The number of warnings handed out by Town of Newmarket bylaw officers spiked slightly last week to enforce physical distancing requirements on basketball courts and parks and trails.
From Aug. 17 to 24, 28 warnings were required, up from 24 during the previous week, despite the reduction in the number of patrols as the department returns to regular duties that include parking and property standards enforcement, according to Flynn Scott, manager of regulatory services.
"Warnings were focused on education around groups of youth playing basketball games and reminding groups in parks and on trails about physical distancing," Scott said.
The 30-minute limit for parking on Main Street remains in place, and rather than issue tickets, officers provided warnings that vehicles were required to move, he added.
Bylaw by the Numbers Aug. 17 to 24
Proactive Patrols:
- 52 park patrols conducted (73 previous week)
- 843 interactions/observations (1,240 previous week)
- 28 warnings through public education/voluntary compliance (24 previous week)
- 0 tickets issued for Emergency Management and Civil Protection
Formal Complaints Calls:
- 9 parks complaints (8 previous week, 9 before that)
- 0 business complaints (0 previous week, 0 before that)
- 2 physical distancing complaints (4 previous week, 7 before that)
- 4 general inquiry calls (2 previous week, 5 before that)
Main St Parking Tickets
- 0 tickets issued (7 previous week)
- 0 warnings issued
