LONGBOAT KEY – Across Florida cities and towns are passing ordinances for the use of face coverings when out in public, and the latest one is here on the Suncoast.
In a unanimous vote Thursday afternoon, the Town of Longboat Key commissioners approved the emergency ordinance. In response to the spike of positive cases in the state, residents will have to wear face coverings or receiving a citation of at least $100 for a first offense. Town commissioners say children above the age of six will also be required to cover their faces.
However, commissioners are leaving it up to businesses to enforce the new rule or be held legally responsible by patrons.
“We are trying to make our business self-police,” said Town of LBK Attorney Maggie Mooney-Portale. “Which is to put some honest[y] on the businesses to get their customers, their employees, and any member of the public who is entering their structure to follow these guidelines.”
The ordinance took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 3th. Below is a full list of the exceptions and new rules
July 2, 2020 the Town of Longboat Key Commission adopted Ordinance 2020-10.
Face masks are required within the Town of Longboat Key for:
Every person living, working visiting or doing business in the Town of Longboat key in any indoor or outdoor location except as outlined below.
All persons who own, manage, or are employed by any commercial business in which the public may access, shall post notice of the Town’s Face Covering requirements and advise employees and customers of the requirement.
Exceptions include:
1. Persons observing physical or social distancing.
2. Persons eating or drinking.
3. Persons inside of motor vehicles, except that persons inside of vehicles-for-hire shall still be required to wear face covering.
4. Schools or daycare facilities, which may apply their own public safety policies and procedures.
5. County, State, or Federal governmental facilities, including but not limited to courthouses, fire stations, and administrative offices which may apply their own public safety policies and procedures.
6. Persons inside in a hotel room, motel room, vacation rental, or similarly situated accommodation which is not accessible to the public. This exception does not extend to the common areas of the lodging establishment, including but not limited to lobbies, elevators, meeting rooms, restaurants, bars and event spaces.
7. If a person is under the age of 6, use of a face covering is left to the discretion of that person’s parent, guardian, or accompanying adult. Persons under the age of 2 are not required to wear a mask under any circumstances as CDC guidelines state that a face covering is not appropriate for this age group.
8. Persons whose compliance would be detrimental to their health, safety, or welfare. If this exception is being asserted for health reasons, the person asserting this exception is not required to carry or produce documentation verifying the heath condition or to specifically identify the health condition to the compliance officer or law enforcement officer.
9. Persons working in a business or profession who do not have interactions with other persons.
10. Persons working in a business or profession who maintain social distancing from another person.
11. Persons working in a business or profession where use of a face covering would prevent them from performing the duties of the business or profession.
12. Persons exercising, while maintaining social distancing.
13. Public safety, fire and other life safety and health care personnel, as their personal protective equipment requirements will be governed by their respective agencies.
14. Persons communicating with a hearing-impaired person who needs to see the person’s mouth in order to communicate.
Free masks are available at Town Fire Station 91, 5490 Gulf of Mexico Drive Call the Town of Longboat Key for further Information: (941) 316-1999
To report a violation, please call (941) 316-1201
