Victoria police say they issued multiple tickets to hosts of house parties that were violating the province’s COVID-19 rules.
According to the Victoria Police Department, officers attended a multi-unit residential building located at 100-block of South Turner Street in James Bay at around 11 p.m. on Nov. 28, after receiving reports about a loud party.
Officers spoke to the host of the party, who claimed there were only four people in the unit and that only two of them were not members of the household.
However, following a search of the unit, officers discovered one man hiding in a bedroom, on the floor at the foot of a bed, and another man hiding in a closet.
Due to the fact that there were four people who were not members of the immediate household present inside the unit, officers issued the host was a $2,300 ticket for violating provincial health officer’s orders on gatherings and the province’s COVID-19 Related Measures Act.
Officers ordered those who were not part of the household to leave immediately.
A short time later, at around 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 29, officers responded to reports of a loud party at a multi-unit residential building on Hillside Avenue in the Oaklands neighbourhood.
According to the department, when officers arrived they heard loud music and people yelling inside.
Officers then spoke to the resident of the unit, who admitted having five guests who were not residents of the suite. They also noticed that masks were not being worn and physical distancing was not taking place.
As a result, the resident was given a $230 ticket for violating the province’s COVID-19 Related Measures Act for promoting or encouraging attendance at a non-compliant gathering or event.
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