Bay Area begins to move to enforce coronavirus rules

As California coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise, some Bay Area officials threaten to crack down on those who refuse to wear masks and practice social distancing, hoping to stop the virus before overwhelm our health systems.

Napa and Marin counties were the first to approve fines of up to $ 500 for people who refuse to comply with state and local health orders, but officials in some other jurisdictions now say they would like to see it spread over the entire region. That would be a significant change: Until now, officials have relied primarily on voluntary compliance, with very little enforcement.

For others, the existing rules are not enough. Senator Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, asked Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday to reinstate his original order for refuge at the scene. He urged the governor to close all nonessential businesses in counties that have had a positive test rate of more than 2% in two weeks.

“Clearly we have lost control of the plight of the coronavirus,” Glazer said, “and you don’t have to look far to see it in the numbers.”

It has been a sad week for the Golden State. California surpassed New York on Wednesday as the state with the highest COVID-19 case count in the country. On Thursday, the state reported its highest death rate in seven days, according to an analysis of data compiled by this news organization.

With experts warning about overwhelmed hospitals and towering body counts, Marin County will begin issuing fines of $ 25 to $ 500 to people who, after multiple warnings, will not wear masks or social distance. Businesses can be fined between $ 250 and $ 10,000 for failing to comply with health orders, though county officials still intend to focus on education first.

These new fines are actually less punitive than those in other parts of the region. Throughout the rest of the Bay Area, violating a health order is the subject of a misdemeanor citation, a criminal charge that comes with a hefty fine, and possible jail time.

“That is a clumsy mechanism,” said Katie Rice, chair of the Marin County Board of Supervisors, who voted Tuesday to authorize the new administrative fines. “It’s slow. It’s resource intensive. And frankly, it was probably too punitive.”

Law enforcement officers are reluctant to impose such heavy penalties for mask violations and social estrangement, particularly now with shouts of “stripping the police” ringing in the streets, the sergeant said. Ray Kelly, spokesman for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

“Law enforcement as a whole is not jumping to do this kind of work and make our communities more angry with us than they might already be,” he said. “We are not interested in being the police mask.”

Alameda County has not prosecuted anyone for violating health orders, said Teresa Drenick, a spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office. Contra Costa County has prosecuted one person, a Richmond pastor who insisted on holding services on Easter Sunday. Oakland police have also not issued any subpoenas, spokeswoman Johnna Watson said. But the San Francisco police have issued 123 warnings and 26 citations.

Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern would like his jurisdiction to continue Napa and Marin counties, Kelly said, treated the health order violations as a violation similar to a parking ticket rather than a misdemeanor.

Angela Alvarado, assistant district attorney who helps handle COVID-related complaints in Santa Clara County, agrees. “Since our goal is to immediately correct behavior during this pandemic, it would definitely help!” she wrote in a text message.

The Santa Clara County Health Hotline has received nearly 10,000 complaints, from neighbors with barbecues to businesses operating in violation of local restrictions. But local police departments have issued fewer than 50 citations, and none have led to charges. In most cases, one phone call is enough for corrupt companies to comply, Alvarado said. If companies fail to comply, they could be subject to misdemeanor charges that carry up to 90 days in jail and fines ranging from $ 50 to $ 1,000 per day.

“We have had an incredible amount of compliance,” Alvarado said, “and it is primarily because our communities have demanded it of us by reporting to companies they see open.”

Residents and officials throughout the Bay Area said the same.

“Most people are great at wearing their masks,” said David Daberdaku, 28. He and his father own and operate Luigi’s Deli and Market on Main Street in Martinez.

Daberdaku said a small percentage of customers, no more than one in 10, should be reminded to cover their faces.