Twelve people fined $2,000 each after Kingston police break up a house party in University District
CTV
Police and Bylaw Officers spent Friday night in the University District, enforcing the University District Safety Initiative imposed by the city of Kingston.
Police and Bylaw Officers spent Friday night in the University District, enforcing the University District Safety Initiative imposed by the city of Kingston. The new emergency order includes increased penalties for attending illegal gatherings and new enforcement powers to discourage violations of social gathering limits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. Friday, police and Bylaw Enforcement officers responded to a build-up of people at the intersection of University Avenue and Earl Street. The crowd was quickly dispersed, but officers heard "extremely loud music" and what appeared to be a large indoor party in one of the corner residences.
"The side entrance revealed a number of people on the porch, with the residence door wide open and a crowd of people in the kitchen," said Kingston police.
Police say three female tenants of the home told officers they did not feel they were over the COVID-19 mandated limit of 25 people indoors, which is the maximum capacity for indoor gatherings under Ontario's Reopening Act.