A Coquitlam man has been fined $230 for refusing to wear a mask in the Coquitlam Public Library (CPL).
But in a rare twist, the man asked for the fine, Coquitlam RCMP say.
Spokesperson Const. Deanna Law confirmed two officers were called to the Poirier branch of the Coquitlam Public Library last Friday afternoon. They were asked to deal with a man who refused to don a mask in compliance with the Nov. 19 provincial health order (PHO).
The incident took place at the Poirier branch at 1:15 p.m. on Dec. 11, raising concerns about public and staff safety, according to the library’s executive director Todd Gnissios, who said provincial health orders require masks in both the Poirier and City Centre branches but a growing number of people are balking at the measures.
“This particular gentleman doesn’t believe he needs to wear a mask. He refuses,” Gnissios confirmed, adding the man didn’t back down even when he was warned by staff that the Coquitlam RCMP would be called.
Gnissios said the man told staff “go ahead and call the police.”
Const. Law said when RCMP arrived they also asked the man if he had a medical reason for not wearing a mask, and a doctor’s note to prove it, but the man said no.
However, instead of simply walking out of the library to avoid a fine, “he requested one,” said Const. Law, who said the unidentified man was fined and escorted out of the library.
The call from the CPL is one of dozens the Coquitlam RCMP have received in recent weeks since Dr. Bonnie Henry stepped up orders to combat growing COVID-19 cases in B.C.
In November, Coquitlam RCMP received 94 calls about people not following through on PHO orders. However, most people don’t make a fuss, Cont. Law said. “They take the education piece and they move on. Most people wouldn’t want a $230 fine.”
Statistics for the month of December are not yet available, according to Const. Law, but she said Coquitlam RCMP continue to be called out when people are not following through on provincial health orders, including a requirement to wear a mask in indoor public spaces. “It’s a public health order and we’re enforcing it,” Const. Law said.
CPL’s Gnissios said the library calls police when someone refuses to leave and won’t wear a mask.
For staff safety reasons, police handle the occasional situation where people won’t wear a mask.
Gnissios said roughly three times a week at the Poirier branch and three times a day at City Centre people say they don’t want to wear a mask, even though they can get a free one at the front door.
“We say to people, ‘If you don’t want to wear a mask you don’t have to come in.’”
If people can’t wear masks or don’t want to for some reason, it’s recommended they use online services, which have been expanded during the pandemic, or reserve books for curbside pickup.
