Mask and social distancing scofflaws beware: Santa Clara County has started enforcing its coronavirus health orders, and violators could face steep fines.
Since the Board of Supervisors voted to authorize enforcement last week, the county has sent notices of violation to three businesses, according to a county news release. Two of the three non-compliant businesses corrected the issues and will not be penalized. The third business still has time to fix the violation and avoid a fine.
Santa Clara County allows a grace period of 24 to 72 hours before issuing fines of up to $500 for individuals and $5,000 for businesses.
“We are glad to see corrections being made in response to the citations of the Health Officer orders issued by the designated enforcement officers,” Michael Balliet, Santa Clara County director of environmental health, wrote in the news release. “Our goal is to educate and not fine businesses, but fines will be issued if businesses refuse to comply with the laws protecting the public from COVID-19.”
San Mateo, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Napa and Marin counties have authorized similar fines, and the city of Livermore joined the pack last week.
County health orders already allowed law enforcement officers to arrest people who don’t wear masks or comply with social-distancing rules, opening up violators to large fines and potential jail time. But police and sheriff’s deputies have been reluctant to do so. The new civil penalties passed in Santa Clara and other counties — about equivalent to a traffic ticket — are intended to make enforcement easier.
“This ordinance provides an added tool to enforce the Health Officer’s orders and protect the public in Santa Clara County,” County Counsel James Williams wrote. “It is our hope that businesses will use the grace period to make the necessary corrections and avoid fines, but if they fail to do so, the penalties are significant. The vast majority of businesses are playing by the rules and keeping our community’s wellbeing as their priority, but those that are not need to know that our community is serious about enforcement.”
