Heading out on a road trip this weekend?
If so, you'll want to keep your travels contained to your health zone, as the BC RCMP is once again implementing road checks between these zones during the last weekend of May.
Intended to deter British Columbians from making any non-essential trips to other regions, the COVID-19 Travel Restriction Road Checks were first established in a series of locations on Thursday, May 6, following an announcement from B.C. Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth last month.
The ongoing travel restrictions aim curb the spread of COVID-19 by limiting movement between three main regions: The Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, and Northern/Interior B.C. They were extended until at least July 15 under B.C.'s four-step restart plan, provincial health officials announced Tuesday.
COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Road Checks are located at:
- Highway 1 in the Boston Bar area
- Highway 3 in the Manning Park area
- Highway 5 in the Old Toll Booth area
According to RCMP, the COVID-19 travel-related road check on Highway 3 near Manning Park area remained in effect on Saturday, May 29 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
People who contravene the order restricting non-essential travel could be saddled with a $575 fine, while failure to comply with the requirements of a road check may result in a $230 fine, as is the case at anytime.
Drivers passing through a road check must be prepared to provide identification, documentation confirming their name and address, and a reason for travel.
If police determine that a person is travelling for non-essential reasons, the driver will be directed to leave the region. Those refusing to do so may face the above-mentioned fines, in accordance with B.C.'s Emergency Program Act.
Motorists who are travelling through those areas for an essential reason can expect traffic delays, police warned.
Signage has been posted to inform travellers about upcoming road check locations, while safe u-turn routes have also been provided "should motorists determine that their travel is not essential and wish to avoid the road check," RCMP explained.
Commercial vehicles are not subject to COVID-19 travel restriction road checks.
