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According to S§Sgt. Kirk Lampman of the Halton Regional Police, the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario By HOWARD MOZEL Oakville Beaver Staff vou $ . . 7~ olice have one thing to say Pto those planning to open their stores on Boxing Day: don‘t say we didn‘t warn Police watching Boxing Day infractions /// At Our Huge Boxing Week BOX SOME BARGAINS By warning them beforehand, explains Sgt. Lampman, the police are hoping to cut down on the number charged and avoid the hassle for everyone concerned. has directed officers to vigorâ€" ously enforce the provisions contained in the Retail Business Holidays Act. Few special exemptions under "But are always some open every year," he says. Those that do open will face some stiff fines, especially those who have flaunted the law in years past: Sgt. Lampman said the Halton Crown Attorney‘s Office will be pushing for increased penalties for those convicted before. new legislation The minimum fine for a first offence is $500. A second offence will cost you $2,000. Third and any subsequent offences jump to $5,000. The maximum penalties, however, can be much more severe â€" up to to $50,000 or the total amount of gross sales which occur the day of the infraction. Z// RaC: Last year, even though the province amended the Act to allow Sunday shopping, it passed legislation to forbid store openings on statutory holidays such as Good Friday and Canada Day. No matter what Uay of the week Boxing Day falls on, it remains illegal for most stores to open. was legal to open on Boxing Day and many stores took advantage of the opportunity to boost yearâ€"end sales. Some resisted doing so â€" in 1990 Oakville Place opened Dec. 26 for the first time since 1976, for example â€" but there was no police involvement. Given the complexity of the law, Sgt. Lampman doesn‘t blame shopkeepers for being confused but explained that proâ€" visions in the Retail Business Holidays Act takes precedent over Sunday Shopping legislaâ€" tion. There are, of course, excepâ€" tions but these have been specifâ€" ically laid out in the Act: â€" Stores with up to three employees. â€" Stores with less than 2,400 square feet of floorspace serving and selling to the public. â€" Stores with goods such as foodstuffs, tobacco, antiques and handicrafts. According to Bill Morgan, chairman of the Bronte BIA, a number of shops in the Bronte area will be open â€" legally. Under provincial law, stores and shopping areas wishing a tourism exemption can apply to Halton Region and, if they qualâ€" ify, are given permission through Town bylaw. In July 1992 Bronte Village, Village Square in Burlington and the Olde Hide House in Acton applied for and were granted exemptions. They are the only retailers in all of Halton legally allowed to be open Boxing Day. Although Sgt. Lampman says the number of officers on duty Boxing Day is classified, he assures others store owners they will be around. It was a special day after Christmas when the gentry would give presents, usually money, to their servants, tradesmen and othâ€" ers of humble life. When you think about Boxing Day, think about how lucky you are to be Canadian and not American. For the holiday is a traâ€" ditional one based in old England and not celebrated in the U.S. Boxing Day originally for the ‘humble‘ Just a couple of years ago it