With more than 200 police officers roaming the streets, Canada Day revellers should be wary of breaking the rules this weekend, VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 police chief says.
Chief Jamie Graham said people busted with open liquor, or found to be drunk in public will be ticketed.
Although itB次元官网网址檚 up to individual officers whether to ticket someone caught breaking liquor laws, VicPD is B次元官网网址済oing to do our very best to remove that discretion,B次元官网网址� Graham said.
For Victoria police, Canada Day is the busiest day of the year, especially this July 1, as it falls on a Friday. About 50,000 people are expected to flood the city streets around the harbour to catch the festivities and watch the fireworks, which launch at 10:20 p.m.
B次元官网网址淚f you have open liquor, youB次元官网网址檙e going to get a fine,B次元官网网址� Graham said.
The celebrations are targeted to families, but traditionally, police have been kept busy in the late evening with people drinking in the streets. The fine for consuming or being in possession of open liquor is $200, plus officers could slap another $150 fine on partiers who are drunk in public.
Police cannot perform random searches B次元官网网址� they must have grounds to check bags and pour out drinks.
Roadblocks set up across the city will pick off drunk drivers and vehicles with open liquor inside. Graham said people wanting to get downtown should use taxis or public transportation.
More than 100 B.C. Transit employees will be on the roads and on standby Friday. Two years ago, the bus company transported 61,500 riders on July 1, said B.C. Transit spokesperson Joanna Linsangan.
B次元官网网址淎ll hands are on deck that night,B次元官网网址� she said.
The transit companyB次元官网网址檚 Friday late-night bus service, which it implemented last September, is expected to make a difference in getting more people home following the Canada Day fireworks.
B次元官网网址淲e think it will be beneficial especially for those wanting to stay later,B次元官网网址� said Linsangan.
Late-night service will be available until 1:30 a.m. on the No. 4 University of Victoria bus, the No. 6 Esquimalt-Royal Oak and the No. 14 UVic-Victoria General bus.
The police contingent will be beefed up with help from military police, officers from Saanich, Central Saanich and Oak Bay departments, Coast Guard and harbour authority officers.
The area around the Inner Harbour will be closed to traffic for most of the night.
ecardone@vicnews.com
