While the COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a new way of living for much of the developed world, there is still some confusion out there about how to keep each other safe, and which statements from public health officials are recommendations, or which laws are now enforceable by the police. 

One rumour making its way around the world of social media is that police officers were pulling drivers over and asking for their ID, and issuing fines of up to $1,000 if the addresses on the ID's were not the same.

Now we are currently under the federal Quarantine Act, which does give jurisdictions powers of enforcement when it comes to people not complying with isolating themselves if they return from flights overseas, or if they have COVID-19 or have come in contact with a person who was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Such was the case in Brooks earlier this week, where a 19-year-old man was charged and fined $1,200 for violating self-quarantine rules. This suspect was under orders from Alberta Health Services to be in self-quarantine but was located by police in a local public park.

In Alberta, there are restrictions on gatherings in place, including no gatherings of 15 or more in any one location. 

Constable Vaughan Bleasdale with the Lacombe Police Service says during this unpreceded time, they and other peace officers are using their discrimination, and judge the situation on a case by case basis. 

"We're not going to go out of our way to seek people driving in vehicles... first of all, it's just not a good use of our time I don't think, and secondly, people need to be able to live, right? So if there is something blatant we will look at it. We would use a fine as a last resort, but we would definitely make multiple attempts through verbal communication to try and ensure that people are aware of the self-distancing laws and the public health orders and stuff like that. But we won't be pulling people over and asking for ID's and ensuring they are following the public order that way."

Bleasdale says they along with RCMP members across the province will use their discretion, and won't be handing out $1,000 fines unless offenders try really hard to get one.

"I mean, really it's just a conversation that we would have. We're not going to be issuing $1,000 tickets right now unless it's an ongoing issue, and people are just blatantly disregarding what's supposed to be going on, and us as police... as long as your obeying by the social distancing rules set out by the public health order, you won't have any issues.  And if we have to have a discussion with you, it'll be a verbal warning and then we'll proceed from there."

Any complaints received in relation to breaches of Public Health Orders will be referred to the Public Health Inspector with Alberta Health Services (AHS) at ephisahs.microsoftcrmportals.com/create-case.