Columbia, SC writes 130 mask tickets during weekend enforcement blitz

[G_j]

https://www.thestate.com/news/coronavirus/article247355579.html?fbclid=IwAR3BLqikVOA25zAAQQGIak3swW7YTU-1IqHYcJGfE6jHNhcpOV3PU8gSPHM

Columbia officials recently warned that any grace period that existed relating to enforcing the city’s mask mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic had come to an end.

They weren’t bluffing.

The Columbia Fire Department issued 130 mask tickets during a three-night period from Thursday through Saturday. Each of those citations was for $100, courtesy of a beefed-up mask mandate the city approved earlier this month.

According to Mayor Steve Benjamin, there were 27 mask citations issued on Thursday night, 64 on Friday night, and 39 on Saturday night. Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins says the vast majority of those tickets were written in the Five Points nightlife district.

The 130 citations over three days was a significant escalation in mask tickets for the city. Until the weekend blitz, the city had issued only about 50 citations since city council first passed a mask ordinance in June.

Read more here: https://www.thestate.com/news/coronavirus/article247355579.html?fbclid=IwAR3BLqikVOA25zAAQQGIak3swW7YTU-1IqHYcJGfE6jHNhcpOV3PU8gSPHM#storylink=cpy

[Sherman A1]

1. Good

We need more of this enforcement.

[Blues Heron]

2. way to get ahead of the curve guys

50 since June? stop the presses!

[Laelth]

3. Definitely a case of "better late than never." n/t

-Laelth

[cwydro]

4. Key West has instituted a $500 fine.

This is the only way to get compliance, I’m afraid.