A patron at a restaurant near the Trans-Canada Highway is facing a court date and a $230 fine after her refusal to wear a mask when asked by restaurant staff led to the police getting involved.
Revelstoke RCMP said restaurant staff called for help on Sunday, Dec. 6 at about 5:20 a.m.
In a statement, Revelstoke RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Chris Dodds said restaurant staff had requested the patron, a 43-year-old woman, don a mask according to the current B.C. public health order that requires masks in indoor public venues, among some other locations.
She refused the requests and also refused to leave the restaurant, prompting staff to call the police.
Dodds said that an officer who attended explained the COVID-19 regulations to the woman and asked her to leave the restaurant. When she refused, she was arrested, police said.
She is now facing a charge of causing a disturbance as is scheduled to appear in Revelstoke Provincial Court. She was also issued a $230 fine under the COVID-19 Related Measures Act for failing to wear a face covering in an indoor space and for abusive and belligerent behaviour.
“Both the business staff and the police officers who attended the call attempted to reason with the female and explain the current public health order,” Dodds said. “However, in the end, the woman refused to comply with police direction and action was taken both criminally and through the issuance of provincial violation tickets.”
In a statement, Revelstoke RCMP said it continues to take “a measured approach” to COVID-19 restrictions “with a primary focus on educating the public.”
They urged the public to comply with existing public health orders and “respect that local businesses are following the direction of the province during this pandemic.”
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Update: Revelstoke policing during COVID-19 health order restrictions
On the same day this incident was reported, revelstokemountaineer.com published a Q&A interview with the Revelstoke RCMP about policing during the COVID-19 pandemic:
Mountaineer Q&A: We ask the Revelstoke RCMP COVID-19 related policing questions
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