Occupants of large party charged for breaching COVID-19 regulations
Kingston Police and City of Kingston Bylaw Enforcement kept the streets clear in the University District this past weekend. Over 120 charges were laid through the University District Safety Initiative (UDSI), and four major incidents were reported by Kingston Police in a release dated Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021.
Shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, a Kingston Police supervisor observed what appeared to be a large house party in the 100-block of Alfred Street just south of Johnson Street, with loud stereo music being heard and fireworks observed being discharged from the rear yard. According to the release, both police and bylaw officers attended and observed 30-40 attendees fleeing the rear yard with others coming and going from the back deck and door to the residence.
Officers approached the rear door to identify the tenants and, upon gaining access to the residence, saw a crowd much larger than the COVID-19 mandated limit of 25 people indoors, as per regulations found under the Reopening of Ontario Act, police said. A police supervisor then declared the gathering as being an aggravated nuisance party.
Between the tenants present and attendees a total of 59 aggravated nuisance party AMPs (Administrative Monetary Penalties), at $2,000 each, were issued through the bylaw and as a result of Mayor Paterson’s recent declaration of an Emergency Order. Three males were initially arrested for obstructing police by providing false names, with one who was required to be transported to the police station receiving an additional $500 AMP for obstruct, according to police. All were later released either on scene or at the station and cautioned regarding the possibility of being charged with the Criminal Code offence of obstruct police.
A potential total of $118,500 in administrative monetary penalties were issued at that one residence, with the tenants still facing later charges to be prepared by Bylaw for hosting/organizing a gathering in excess of the prescribed numbers under the Reopening of Ontario Act (ROA), which are to carry a minimum $10,000 fine each, according to the release. This could result in a total of $200,000 in penalties and fines being levied, police said.
Kingston Police and Bylaw Enforcement responded to a total of 210 noise complaints from Friday through to Sunday (Sept 24-26, 2021) in the University District. Total charges and penalties between the two agencies were:
- 6 Criminal Code charges
- 2 obstruct police
- 2 breaches of release conditions
- 1 mischief
- 1 prowl by night
- 41 Liquor Licence Act offences
- 40 open alcohol
- 1 public intoxication arrest and charge
- 61 aggravated nuisance party AMPs
- 13 amplified sound AMPs
- 2 obstruct AMPs