With May Run on the horizon, Timmins Police say officers will be charging people breaking the provincial COVID-19 restrictions.
In Ontario, the Timmins area has the second-highest weekly COVID-19 case rate.
The Porcupine Health Unit’s weekly case rate is 181 cases per 100,000 population. Peel Region has the highest rate at 220 cases per 100,000 people.
There is a provincewide stay-at-home order in effect until at least June 2. Timmins is also in a state of emergency.
Police issued an advisory today hoping to inspire "full and unwavering compliance with the provincial protocols" for the long weekend.
“Working in consultation and collaboration with the Porcupine Health Unit, the Timmins Police will continue to maintain a firm and formal approach when confronting such violations. Let there be no room for doubt that these measures are deemed necessary and appropriate in order to better protect citizens from their own lack of good judgment and the indulgence in blatantly unsafe behaviours," said Timmins Police Chief John Gauthier in a news release.
Any person or group found violating the current COVID protocols under the Emergency and Civil Protection Act will be served an offence notice, according to police. If convicted, the set fine is $880.
In light of the COVID positivity rate in the area, police say the educational approach has ended.
"This should serve as fair warning that the enforcement stance undertaken by the Timmins Police Service is firm, formal, and direct by necessity moving towards the holiday weekend," reads the release.
"This response should be expected as the Timmins Police now finds it necessary to lay formal charges for any offence that is determined to be an overt and intentional violation of the applicable statute."
