Richmond RCMP bust two large parties, issuing COVID-19 violation fines to organizers and all guests

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      At a B.C. COVID-19 briefing last year, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry had said one of her concerns about prohibiting parties during the pandemic is that those events tend to move underground. Accordingly, she had hoped to take an educational approach first, with enforcement as a last resort.

      One year after the pandemic took root in B.C., police have been repeatedly cracking down on parties being held in violation of public health orders.

      Previous cases have involved makeshift nightclubs and other gatherings in Vancouver and Surrey. The latest examples come from Richmond.

      Richmond RCMP stated today (February 11) that investigations are continuing on into two large parties held last weekend.

      RCMP received a report around 11:30 p.m. on February 5 about several people coming and going from a commercial building in the 5700 block of Cedarbridge Way in Richmond.

      Officers arrived at the location to find a party with 16 people in attendance. Officers issued $230 violation tickets to each of the attendees and a $2,300 fine to the organizer.

      Then around 1:30 a.m. on February 6, officers came upon a large gathering in the 12600 block of Vickers Way in Richmond.

      At this event, there were 26 attendees, who all received $230 fines. Meanwhile, two organizers each received violation tickets of $2,300.

      Police are continuing to determine if any further business or liquor charges might apply in both cases.

      Anyone seeking to report parties, gatherings, or events violating health orders in Richmond can call Richmond RCMP at or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

      Meanwhile on the same weekend, WorkSafeBC conducted inspections of workplace COVID-19 safety plans at 230 food and beverage estasblishments and found 32 bars and pubs in violation of public health orders. 

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook.

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