Toronto Police Lay 65 Charges Over First Weekend Of Stay-At-Home Order

Heading into the weekend, Toronto police said they would use “their discretion” when it came to enforcing the province’s new stay-at-home order that went into effect on January 12.

They used that discretion to dole out dozens of tickets over the weekend.

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) tweeted that it laid 65 provincial and criminal charges over the first weekend that the order was being enforced.

“Officers attended various large gatherings and enforced non-compliance where appropriate,” TPS tweeted.

Last week Toronto police clarified how the order would be enforced, noting that it doesn’t give police the power to enter a home or the authority to stop a vehicle for the sole purpose of checking if they are in compliance.

Police also stressed that merely being outside is not evidence of failure to comply with the order and people do not have to explain why they are out of their homes.

A person also does not need proof from their employer that they are travelling to and from work.

Mayor John Tory also commented on the enforcement efforts, saying he expected police to focus on blatant offenders without crossing the line and hounding citizens going about their everyday activities.

“I don’t think they’re going to be combing the streets looking for anybody walking down the sidewalk and say ‘Aha! Are you going to get a prescriptions or going to pick up food?’ ” Tory told CityNews.

“I think they’re going to be looking for blatant examples of non-compliance.”