A South Surrey grandmother thought she was doing the right thing by going into the U.S. to buy gasoline after the B.C. government placed a 30-litre limit on the amount of fuel drivers are allowed to purchase at one time.

Instead, Marlane Jones was hit with a $5,700 fine.

On Sunday, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair announced that British Columbians from border communities can go to the U.S. for essential reasons and return without a COVID-19 PCR test.

Blair said that essential reasons include gas and food, due to gas rationing implemented by the B.C. government. He said that visiting family, checking on U.S. properties or a vacation are not essential reasons.

Jones, who described herself as a 含羞草研究社渘ice retired lady,含羞草研究社� said she thought she was doing the right thing by saving gas for people in Surrey who really need it 含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社測oung people that are commuting.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淔or my deed, I got hit with a $5,700 fine,含羞草研究社� she said.

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Jones said she was also told by CBSA officials to take a COVID-19 test. She now has to wait, in isolation, for her results to come back negative.

In total, Jones said, she was in the U.S. for 10 minutes.

When asked about Blair含羞草研究社檚 comments and statements from CBSA that B.C. residents affected by flood rations would be allowed to cross into the U.S., Jones said CBSA officers didn含羞草研究社檛 know what she was talking about.

含羞草研究社淭hey said to me, 含羞草研究社楴ope, we haven含羞草研究社檛 been told that.含羞草研究社� One of them said I was the ninth person this morning that was fined. And that was before 8 a.m.含羞草研究社�

The CBSA has not yet responded for a request for comment or clarification.

However, CBSA wrote on Twitter that 含羞草研究社済iven the situation in BC, travellers and essential workers who must travel to or through the USA for essential reasons (food, fuel, supply chains) are exempt from testing and quarantine requirements. These exemptions do not apply to non-essential travel.含羞草研究社�

Asked on Twitter if a Delta resident can drive to Point Roberts for gas or milk, CBSA replied:

含羞草研究社淓ssential travel refers to all travel for non-discretionary and non-optional purposes, including but not limited to food, fuel, and supply chains. Optional or discretionary travel examples include tourism, recreation, and entertainment.含羞草研究社�

Jones said she was given the option of a $5,700 fine and mandatory quarantine, or she could get a PCR test in the U.S. and wait 72 hours before crossing into Canada.

Jones, who took the fine, said she will fight it in court.

含羞草研究社淚 have to tell you, for a grandma 含羞草研究社� I含羞草研究社檓 a nice lady 含羞草研究社� I was really scared, the way they talked to me. This sounds kind of terrible, I could have accepted being given the gears from the U.S., but not coming back into my own country.含羞草研究社�

aaron.hinks@peacearchnews.com
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