The Houston Mayor orders the police to start issuing citations for those who don't wear a face mask in public. He made the announcement Monday afternoon, saying Houstonians could get up to a 250 dollar fine if they refuse to wear a mask.
“When we are encountering people on patrols out and about, and we are seeing that they do not have their masks on when they are in public and around other people, we will provide the necessary warning and then a failure to heed to that warning will lead to a 250 dollar fine,” Turner said.
The order to the Houston Police Department is the latest aggressive move by Turner amid the pandemic. All this, despite the fact that the number of COVID-19 cases and the hospitalization rate are going down. Still, the Mayor says the decrease in the local test positivity rate isn’t good enough.
“There are way too many street parts that are taking place in our city. Backyard parties, barbecues, street parties, and no masks taking place. I’m getting calls on Fridays and Saturdays at 10 and 11 O’clock at night,” Turner added.
In April, Houston police balked at enforcing a Harris County order requiring everyone over the age of 10 to wear a face mask in public.