Travel Local officials hesitant
tigation by the Department of Public Health, which contacts individuals who have been reported and attempts to verify whether they have indeed broken rules. Prosecutors then review the evidence and decide whether a fine would likely hold up on appeal, before informing violators of their fines. In the event of appeal, the sides schedule a hearing where they each may present evidence.
Whereas fines related to the travel advisory fall under DPH’s authority, fines for those who don’t wear masks or who participate in unsanctioned gatherings are enforced at the local level. Reiss said the state is not tracking these fines and that he was unsure whether any had been imposed.
Many town officials say they’re hesitant to use these fines, except perhaps in extreme circumstances. Brenda Kupchak, first selectwoman of Fairfield, said last week her town would consider fines but wouldprefer to avoid them.
“I don’t want to go there, I would rather encouragement because I don’t think you can enforce your way out of this,” Kupchak said. “And realistically I don’t think any town can have a police department running around ticketing everyone they see without a maskon. It’s unwieldly.”
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said residents there have “overwhelmingly” abided by local and state guidelines, making fines unnecessary to this point.
“We strongly prefer not to fine people who aren’t following these guidelines and so far have not needed to use this tool,” Elicker said in an email Wednesday. “However if we identify persistent problems, it is helpful for us to have this tool to ensure the safety of our residents.”
WestHartford, oneofthe communities that lobbied Lamont to allow fines, also has not yet issued any, Mayor Shari Cantor said. Cantor said the town has lately seen “better compliance” with maskandsocial distancing rules, whichshe said could owetothethreat of fines.
Lamont announced in mid-September that he would, for the first time, allow towns to impose small fines on residents whoviolatedmask-wearing or social distancing rules. Previously, the mildest enforcement of a COVID19 violation had been a misdemeanor charge.
“There wasn’t really much that was being done, because many people viewed [a misdemeanor charge] as excessively harsh for failing to wear a mask if you couldn’t socially distance,” said Josh Geballe, the state’s chief operating officer. “So they asked for this new tool, an infraction that was a bit of a step-downenforcement.”