7 people fined $1,000 each in connection with Charlottetown gathering

Charlottetown police issued $1,000 tickets to seven people in the early hours of Sunday morning, in connection with a gathering they say exceeded COVID-19 pandemic public health guidelines.

Police received a complaint about the gathering on Cumberland Street shortly after midnight Saturday.

"It's a challenge for our officers to deal with these types of situations," Charlottetown Deputy Police Chief Brad MacConnell told CBC News.

"We focus our enforcement on the individuals that facilitated the illegal gathering. However, when possible we will do our best to hold everyone involved in these situations accountable."

A police news release said officers on the scene determined thatthe gathering was larger than is allowed under the current guidelines designed to limit the spread of COVID-19, which isa single household plus no more than 10 additional people from outside the household.

The Chief Public Health Office says gatherings should consistently include the same 10 people, not a changing guest list.

The seven people ticketed at the weekend gathering were all between the ages of 21 and 26.

Each ticket calls for a $1,000 fine to be paid.

Over the last several months, several $1,000 fines have been levied in connection with too-large gatherings across Prince Edward Island. However, only the host has been ticketed, according to police news releases.

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