BC RCMP Are Ramping Up Travel Checks This Weekend & Here's What Happens If You Get Stopped
They're cracking down on long weekend travel.
According to B.C. RCMP, they will be increasing COVID-19 travel checks over the May long weekend to enforce B.C.'s travel restrictions. As of now, locals aren't allowed to travel outside of their health regions for non-essential reasons and people from outside of B.C. are not allowed to visit unless it's essential.
They also say that road checks will be increased and the current checkpoints will also be staying in place. The places with road checks already underway include Highway 1 in the Boston Bar area, Highway 3 in the Manning Park area, Highway 5 in the Old Toll Booth area, and Highway 99 in the Lillooet area.
RCMP shared data on the number of vehicle checks they've done over the past two weekends. "From May 6-8 a total of 1,412 vehicles were checked, and there was one voluntary turn around. From May 14-16 a total of 2,069 vehicles were checked and 30 vehicles voluntarily turned around," they wrote.
The provincial government has a breakdown of what to expect if you get pulled over. Apparently, police can ask for your name, address, driver's licence, and perhaps a second I.D. to confirm your name and address. Of course, they'll also ask you your reason for travel.
They can suggest that you turn around if you're not travelling for essential reasons and "at the discretion of police, people not following the travel restrictions may be subject to a $575 fine."