered to protest Ontario’s latest stay-at-home order.
Another nine tickets were laid in connection to approximately 20 individuals between ages 18 and 19 who were tailgating with open alcohol and music playing on Armour Hill, police said.
Two Highway Traffic Act tickets and Liquor Licence Act infractions were also issued at the scene.
“Officers at the scene learned that all of the youth were from outside the City of Peterborough,” police said.
Police on Saturday also said they responded four times to excess gathering of individuals at the basketball court at Simcoe and Bethune streets, where up to 20 people were gathering.
It prompted police to shut down the basketball courts and remove the netting from the hoops
“Education and warnings were given, however, continued non-compliance led to the request to the City of Peterborough for the courts to be shut down,” police said Monday.
The city notes current provincial public health regulations restrict outdoor social gatherings to a maximum of five people while maintaining physical distancing of at least two metres.
“While outdoor exercise activity is permitted under the province’s Stay-at-Home order, the gathering limits and physical distancing requirements remain in effect,” the city stated.
“Team sports, or other sports or games where people may come within two metres of each other, are not permitted to be practiced or played.”
Police said officers also continued with quarantine compliance checks, completing 22. All checked were compliant.
Last week, Insp. John Lyons noted the service would be providing additional officers to deal with “COVID-specific incidents” and work with community partners to educate the public as protocol changes unfold.
COBOURG POLICE SERVICE
In Cobourg, police issued nine tickets as a result of a lockdown protest at Victoria Hall on Saturday.
Police say they requested the group of 25-to-30 individuals to disperse and comply with the current Stay-At-Home order.
As a result, police issued seven provincial offences notices for fail to comply with an order during a declared emergency, which carries a total fine of $880.
Additionally, two individuals were issued provincial summons for obstructing any person exercising power in accordance with an order made during a declared emergency, which carries a fine of $1,000.
“We have provided notice to the community that we would be enforcing the Stay-at-Home Order and ticketing accordingly. The expectations have been made clear, and this community group continues to gather in spite of our efforts,” said Cobourg Police Service Chief Paul VandeGraaf.
“This past weekend, despite being treated with disrespect and having derogatory slurs hurled at them, from some individuals of the group, my officers and Town Bylaw remained calm and professional. I remain committed to working with our community and local partners to continue to promote compliance.”
Police are looking to identify three people who attended the gathering on Saturday, who wouldn’t identify themselves, and expect to lay charges against those three people later this week.