Mask Mandate enforcement

What are the legal enforcements to expect?

We are just hours away from a mask mandate going into effect in the med city.

Do you have your mask reay?

Face coverings will be required indoors at businesses ?

"* public spaces *- and public transportatio n in rochester.

Kimt news 3's annalise johnson is looking into the enforcement of this new rule.

She joins us live.

Katie ?

"* george ?

"* if you d already have a mask or face shield ?

"* now is the time to get one.

The purpose of the city's order is to keep the economy open ?

"* and make peope comfortable going inside businesses to shop and eat.

I spoke to city attorney jason loos about the legal aspects of the mask mandate.

All businesses and organizations must enforce the rule.

As for patrons ?

"* refusing to wear a mask is not a criminal offense.

However ?

"* the business will ask you to leave if you do not comply.

If you do not leave ?

"* then law enforcement may enforce trespassing laws.

Some rochester businesses were requiring masks before the mandate ?

"* and loos tells me the city did not receive any complaints of people refusing to wear the mask.

He says many businesses have actually asked the city to create a mask requirement ?

"* but now just have questions about enforcement.

"the city is looking to provide education and support, not be heavy handed and take any punitive action."

There are exemptions from the order ?

"* such as people who are eating and people with medical conditions or disabilities who can't wear masks.

The americans with disabilities act prohibits businesses from asking patrons to prove their disability.

The city will not penalize businesses who allow a patron inside without a mask who claims to have an exemption.

Live in rochester annalise the city has a web page giving answers to frequently asked questions about the order.

It is being continuously updated.

We'll have a link to that on our website at kimt dot com.