British Columbia

Alaskans fined, escorted to U.S. after allegedly violating Quarantine Act in B.C.

RCMP in British Columbia say four Americans have been fined $500 each for violating emergency orders under the Quarantine Act.

Officer says a vehicle with Alaska licence plates sparked suspicion in the Vancouver area late last month

RCMP say four Americans were escorted to the Canada-U.S. Peace Arch border crossing in Surrey, B.C., in August after breaking rules under the Quarantine Act. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

RCMP in British Columbia say four Americans have been fined $500 each for violating emergency orders under the Quarantine Act.

Spokeswoman Dawn Roberts says a vehicle with Alaska licence plates sparked suspicion in the Vancouver area late last month.

She says police found the vehicle and determined the driver and three passengers were in breach of restrictions in place for Americans travelling to and from Alaska through Canada.

Such travellers are allowed a reasonable length of time to take the most direct route to their destination, and receive a tag for their rear-view mirror that indicates the date they must leave the country.

Roberts says it appears the four Alaskans weren't on the most direct path to Washington state, and were staying in B.C. outside the prescribed timeline.

The four travellers were escorted to the Peace Arch border crossing and Roberts says there were no indications they posed a public health risk.