Woman fined twice for refusing to wear mask

A woman who refused to wear a mask in a Revelstoke restaurant was arrested, and given two fines for violating COVID-19 provincial health orders.

On Sunday (Dec. 6) at 5:20 a.m., RCMP was called to a Revelstoke restaurant near Highway 1 for a woman who, after multiple requests from the business staff, refused to wear a mask as per the current health order. Police attended and located the unmasked woman still inside the restaurant and refusing to leave.

After an officer explained the regulations including the requirement to wear a face covering inside a publicly accessed building, the 43-year-old woman continued to refuse to comply with police requests to leave the premises and was subsequently arrested for allegedly causing a disturbance in a public place.

The woman was later released outside of the restaurant with an undertaking to appear in Revelstoke Provincial Court and conditions not to attend the location of the incident. Furthermore, she was issued two $230 violation tickets under the COVID-19 Related Measures Act for allegedly failing to wear a face covering in indoor public space and abusive / belligerent behavior.

Sgt. Chris Dodds of the Revelstoke RCMP said both the business staff and the police officers who attended the call attempted to reason with the woman and explain the health order.

“However in the end, the woman refused to comply with police direction and action was taken both criminally and through the issuance of provincial violation tickets,” Dodds said.

Dodds added their detachment continues to take a measured approach with a primary focus on educating the public, and urges people to comply with the current health orders.