|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
With some members upset that the current administrative fines for violating COVID-19-related health orders aren’t high enough to ensure compliance, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday is scheduled to discuss — and perhaps approve — new administrative fines for businesses and others found to be breaking the rules.
The proposed ordinance, as outlined in a county staff report, doesn’t include any specific fine amounts. But last week, County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff said that she wants to see fines that have “bite” and that business owners consider too high to keep violating the rules and absorb the penalties.
Mitchoff mentioned fines as high as $20,000 for some violations by businesses.
“It’s time to bring the hammer down,” Mitchoff said at the Dec. 8 supervisors’ meeting.
Currently, businesses face a $250 fine for a first violation of the county health order restrictions; $400 for a second violation, and $1,000 for a third violation. Violations can include conducting some kinds of business at all (dining at a restaurants, indoors or out, is not allowed, for example), or not enforcing social distancing, customer capacity or cleaning mandates.
According to the draft ordinance, the fines could be appealed to the Contra Costa County Superior Court.
The supervisors’ meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, and is virtual only, viewable by going to the county’s website.
Community Briefs: Tango and Jazz at City Center | Alamo and Danville road closuresApril 3, 2026 9:31 am
Our elected officials are supposed to serve the public, not have the public serve them. They are paid too much money and wield too much power. People like Mitchoff are out of control and are destroying the lives of small business owners and treat voters like little children who are unable to act properly. Can they be recalled or legally removed? Just my opinion.
I agree with parent and voter comments. Mitchoff’s idea to increase fines is outrageous. Small businesses are struggling to survive, and when those in power decide to tighten restrictions without even following the guidelines they enacted, there should be rebellion.
Calm down, Karen. Apparently, she doesn’t understand that money doesn’t grow on trees and some people have needs like food for their families and a roof over their heads.
Another stunning abuse of power by people who are still able to earn a living!
Restaurants in particular went to great expense to provide outdoor dining and need to continue in order to survive.
Stop taking a paycheck until ALL BUSINESSES are allowed to run at 100% and their workers are all back to work – what’s good for the goose – its only fair everyone feels the pain – its really easy to make demands when you aren’t affected.
Every elected politician in our state should have to take a 50% pay cut during the pandemic to learn a little empathy for those who are suffering during these difficult times. Stop treating hard working people as the enemy, and until there is actual medical evidence that allowing restaurants to open out door dining has a noticeably adverse affect on the virus numbers stop with the draconian witch hunts.
I totally disagree with all the comments. It’s not a question of money/business but a health issue and people breaking the rules and the ignoring penalties associated with it. If people have a disregard for these rules, they should either run for office themselves and change these ordinances or accept the consequences, i.e. higher fines. Fines are warnings…if people disregard them then there is no respect for the rule of law.