A woman arrested months ago for refusing to wear a mask aboard a Vancouver SkyTrain is facing $460 in fines after being 鈥渇ound guilty鈥� Tuesday.
She will 鈥渉ave to pay all of her violation tickets,鈥� says Transit Police Sgt. Clint Hampton. One is for not wearing a mask, another for belligerent behaviour.
鈥� Sgt. Clint Hampton (@SgtCHampton)
Footage of the December incident was recorded by the passenger, herself, and posted to social media.
Const. Peter Kwok is seen asking her to wear a mask on the Canada Line train bound for Richmond. The woman refuses.
鈥淚 cannot wear a mask鈥� I have a medical exemption card,鈥� she tells Kwok.
鈥淚t isn鈥檛 valid anymore,鈥� the officer responds, citing provincial health orders that mandate mask-wearing in indoor public spaces.
鈥淲ell that鈥檚 too bad,鈥� the passenger is heard saying. Kwok proceeds to ask the woman to cover her mouth.
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鈥淲ow, that is ridiculous! I need healthy air exchange in my mouth,鈥� she says.
Eventually, the officer explains he is going to place the woman under arrest.
鈥淭his is harassment,鈥� the passenger yells.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e so terrified of COVID yet you鈥檙e willing to put your hands on me.鈥�
Kwok tries to escort the woman off of the SkyTrain but she resists arrest. It is then she allegedly kicked Kwok in the groin, according to Hampton.
Transit Police recommended charges following the incident, however, they were not approved by Crown counsel.
In November and December, officers issued 228 tickets to passengers who refused to wear masks.
Handing out tickets has led to Transit Police facing verbal and physical abuse in return, says Hampton.
sarah.grochowski@bpdigital.ca
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