Dog owners, teenagers run afoul of Newmarket's COVID-19 rules

The town has received plenty of complaints about physical distancing, people using parks, non-essential businesses being open and essential businesses not practising physical distancing

Newmarkettoday.ca
April 15, 2020
Kim Champion

The holiday weekend saw a majority of Newmarket residents doing their part to slow the spread of COVID-19, but a few transgressions were observed along the way by the town’s bylaw enforcers.

“It was a great weekend, no new tickets were issued,” regulatory services manager Flynn Scott said in an email. “Everyone was compliant for the most part, so the messaging is working. However, we did have a few groups of teenagers gathered over the weekend.”

Bylaw patrols noted that about four or five times over the long weekend, teenagers were seen either playing on sport fields that are now closed until further notice or simply hanging out together in groups in one place.

“The moment they saw the bylaw officer, they dispersed,” Scott said.

And, more than 40 educational interactions with pet owners were noted because their dogs were off-leash in public places not permitted for that activity.

Mayor John Taylor urged residents before last weekend’s Easter and Passover celebrations began to spend time only with those who live in your household in a bid to limit the spread of COVID-19.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of limiting your activities and complying with all of the provincial orders around physical distancing and social gatherings,” Taylor said.

The town has stepped up its bylaw enforcement division and has begun issuing fines starting at $750 for individuals or businesses that do not comply with provincial emergency orders.

Those orders include a ban on social gatherings of more than five people, closure of playgrounds and park amenities, including Newmarket’s dog park, shuttering of non-essential businesses, and a crackdown on price gouging of goods and services needed during a pandemic.

From April 10 to 12, Newmarket bylaw officers patrolled 136 parks and interacted with about 563 people, which included quick hellos and education-based enforcement around such things as the physical distancing practice of keeping six feet apart from others, and the improper use of benches as picnic spots.

While the town has increased its enforcement measures, it appears Newmarket residents are also getting involved to help ensure others follow the rules.

Since April 7, the town received 55 formal complaints over physical distancing, 41 complaints about people using parks, and 42 complaints for non-essential businesses being open and essential businesses not practising physical distancing, and 56 calls for general information or questions about COVID-19 as it relates to parks and businesses.

For its part, York Regional Police said that a majority of the 13 charges it has laid so far under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act involve non-essential businesses being open.

If you see inappropriate use at closed playgrounds and park amenities, email the customer service centre anytime at info@newmarket.ca or call 905-895-5193 to report it during business hours, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Individuals who are charged with an offence under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act must identify themselves if asked by a municipal bylaw enforcement officer. Failing to do so can carry a fine of $1,000 for obstructing the officer.

In addition, failure to comply with an emergency order carries a starting fine of $750 or could also carry punishments of up to one-year imprisonment or a fine of up to $100,000 for an individual.

These penalties will apply in addition to breaching other emergency orders.