Violation tickets and fines set for offences under B.C.'s Safe Access to Places of Public Worship Act

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

The province has added the Safe Access to Places of Public Worship Act to the list of laws enforceable by violation ticket. Officers can now issue tickets for nine specific contraventions under that Act, including impeding access to or egress from a place of worship, disrupting its activities, engaging in interference, intimidating or causing concern to attendees, participating in a gathering that does any of the above, and removing, altering or defacing a required sign. Each offence carries a fine of $2,000 plus a $300 victim surcharge levy, for a total ticketed amount of $2,300. Anyone who organizes or participates in activities near a place of worship should be aware that these behaviours are now subject to on-the-spot ticketing without a court summons.

Who this affects: individuals demonstrating or gathering near places of worship · organizers of protests or assemblies near religious sites · places of worship and their congregants · law enforcement officers issuing violation tickets