A woman who drove across the Canada-U.S. border to buy gas was given a $5,700 fine while trying to get back into the country.
Marlane Jones said that she crossed the border to the U.S. for fuel, expecting to return to Canada right away under an exemption introduced by the B.C. government, according to Surrey Now-Leader.
The catastrophic weather that hit B.C. last week led to the province entering into a state of emergency, and some people not being able to access essential resources.
Due to flooding and mudslides closing major highways and roads, it was announced that the Canada-U.S. border would allow B.C. residents to go into the U.S. for essential services and return without taking the required PCR test.
It seems for some though, it hasn't gone as expected.
Given the situation in BC, travellers and essential workers who must travel to or through the USA for essential reasons (food, fuel, supply chains) are exempt from testing and quarantine requirements. These exemptions do not apply to non-essential travel.pic.twitter.com/U1lELIJQE7— Canada Border Services Agency (@Canada Border Services Agency) 1637526208
Jones told the Surrey Now-Leader that she wanted to help conserve gas for young people who need it to commute after B.C. put a 30-litre limit on gas purchases for drivers.
Jones said that she was only in the U.S. for 10 minutes, but, when trying to return home, was given the option of paying the huge fine and entering into quarantine, or getting a PCR test and waiting 72 hours before crossing into Canada.
She also said that CBSA officers did not know what she was talking about when she explained that she was crossing the border under the exemption. She added that the officials told her she was the ninth person that had been fined that morning.
The Government of Canada will adjust some of Canada\u2019s border measures beginning on Nov. 30 to include additional #COVID19 vaccines accepted for entry to Canada and changes to certain exemptions, testing and #ArriveCAN requirements. \n\nFor more information: https://ow.ly/q38t50GScza\u00a0pic.twitter.com/XRvxE50wLT— Health Canada and PHAC (@Health Canada and PHAC) 1637350203
Although the border is changing restrictions for some travellers on November 30, 2021, until then, those who are not travelling under this exemption are required to have a negative molecular test when returning to Canada.
In an email to Narcity, the Canada Border Services Agency said: "As it sometimes happen when there is a change in operational guidance, a transition period may lead to some inconsistencies."
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
