After focusing solely on awareness and education, State College has begun issuing citations for violations of the temporary ordinance for enforcing COVID-19 mitigation measures.
State College police have issued nine citations for violations of the ordinance in the past two days, according to district court records.
Violations carry a fine of $300 plus court costs.
Adopted on Aug. 4 and amended on Aug. 17, the ordinance requires masks to be worn, with some exceptions, in most public places within the borough, places limits on the number of people permitted at residential gatherings and gatherings in borough parks or other municipal property, and restricts waiting lines on public sidewalks outside of businesses to 10 people.
Each of the citations issued to date appear to be for violation of the limitations on gathering sizes. Since tenants of rental units are subject to the fines, it was not immediately clear on Friday night whether any of the citations were for the same incident.
‘The hope is to achieve compliance from everyone; however, police and other enforcement officers will continue to issue citations for violations of the ordinance,’ a borough news release on Friday said.
Borough officials and police officers have been engaged in an educational campaign to inform the local community about the ordinance. A one-page flyer explaining its requirements has been distributed over the past two weeks in a variety of ways, including by officers and through Penn State and local landlords.
The ordinance can be enforced by police, health officers, ordinance enforcement officers and emergency management personnel.
Face coverings are required in any building open to the public; on or waiting for any transit vehicles such as CATA buses, ride share services or shuttles; while working in any job that entails coming into contact with any member of the public unless separated by a physical barrier; and anytime a person is within 6 feet of another person not from the same household, indoors or outdoors.
Several exemptions are in place, including for those who have a medical or mental health condition that prohibits the wearing of a face covering. In that case, the person has five days to provide documentation from a licensed medical professional confirming they have such a condition.
Other exemptions include persons with a hearing impairment or who are communicating with a person with a hearing impairment where the ability to see the mouth is necessary for communication; people for whom wearing a mask would create a risk related to their work; people obtaining a service involving the nose or face or a medical procedure requiring removal of the mask; and people seated at a restaurant when all requirement established by the Pennsylvania Department of Health are followed.
Masks also are not required when participating in recreational physical activities involving 10 or fewer people; in private businesses or offices when members of the public are not present and 6 feet of distance can be maintained; in private homes and vehicles; and with members of the same family or household.
Residential gatherings are limited to 10 people. Where a household exceeds 10 people, no more are permitted. Gatherings at borough parks and outdoor municipal property are limited to 25 people.
The ordinance’s gathering limits do not apply to non-residential properties, including private business locations, private offices and schools. They also do not apply to Centre Region Parks and Recreation programming, Welch Pool, religious functions, and events such as weddings, funerals or protest demonstrations.
For the waiting line limitations, businesses are expected to monitor and contact the police department if an individual will not comply.
After State College adopted its ordinance, College, Ferguson and Patton townships each adopted varying ordinances for COVID-19 mitigation enforcement. The College and Ferguson ordinances are focused on masking, while Patton’s is closer to State College’s, with some modifications
