Hundreds of tickets issued during St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Kingston's University District
Police and Bylaw officers issued hundreds of tickets for open liquor, public intoxication and underage drinking during St. Patrick's Day festivities in Kingston, Ont.
Police say over the weekend, officers worked with community partners to address "large unsanctioned gatherings" in the University District.
"Much like previous years’ events, most individuals took part in respectful and lawful celebrations, however, a large crowd gathered on Aberdeen Street on Saturday, March 18, posing an immediate threat to safety in the area," police said in a statement.
"A nuisance party was declared just before 3:00 p.m. Police and Bylaw Enforcement intervened and successfully cleared the large gathering to keep roads clear for motorists and emergency services."
The University District Safety Initiative was in effect from March 9 to 19, and police increased their presence in the University District to keep St. Patrick's Day celebrations under control.
Police say officers issued 330 open liquor charges, eight public intoxication charges and 30 charges for underage drinking on Friday and Saturday. Officers also issued administrative monetary penalties for obstructing an officer and making noise by yelling, shouting or hollering.
Meantime, Bylaw Services officers issued $19,000 worth of fines for administrative money penalties, including 33 for failing to leave the area and 12 for amplification of sound.
Under the University District Safety Initiative in Kingston, a fine or charge could result in a police record, which in turn could impact an individual's future academic or career prospect, police warn.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.