Thought of the Day - May 13 2021 - Well Fine!

When the 'days got long' last year the police were out in force looking for speeders on then highways ( Thought of the Day - June 15 - On the Road Again ). Unsurprisingly, the same is happening again. Last Sunday for example there was a speed trap in both directions on the 1 in the flats just west of the Port-Mann bridge. However, this year there is a twist.

I am all for the personal freedoms we get to enjoy in Canada; indeed looking at the situations around the world I realize how lucky we are. However, remember our government has been busy this past year enacting a bunch of emergency measures and emptying the public coffers to keep us safe. As part of this, if legislation is introduced that is designed to curb behaviour and that legislation cannot be enforced then it is hardly worth enacting.

The first case is the travel restrictions in BC. There is this crazy debate as to whether it can be policed. Luckily, it seems, two ways have now been found that do not require any changes to police policy. First are the much-publicized four, count 'em four, checkpoints (on the Cascade Mountain Highways 1,3 and 5, and the 99 north of Whistler) - none, by the way, are near the Alberta border. These are fashioned after sobriety checkpoints, stopping all vehicles so there is little chance of discrimination. The second way is more creative. If you are stopped for a driving infraction such as speeding, your driver's license can be checked. If it turns out you are not in the same zone as the address on your license and don't provide a valid reason, as well as the ticket for a driving infraction, you will also receive an 'Emergency Program Act' ticket. Doing it in this way also simplifies the collection as you will not be able to renew your license with unpaid COVID fines.

Another 'fine' case is travel via air outside the country. As you know this is on the other end of the spectrum, designed from the outset to be expensive as a deterrent to travel. Around 200 passengers arriving at YVR have already been fined for refusing the mandatory three-day (~$2,500) accommodation in a government-authorized (GAA) hotel.

According to PHAC, those who do not meet quarantine requirements, including the instructions of a quarantine officer, could face a fine of up to $750,000 and/or imprisonment for six months.

An acquaintance just came back to Canada after a month in the US helping her sister with medical issues. She had the following experience.

"After customs, I had to go to the public health line, and they are like 'We can book you in now. You only have to stay until you get a negative result, otherwise it’s a ticket'. Told them I didn't feel comfortable for my own health going to a congregated area of people coming from all over the world, and that for my own safety I didn’t feel safe going to a hotel on my own as a single female with all the assault allegations on the news from these hotels. And that I am vaccinated and provided a solid isolation plan and place that met all the criteria on the government web pages"

And the ticket - it was for $3,500.

She headed home and filled out the dispute form. While she now has her negative test back from YVR, she still needs to fill out the Arrive App daily symptom check. As she has been back for a week she will now be doing the swab test at her apartment live over video chat.

It is going to be interesting, in the fullness of time, to see how backlogged the courts get, and how many of these Emergency tickets actually stick.

Cheers

Cliff