If you're now caught indoors or out without wearing a mask in Miami Dade County, you can be fined $100.00. The Miami Dade County Board of Commissioners voted for the civil fine during yesterdays meeting and goes into effect immediately. Miami Dade police and code enforcement officers will issue violations to residents and tourists who don't comply.
Miami Dade county mayor Carlos Gimenez lauded the commission's decision on Twitter:
I applaud @MiamiDadeBCC's unanimous decision to make the violation of our masks order a civil infraction. This allows code enforcement officers to issue citations to those who don't comply with the emergency order in @MiamiDadeCounty, helping police with this task. (1/2)— Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez (@MayorGimenez) July 16, 2020
Individuals who are unable to pay the fine will be subject to community service.
Amid a deepening divide over the health aspects of wearing a mask we've already reported has the effect of suppressing expression and speech, cities and counties across the country for years have generated millions, if not billions of dollars from fines and fees in order to maximize revenues.
And in the age of coronavirus, prioritizing law enforcement efforts towards treating residents and tourists like walking ATMs sends a horrible message to the public about true public safety concerns.
On July 16th, the same day Miami Dade commissioners met and according to public records there were more than 30 bookings into Miami Dade county jail. The reasons for arrest ranged from battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, retail theft and battery to first degree murder.
I bet residents and tourists to Miami Dade would prefer law enforcement spend their time focused on real public safety threats such as homicides and murder as opposed to treating tourists and residents like cash cows to pad their budgets.
UPDATE: Page 2 of this memorandum backs me up:
"..a positive fiscal impact is anticipated but is undeterminable at this time as revenues are based on the number of civil citations issued."
