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Starting Today, No Mask In Public In Hermosa Beach = Fines
An aerial view shows people hanging out on Hermosa Beach in mid-July.
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David McNew
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AFP via Getty
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Going without a face covering in Hermosa Beach is now going to cost you. Starting today, the coastal community will issue fines for refusing to wear a mask in public areas. The city has hired a private consulting firm to help police enforce it, putting four additional health ordinance enforcement officers on the ground looking to make sure people are following the orders.
Areas being patrolled include: downtown Hermosa Beach, Pier Plaza, all city parks, the Strand, greenbelt and on the beach.
Hermosa Beach police chief Paul LeBaron says the city's first step is still to educate people about why the mask is required. But now they have an ordinance on the books to fine those blatantly ignoring COVID-19 public health orders.
"One of the most important things that we're looking towards is the optics. We want people to see that we're out there enforcing. We want people to know that this is important."
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The city lists these exceptions to the mask requirements:
- When you are eating or drinking or engaged in swimming or other water activities
- Children under the age of 2
- People with an exemption from a medical provider stating they should not wear a cloth mask. [Note: Anyone with this exemption who has a job interacting with other people must find an alternative, such as "a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge, as long as their medical condition permits it."]
- If you are hearing impaired, or speaking with a person who is hearing impaired, and need to be able to see someone's mouth to communicate
The new requirements — and plans to enforce them — in Hermosa Beach come after significant pushback against wearing masks from residents and visitors of a number of Southern California's beach communities.
MORE ON MASKS
- Comedians Try Handing Out Masks In Huntington Beach. It Doesn't Go Well
- They Got The Memos, But LA Cops Still Aren't Wearing Masks
WE ARE HERE TO HELP: HOW TO (NEW) LA
- What's Open And What Are The Rules?
- Is It Safe Out There?
- What To Do If You Have It, Might Have It, Or Were Possibly Exposed To The Coronavirus
- An FBI Hostage Negotiator Tells Us How To Talk To People About Masks
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