(Newser)
– A New Year’s party’s refusal to wear a mask in a taxi cost him $ 690 in fines and some time in the drunken tank in Victoria, British Columbia, reports Powell River Peak. The man, who got into a taxi at around 1 am on Friday, “aggressively” refused to use a facial cover according to local regulations and would be touching the driver’s face. Then the taxi driver, who had contacted 911, went straight to the police headquarters, according to CBC, where the officers were waiting.
The passenger was hit with three fines of $ 230 each for not wearing facial coverage, abusive or belligerent behavior and not obeying a police officer (he reportedly refused to get out of the taxi and had to be removed), according to a statement from the the Victoria Police Department. He was also fined for public intoxication and jailed until sober. The trio of fines was the biggest COVID-related penalty so far imposed by the department, according to reports. (Read more New Year’s Eve stories.)