North Vancouver driver 1st person fined for non-essential travel in B.C. after trip to Vancouver Island

A driver who travelled from their home in North Vancouver to Vancouver Island has become the first person in B.C. to be fined for breaking current restrictions on non-essential travel.

RCMP initially pulled over the driver, who was not identified, for speedingon southern Vancouver Island on May 1.

An officer spoke with the driver and determined their reason for being on the Island was not essential.

The officer issued a $575 ticket under the Emergency Program Act and told the driver "to return to the Lower Mainland immediately," according to a statement.

The driver was also ticketed for the initial driving offence.

Travel boundaries

Non-essential travel in B.C. is limited to three regions, which are areas covered by the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities; the Northern and Interior health authorities;and Vancouver Island.

RCMP has set up road checks on highway corridorsconnecting the mainland regional zones to uphold the rules.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworthsaid 1,472 vehicles were checked on highways 1, 3, 5 and 99 between May 6 and May 8, which marksa "significant reduction" from normal traffic levels.

No tickets have been issued at those checks so far.

There are no check stops in place around BC Ferries terminals. Ferrystaff are being instructed to ask passengers for their reason for travelling, and are refusing to acceptbookings for recreational vehicles such as campers and trailers.

RCMP Supt. Holly Turton, the officer in charge of the B.C. Highway Patrol Unit said many non-essential travellers stopped at the highway checks have turned around voluntarily after RCMP refreshed them on the rules.

"I've been very impressed by the fact thepeople we've encountered at these roadchecks, by and largethe vast, vast majority, are clearly engagingin essential travel. We've had to turn around very few people," Turton said.