(Newer)
A New Year’s refusal to wear a mask in a taxi has cost him $ 690 in fines and some time in the drunken tank in Victoria, British Columbia, reports Powell River Peak. The man, who entered a taxi around 1am on Friday, “insultingly” refused to wear a face mask in accordance with local mandates and allegedly touched the driver’s face. The cabbie, who was in contact with 911, therefore drove straight to the police headquarters, according to the CBC, where officers were waiting.
The passenger was fined three dollars of $ 230 each for failing to wear a face mask, abusive or belligerent behavior and disobeying an officer (he allegedly refused to leave the taxi and had to be removed), according to a statement from the Victoria Police Department. He also received tickets for public drunkenness and was sent to jail until he was sober. The trio fines reportedly amounted to the largest COVID-related fine to date. (Read more New Year’s Eve stories.)