RCMP to set up roadside checkpoints on 4 highways in B.C. this weekend

B.C. RCMP will introduce theirfirst road checksthis weekendas part of the province's pushto stop non-essential travel.

Mounties saidthe checkpoints willbe set up Thursday on four highways connecting southwest B.C., including Whistler, with the rest of the province.

The check stops will be located at:

• Highway 1 in the Boston Bar area
• Highway 3 in the Manning Park area
• Highway 5 in the Old Toll Booth area
• Highway 99 in the Lillooet area

B.C. announced a ban on non-essential travel in April to curb surging case numbers.

The ban rules out travel between theprovince's three designated travel regions: the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley;Vancouver Island; and the Northern and Interior areas.

The travel zones are roughly basedon the province's healthregions, which have been combined in two cases to form larger regions: Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health;Northern Health and Interior Heath.

The restrictions are in effect until at least May 25, the end of the long weekend.

Violators subject to $575 fine

Police saidsignswill alert travelers of upcoming road checks and those traveling for essential reasons should expect traffic delays.

Safe U-turnroutes will also be prepared for drivers who decide their travel isn't essential and want to avoid the road checks.

Commercial vehicles won't be subject to road checks, police said.

At the road checks, police will ask for identification from drivers anddocumentation that shows the driver's name and address. Officers will ask driversto explain the purpose of their travel.

Police will directa driver to leave the region if the driver is found to be travelling for non-essential reasons. Those who refuse to leavemay be subject to a $575, police said.

Alberta border

As part of the travel restrictions, the provincesaid it will also erectnew border signs along the B.C.-Alberta border, reminding people to stay within their own province if travel isn't essential.

There will be no checkpoints at the provincial border, RCMP said.

"There are currently no restrictions in place that prohibit travellers from driving into B.C. fromAlberta,"a spokesperson said.

"If a person is traveling into the province from Alberta, they would be required to remain in one health region unless they are traveling for essential reasons."

B.C. residents can'tbook accommodations or camping sites outside their zone.

Operators will cancel any bookings that have already been made and B.C. Parks will refundanyone with a provincial camping site reservation outside of their zone.

BC Ferries has also stopped accepting bookings for recreational vehicles such as campers and trailers.