Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
With face coverings now mandatory in indoor and some outdoor public places downtown, Jasper bylaw officers want to see voluntary compliance rather than having to enforce it.
"There does seem to be an increase in people wearing face coverings," said Neil Jones, licensing and enforcement manager for Jasper.
That's just what needed to happen following council's decision to pass a new bylaw and adapt an existing one at their August 4 meeting, with a goal to protect both Jasper residents and visitors from COVID-19 transmission.
"We understand that the face covering requirement is new to town," Jones said in an email. "Officers will take this into consideration when they deal with members of the public who may not have been aware of the face covering requirement."
Jones emphasized, "Voluntary compliance is always sought by a bylaw officer."
Jasper has two full time bylaw enforcement officers and they have started patrolling downtown.
Jones said two patrols have been carried out so far, one by an RCMP member and a bylaw officer, the other by one bylaw officer.
On their patrols, officers encourage compliance and hand out information leaflets produced by the town.
While issuing a ticket is not the preferred action, if it does happen, Jones said the recipient will have, at minimum, 30 days to pay it.
As well, people who repeat the infraction may receive more than one fine if voluntary compliance can't be obtained.
In line with the Conduct in Public Places Bylaw, which was amended to mandate mask-wearing on downtown streets in Jasper, a first offence comes with a fine of $150.
A second offence, if within 30 days of any previous offence, has a penalty of $300, and if you disobey the bylaw a third time within 30 days of a previous offence you could be fined $500.
Breaking the new bylaw, the Temporary Compulsory Face Covering Bylaw which mandates mask-wearing in indoor public places, comes with a fine of $250.
But Jones is adamant about getting voluntary compliance.
"I must stress that an officer will only use a fine as the very last resort," Jones said.
