A Vancouver Island man has been fined twice by police for refusing to wear a face mask at two separate businesses in the Victoria area.
West Shore RCMP states that they received a call of a man causing a disturbance in the Peninsula Co-op gas station around 3:30 in the afternoon. Staff shared that the man refused a request to wear a mask in the store, and then became belligerent and refused to leave.
Police state that the 40-year old continued to be uncooperative after the officers arrived. He was arrested for causing a disturbance and charged under the COVID-19 Related Measures Act for failing to wear a face-covering which carries a $230 fine.
The following day police became aware of a video posted on social media showing the same man verbally abusing staff and refusing to wear a face mask at a Starbucks in View Royal.
Starbucks staff did not report the incident to the police but after assessing the video, West Shore RCMP reached out to the company and opened an investigation. The man was located and issued a second violation ticket for $230.
Businesses have the right to refuse service to anyone contravening their store policies and, in this case, the law.
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For more information about face masks, check out these sources:
Healthline: Understanding Coronavirus Masks