Two skateboarders are the first people to be ticketed in Mississauga for violating the closure of a park due to the COVID-19 crisis.

According to an email from Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie’s office, the city issued a $750 ticket each to two individuals seen by bylaw officers “using a clearly signed skateboard park” in violation of COVID-19 facility closures over the April 3 weekend.

“Both were also disrespecting physical distancing,” the email said. “Both individuals admitted they were aware of the park closure but chose to use it anyways.”

The tickets, which were part of a city blitz, follow emergency orders by the province aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19.

Prior to the April 3 weekend, Mississauga warned residents that the city could issue set fines of $750-$1,000 for individuals caught by officers not keeping two metres apart or using closed park facilities.

Gathering in groups larger than five, except for members of a single household, could also result in a fine of $1,000, the city warned.

According the mayor’s spokesperson, a non-essential business was also charged with not complying with an order to shut down over the weekend.

Three more notices were issued to businesses related to the orders with a 24-hour warning to stop operating, which they complied with.

Under provincial law, a person who directs a corporation that doesn’t comply with an emergency order can be fined up to $500,000 and face a year of jail time.

A corporation can be fined up to $10 million for not complying.

The city has also been encouraging people to call 311 if they believe others are not following the emergency COVID-19 orders.

Over the weekend blitz, there were 452 complaints, the mayor’s spokesperson said, including 162 related to non-essential businesses operating, and 182 that had to do with gatherings.

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There were 108 eight complaints related to city parks, such as using closed facilities and “tampering with closed parking lots,” the email from the mayor’s office said.

As of Monday, Peel Public Health reported 557 cases of COVID-19 in the region and eight deaths.

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Mississauga had a total of 316 coronavirus cases while Brampton had 211.

April 7, 2020: Correction: This story has been updated from a previously published version to correct that it’s bylaw officers who are issuing tickets, not police.

Steve Cornwell is a reporter with the Mississauga News and Brampton Guardian. Reach him via email: scornwell@metroland.com

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