A shouting match between two Vancouver SkyTrain passengers has been caught on video and since attracted the attention of Metro Vancouver Transit Police.
The two-minute clip posted to YouTube on Wednesday shows the men – one wearing a face mask and one without– screaming at each other.
The maskless man is overheard saying to another rider, "I'll pay you $100 to punch him out."
The incident took place on a SkyTrain approaching Joyce-Collingwood station, confirmed Transit Police Sgt. Clint Hampton.
The dispute, which does not meet the Criminal Code’s threshold of charges according to Hampton, saw a few other TransLink passengers – including a woman – get involved.
The female mentions mask-wearing, which prompts a pandemic-fueled rant from the unmasked rider.
"Wake up, have you seen the funeral homes? You see dead bodies? It's so f---ing fake," he screamed about COVID-19.
“It’s fake, it’s fake, it’s so f---ing fake,” the man is heard yelling.
Disputes over face masks can 'escalate,' warns Transit Police
This is not the first time mask-wearing appears to have played a role in a Metro Vancouver transit dispute.
Per TransLink policy, riders must wear face coverings, with few medical exceptions.
Recently, in two separate instances, the lack of mask-wearing appears to have ignited fights between TransLink passengers, which have included acts of spitting and punching.
Hampton is encouraging riders – instead of taking matters into their own hands – to discreetly call Transit Police before matters worsen.
“Things could have escalated and become far worse,” the officer said.
