Last week, the Quebec government announced that it would be imposing a provincial-wide curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. and fines up to $6,000 for non-compliance. The curfew is set to last until at least February 8, 2021.
On the first night of the curfew, the Montreal police (SPVM) early into the curfew was seen pulling over people driving, detaining, and ticketing people who were out past the curfew.
#Montréal police say they gave out 17 tickets tonight for breaking the Québec curfew. They had no arrests to report. It seems they detained certain people, ticketed them and let them go. #covid19 #manifencours pic.twitter.com/HdLczxb7ur
— Dan Spector (@danspector) January 10, 2021
While I was walking my dogs, I witnessed the #Montreal #police pull over a car for the crime of being out past the 8 p.m. curfew.
— Marie O (@TheMarieOakes) January 10, 2021
The police tried to obstruct my ability to film them by flashing their flash lights into my phones camera.#1984IsHere #Quebec #quebeccurfew #SPVM pic.twitter.com/NtLrgY3cp0
8pm has come and gone. Anti-curfew protestors are marching around the Plateau with a huge convoy of cops in tow. #Montreal #manifencours #covid19 pic.twitter.com/LBBVKuLczw
— Dan Spector (@danspector) January 10, 2021
Media helicopters were also seen over the city looking for individuals who were out past the curfew.
These are the broadcasts on TV.
— Marie O (@TheMarieOakes) January 10, 2021
The tagline is: “Are Quebeckers respecting the guidelines?” (translated from French)#1984IsHere #Quebec #QuebecCurfew #MontrealCurfew pic.twitter.com/KtEForrBlK
When the curfew went into effect, cable was cut and a government program played saying, “In order to save lives and diminish the pressure on our health care system, the curfew will start tonight. It is illegal for anyone to be out of their home from 8:00 PM to 5:00 AM. Police surveillance will be increased.”
Québec is not playing about the curfew, they’re trying to scare people by cutting cable with this creepy bullshit #Curfew #Quebec #lockdown #covid19Qc pic.twitter.com/3iQqCGHfZz
— Shawn Fournier (@ShawnF1998) January 9, 2021
Two hours to go, Montreal! #mtlmoments #couvrefeu #curfew pic.twitter.com/nm2wxYt5B6
— FNoMTL (@FNoMTL) January 9, 2021
The government of Quebec also utilized its emergency response system and sent an emergency message to every phone within the province.
“A curfew is in force starting this evening. Citizens are prohibited from leaving their homes between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., under penalty of fines.”
— Marie O (@TheMarieOakes) January 9, 2021
“Stay home and observe the curfew to protect lives.”
Is this 1984?#1984IsHere #Quebec pic.twitter.com/it3hVvzsr1