If you don’t comply with a place of business’ request that you adhere to a state mandate to wear a face mask, Manteca Police could intercede.
Manteca Police established protocols for officers when they are dispatched if a business calls due to a customer refusing to follow the state law.
The protocols come not only after the mandatory face mask order for inside stores and in specific other situations was put in place by Gov. Gavin Newsom due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, but following a growing number of national retail chains such as Walmart and Target joining Costco in mandating face masks in all of their stores.
Police are typically called after a customer who declines to wear a mask and is then asked to leave the store refuses to do so. Manteca Police Lt. Stephen Schuler noted at that point there are two violations in play — trespassing and the face mask violations.
Schuler said officers will explain that if a person has been asked to leave a store that it is private property and if they do not comply they can be cited for trespassing. They will also educate the individual about the legal state requirement mandating the use of face masks in specific situations as part of the effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Since some businesses have been forced to close again, Schuler said the police have been fielding a larger number of complaints that are handled using education and enforcement as a 1-2 approach. The city’s education-enforcement effort is complaint driven.
Under protocols now in place a business that the police field a complaint about will receive a phone call from Schuler explaining the lawful orders put in place by the county and the state.
On a second complaint the businesses will receive an in-person visit with a written warning. A third complaint would be treated the same way.
If there is still not compliance, the fourth time triggers a notice to correct and with a spot check.
Should the business be in violation they will receive an administrative citation. During that time if they commit additional violations they will be subject to citations for each offense. Should they commit say three additional violations within the 14 days the clock started ticking on an administrative citation they would be subject to an accumulative fine of $3,000.
At the same time police would contact a state enforcement team that would bring up the potential of state fines being imposed as well in addition to licenses possibly being revoked.
Schuler said the city has been getting compliance within the first two steps with most taking steps to adhere to the state orders after the initial verbal warning.
Latest COVID-19 statics
for San Joaquin County
As of Thursday intensive care units at the county’s seven hospitals are operating at 112 percent capacity while overall hospital capacity is at 76 percent.
A second federal medical assistance team of nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, registered nurses and ICU technicians is being deployed to San Joaquin County.
There have been two more deaths in the past two days in San Joaquin County to bring the number of people who have succumbed to COVID-19 as of 12:40 p.m. on Thursday to 81.
There have been 7,680 people since early March infected. Of those 3,147 have recovered and 4,533 are currently positive including 252 new cases confirmed by testing. The positive cases include those who are ill, have become slightly sick, as well as those showing no symptoms and may never do so.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com