Police warn of citations for mask violations in PB

Pine Bluff police will be issuing citations to people who aren’t wearing masks.

Assistant Police Chief Ricky Whitmore said the order went out on Monday.

“We’ve been warning them,” he said. “We’ve been trying to educate them, but it’s getting to the point where it’s getting out of hand.”

Whitmore said groups of people who aren’t wearing masks often congregate in parks and other locations, particularly on weekend nights. They frequently move from one location to another when they see police patrol the area.

“It’s a game of cat and mouse,” he said.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson issued an executive order on July 16 requiring Arkansans to wear masks when social distancing isn’t possible.

Nate Smith, who was then Arkansas’ secretary of health, issued a similar directive effective July 20.

“The secretary of health requires every person in Arkansas to wear a face covering completely over the mouth and nose in all indoor environments, excluding private residences, where they are exposed to non-household members and distancing of six feet or more cannot be assured and in all outdoor settings, excluding private residences, where there is exposure to non-household members, unless there exists ample space of six feet or more to practice physical distancing,” according to Smith’s directive.

There were exemptions, including for those under the age of 10, people with medical conditions that prevent wearing masks and people who are consuming food or drink.

Violation of a directive from the secretary of health during a public health emergency is a misdemeanor that can result in a fine of $100 to $500, according to the governor’s proclamation, citing Arkansas Code Annotated 20-7-101.

“Law enforcement and local officials have the authority and are encouraged to enforce this directive,” according to the executive order. “Firsttime violators of this order shall receive a verbal or written warning. Violators of this order under 18 years of age shall only receive a verbal or written warning. No law enforcement officer or local official may detain, arrest or confine in jail any person for violation of this order.”

After Hutchinson issued the order last month, several law enforcement agencies announced that their officers wouldn’t be issuing citations to people who refuse to wear masks in public.

When asked about law enforcement agencies saying they wouldn’t enforce the order, Hutchinson said he would defer to the priorities of local law enforcement authorities.

“All of these decisions in terms of enforcement are subject to local priorities,” he said.