Two St. Catharines bars have been fined for overcrowding.
The operators of Daisy Dukes Boots and Bourbon Bar on St Paul St. pleaded guilty on Tuesday Feb. 12 to an Ontario Fire Code charge for exceeding occupancy, or overcrowding, in its main bar and lounge area.
The court imposed a $5,000 fine against the corporation plus court costs and victim fine surcharges.
On Friday, Feb. 1 the operators of Manhattan Bar and Grill on Vine St. pleaded guilty to an Ontario Fire Code charge for exceeding the occupant load for the number of persons occupying a room or floor space in an assembly.
They were fined $3,500 fine plus court costs and victim fine surcharges.
Both charges stem from a joint inspection by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario inspectors and Inspectors from the St. Catharines Fire and Emergency Management Services on March 17, 2018.
Acting Fire Chief Jeff McCormick said it is dangerous for restaurants, bars and nightclubs to have more people than they can accommodate.
He says having more people than the floor space can accommodate can make evacuations during emergencies more challenging and that’s when seconds count.