Dozens of tickets for private gatherings handed out this weekend in Mississauga
Published December 14, 2020 at 1:37 pm
With the holidays quickly approaching, it is tempting to gather with your friends and family but by doing so, if caught, you could be in for a hefty fine.
The city of Mississauga has been in the Grey-Lockdown Level of the Government of Ontario’s Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework since Nov 23.
According to a release, since that time, the City has issued 126 charges and 90 notices of contravention (NOCs).
This past weekend, 37 tickets and seven NOCs were handed out, four of them to non-essential businesses and the remaining 33 tickets were issued to people who attended private gatherings and four separate locations.
“Now that we are three weeks into the lockdown, businesses and residents should be well aware of the restrictions in place to protect the health and safety of our community,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie in the release.
“Our enforcement staff are working to enforce these measures, to help keep people safe and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”
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Crombie also said that since the holidays are approaching, it’s tempting to gather with family and friends but those actions will be met with a fine and the spread of the virus.
The Grey-Lockdown Level restrictions indicate that no indoor organized events or private gatherings (except with members of the same household) may take place, indoor and outdoor restaurants are prohibited, and non-essential retail is to be open for curbside pickup or delivery only.
The website says failure to comply with these orders may result in a ticket of $750.00.
If the charge is laid by issuing a summons, a failure to comply with an emergency order could result in a fine up to $100,000 and up to one year of imprisonment for an individual, $500,000 for a director or officer of a corporation or $10,000,000 for a corporation upon conviction.
“Since moving into Lockdown Level, our Enforcement Division has seen a significant increase in both public complaints and violations,” says Sam Rogers, Director of Enforcement. “This last weekend, violations were observed in various sectors including fitness, restaurants, cafes and retail stores.
Rogers also said the majority of tickets issued this weekend were for private gatherings.
“The vast majority of businesses and residents are complying but there are no exceptions to the rules,” he added. “Tickets will be issued to those who violate the restrictions as they put the health and safety of all residents at risk.”
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