Texas City Issuing $1,000 Fines For Residents Who Don’t Wear Masks In Public
Officials in Laredo, Texas are taking drastic measures to curb the spread of coronavirus by issuing $1,000 fines for residents caught in public without a masks.
After the US Surgeon General recently made the suggestion,, Laredo has now made an emergency mandate, effective as of Thursday (Apr 2), requiring residents older than 5 years old to wear “some form of covering over their nose and mouth” when using public transportation, taxis, ride shares, pumping gas or when inside a building open to the public.”
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However, the rule is not applicable to those: riding in personal vehicles or alone in separate single spaces; engaging in permissible outside physical activity; and those alone in their homes or eating food. Also, if the mask poses a health, safety or security risk to the individual, the mandate will not be upheld.
In order to avoid the Class C misdemeanor, punishable by fine up to $1,000, local government officials says coverings can include homemade masks, scarves, bandanas or handkerchiefs.
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Additionally, Laredo Councilman Marte Martinez explains, “We’re not trying to be punitive as far as trying to drown people in debt. What we’re trying to do is get a point across. What we’re trying to is convince people to use these masks to try to save lives.”
Press play below to learn more on how to make homemade masks, then yap with us after
👍There are different protective layers that you can use to cover cover your mouth and nose!
🔷You can use a scarf
🔷You can use a bandana
🔷You can use a face cover
🔷You can even create your own face mask with a bandana and hair ties! pic.twitter.com/cm0tMB6wlh— City of Laredo (@cityoflaredo) April 3, 2020