There have been 23 calls to the Oceanside RCMP about American licence plates in the area since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, but none of them have been found in violation of the Quarantine Act of Canada.
“Should Canadian Border Services (CBSA) have a legitimate concern, they will reach out to the RCMP or police of local jurisdiction to do a field investigation,” wrote Cpl. Jesse Foreman of the Oceanside RCMP in an email.
The Quarantine Act of Canada requires anyone entering Canada by air, sea or land to self-isolate for 14 days, if they have COVID-19 symptoms or not. According to the Government of Canada website, “violating any instructions provided to you when you entered Canada is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines. Further, a person who causes a risk of imminent death or serious bodily harm to another person while wilfully or recklessly contravening this act or the regulations could be liable for: a fine of up to $1,000,000; imprisonment of up to three years or both.”
READ MORE: ‘We’re on the edge’: B.C. records 102 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths since Friday
The number comes at the same time as B.C. announcing 102 new COVID-19 cases over a three-day period during the weekend of June 17.
Dr. Bonnie Henry said during a July 20 update that B.C. is at risk of “explosive growth” and said that many of the new cases were among groups of young people.
Foreman said it’s important to keep in mind that not all people with U.S. plates are breaking the rules.
“CBSA has not reached out for help. It has only been the general public with concerns after seeing plates from the U.S. It is important to note that there are many dual citizens or people who were in the U.S. working that have returned home to Canada,” he said.
“The same goes for U.S. citizens who enter to work in what is deemed as essential services. They are all allowed to be here if they follow the two-week quarantine (as directed by CBSA) when they enter our country.”
