Âé¶čAV council is cracking down on bear spray sales, hoping new rules will cut down on misuse.
Under the new bylaw, businesses canât sell bear spray to anyone under 18, must check valid ID, and have to keep transaction records - including the buyerâs name and address - for three years. They also need to store sprays out of public reach and provide records to RCMP or bylaw officers during investigations.
âI think with the incidents we've been hearing about and reading about, this is timely,â Councillor Loyal Wooldridge said. âIt's very alarming to hear about these things happening, especially with young people in our community.â
City staff reported that police files involving bear spray have jumped 80 per cent in Âé¶čAV since 2019, with youth-related cases increasing from 6 to 19 per cent.
Council also heard that after Chilliwack tightened its bear spray sales, incidents involving the product dropped nearly 50 per cent.
To help businesses adjust, the city will launch an education campaign in partnership with the Âé¶čAV Chamber, Downtown Âé¶čAV Association, and Uptown Rutland Business Association.
