The Duke Point Hwy. is a likely location for police to establish CounterAttack style road checks through May 25. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

travel ban

Province reveals details of non-essential travel ban now in effect, questions on enforcement remain

Apr 23, 2021 | 10:43 AM

NANAIMO — A non-essential travel ban is now in effect in the province, however it’s unclear how CounterAttack-style road blocks will impact out of region travellers.

Public safety minister and solicitor general Mike Farnworth announced British Columbians are subject to fines for non-essential travel between health authorities until May 25, with some exceptions.

He told a Friday, April 23 news conference details of how police will determine who to pull over will be revealed next week, stating he has met with representatives of racalized British Columbians who raised concerns.

“I want to make sure that it’s done right, I want to make sure that we address the concerns that people have.”

Under the Emergency Program Act, police can issue fines of $575 to travellers whose movements are deemed to not be essential.

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The travel restrictions and fines are limited to travel outside of a health authority, such as going from the Island to the Lower Mainland. Travel between communities in the same health authority, for example Nanaimo to Victoria, is discouraged but not eligible to be fined under the pending orders.

Road checks will be set up near ferry terminals and on highway corridors connecting different regions of the province.

The Vancouver Coastal Health/Fraser Health authorities and Interior Health/Northern Health will be considered singular regions while Island Health will be considered a stand-alone entity.

Police will not engage in random checks and enforcement measures will be informed by discussions with stakeholders on limiting the impacts to racialized communities.

Premier John Horgan said earlier in the week, the operation would run similar to Counter Attack campaigns by the RCMP to target impaired drivers.

“They will be [applicable] to all travellers, not just a few. They will be random and there will be a fine if you are travelling outside of your area without a legitimate reason.”

In addition, BC Ferries announced a non-essential travel ban to mirror the provincial orders through May 25 on six routes, including both of Nanaimo’s large terminals. BC Ferries no longer began accepting bookings for recreational vehicles, campers and trailers as of Friday.

Throughout at least the next five weeks including May long weekend BC Ferries will not add typical additional summer sailings to its schedule.

More information on the restrictions is available on the province’s website.

Live-streamed video from Mike Farnworth’s announcement on Friday, April 23 is below:

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