Thursday, April 22, 2021

OPP Enforcement Under the Stay-At-Home Order


OPP (Dufferin Detachment)  The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is requesting that Ontarians voluntarily comply with the new emergency orders as it does its part to support the Government of Ontario's health emergency declaration to limit transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

OPP officers will enforce the Stay-at-Home Order, under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA), and the Reopening Ontario Act (ROA) by focusing on non-compliance in businesses and restaurants, complaints from the public and unlawful public gatherings. Officers can disperse and ticket individuals found to be non-compliant resulting in a $750 fine.

The new emergency orders include:
  • Outdoor events/gatherings are now prohibited unless all parties are from the same household or one other person from outside that household who lives alone or is a caregiver for any member of the household
  • All retail stores that are permitted to be open must:
    Limit the number of persons to 25 per cent capacity of the store
  • The following outdoor recreational amenities shall be closed:
    All outdoor sports facilities and multi-use fields including:
    Baseball diamonds,
    Soccer fields,
    Frisbee golf locations,
    Tennis, platform tennis, table tennis, pickleball courts,
    Basketball courts,
    BMX parks, and
    Skate parks
    All portions of park and recreation areas containing outdoor fitness equipment
    All picnic sites and picnic tables in park and recreation areas
    An Outdoor recreational amenity that is an off-leash dog area or park bench may be open and used if physical distancing is maintained
    A playground, a place specifically designed to enable children to play there, may be open and used

Consistent with the new emergency orders, OPP officers will not arbitrarily stop an individual or a vehicle, or enter a dwelling for the singular purpose of checking compliance with the order. Individuals are not expected to provide proof of essential work. Officers who believe an individual may be participating in a gathering that is prohibited may require the individual to provide information to determine whether or not they are in compliance.

More information about the restrictions covered by the Government of Ontario's declared 'State of Emergency' and the updated enforcement provisions of the EMCPA can be found at Reopening Ontario Act (A Flexible Response to COVID-19; ROA), 2020.

Out of province travel screening and restrictions
The OPP also wants the public to be aware that essential travel between Ontario and neighbouring provinces will be permitted, despite new measures designed to limit the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

Since Monday, April 19, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. ET/CT-Manitoba time, OPP members have been located on roadways, at interprovincial points of entry, to screen incoming vehicles.

All vehicles will be required to slow down as they approach the checkpoints. Commercial vehicles, such as transport trucks, will be permitted to pass. Passenger vehicles bearing Ontario license plates will be required to enter the checkpoint, but will be allowed to proceed. Officers will be screening incoming passenger vehicles with out-of-province license plates to determine the reason for entering Ontario.

Permitted reasons include, but are not limited to:

  • Live/work in Ontario
  • Health care matters
  • Indigenous Treaty Rights
  • Child care or custody matters
  • Transportation of goods
  • Those travelling through Ontario to another location

For specifics of the vehicle border screening legislation (O. Reg. 293/21), visit https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r21293.

As required by the provincial Emergency Measures and Civil Protection Act, those not travelling for essential reasons will be refused entry. Motorists approaching the interprovincial borders, in either direction, are asked to be prepared for slow moving traffic. The safety of the public and officers at the checkpoints is our top priority.

For all non-emergency police matters - including allegations of COVID-19 restrictions non-compliance - contact your municipal by-law office, call the OPP non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122, or contact your local detachment. Please reserve use of 911 for life-threatening emergencies.

The OPP will continue to provide public safety services to the communities we serve and support the efforts of federal, provincial and local health authorities.

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