A man who allegedly refused to put on a mask and was “abusive” to airline staff at Vancouver International Airport has been fined under B.C.’s COVID-19 Related Measures Act (CRMA), according to Richmond Mounties.
The incident took place in the afternoon of Jan. 20 in the airport’s domestic terminal, said Richmond RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Ian Henderson.
The 32-year-old Ontario man, who was also allegedly intoxicated, was hit with two violation tickets under the CRMA, each totalling $230 – one was for not wearing a mask or face covering and the other, for abusive or belligerent behaviour.
“He was arrested for causing a disturbance and lodged in cells for a time to sober up,” Henderson said.
The man was also fined $115 for public intoxication under the BC Liquor Licencing Control Act.
The total for the three fines is $575.
Overall, travellers at YVR have been “very compliant” with the COVID-19 rules, Richmond RCMP Supt. Will Ng told the Richmond COVID-19 Community Task Force on Tuesday.
The Jan. 20 incident was the only pandemic enforcement action that Richmond RCMP had to take last month, Ng said.
