Manhattan Beach: How Many Mask Citations Have Been Issued?

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — The City of Manhattan Beach wasn't the first Los Angeles County city to decide to fine people who weren't wearing a facial covering in public and they weren't the last. Hermosa Beach followed on the heels of the Manhattan Beach ordinance some two weeks later and Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood beat MB to the decision to authorize fines. In mid-July, the Manhattan Beach City Council directed City Manager Bruce Moe to create an emergency order that would include fines for individuals not wearing a facial covering in public in most situations.

Mayor Richard Montgomery told Manhattan Beach Patch this week, "Remember, our facial covering enforcement ordinance was enacted for two reasons: First, there is an existing health order from LA County Health Department along with an order from the state. Second, Due to the lack of compliance from most cities in Los Angeles County, the Governor strongly suggested that cities needed to begin enforcing the facial covering order — especially in Los Angeles County that remains the highest infection rate and a population of 10 million people. The Governor also made it clear that if cities did not start proactive enforcing, he could use other avenues to gain compliance. Closing down beaches and parking lots, refusing state grant monies, extending the moratorium to all retail businesses were some of the options he cited." Manhattan Beach enacted its ordinance on July 16.

At this week's council meeting held last Tuesday, the city reported that to date they had issued 261 citations for not wearing a mask in public. Fines start at $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense, and $350 for every offense thereafter. Do the math at 261 times the $100 minimum fine and the amount equals $26,100. But, ask any city council member and they'll tell you the mask fines are not about the money, but, rather, about getting people to wear masks in public to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

"The goal is not to give a citation to anyone," said Montgomery, "but rather to educate, and our staff even offers a free facial covering to anyone without one. Only those refusing to wear a covering and/or repeat offenders are cited. The costs are not inexpensive but every day we risk not containing the spread of COVID-19 is one more day our restaurants, our salons, our studios, our gyms and our malls are closed!"

Tuesday night while announcing the number of citations issued, the city said 2,397 warnings had been given and some 1,300 face coverings handed out. He told MB Patch that residents, businesses and restaurants in downtown Manhattan Beach have called the ordinance "tremendously effective." Added Montgomery, "Please do not be reckless. Wear a facial covering in public when you will be within six feet of anyone not in your household. It’s not that hard."

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