Face Masks Required In Santa Monica, Or City Says Face $100 Fine

Nicole Charky
Updated ·2 min read

SANTA MONICA, CA — Are you still not wearing a mask in public? If you’re still not convinced that it can save you and others from spreading the coronavirus then the city of Santa Monica hopes that fining you $100 will.

Non-mask wearers will be fined starting this week for not wearing a face covering or mask, the city announced.

“Beginning this week, we’ll be doing targeted enforcement for face coverings in business districts and parks in Santa Monica. Save your health and $100 by masking up,” the city announced on its Instagram page.

With coronavirus cases on the rise across California, local municipalities in July apparently started to crack down on residents who flout the statewide requirement that they wear masks while in public.

In Santa Monica, a new health order was announced in July to emphasize how important it was for the community to wear face coverings or masks. The order outlines the requirement for people to wear face coverings while in public, and for businesses to enforce the requirement for employees and customers.

The revised Santa Monica order sets fines for violators at $100 for a first violation, $250 for a second violation and $500 for a third. For businesses, the fines start at $500, increasing to $750 for a second violation and $1,000 for a third.

Gov. Gavin Newsom—who made face coverings mandatory across the state on June 18—announced a "major public awareness campaign" about the requirement. The campaign, backed by $10.75 million in donations, features a series public service announcements in a variety of languages.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said local businesses should refuse service to anyone who refuses to wear a mask.

"If there's no mask, there should be no service," Garcetti said.

View this post on Instagram
 Beginning this week, we’ll be doing targeted enforcement for face coverings in business districts and parks in Santa Monica. Save your health and $100 by masking up.
A post shared by City of Santa Monica (@cityofsantamonica) on Aug 5, 2020 at 9:06am PDT

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This article originally appeared on the Santa Monica Patch