By DEMIE JOHNSON
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and the Marion County Public Health Department on Tuesday announced new COVID-19 safety measures.
The mayor did not tread lightly in his news conference. He called violators of the city’s mask mandate selfish and insulting to the families of the 3,000 Hoosiers who have died from the virus.
“The time for warnings is over,” Hogsett said.
He then announced violators could face fines of up to $1,000. According to the health department, businesses can also be fined up to $1,500 or be shut down for repeated violations.
Rav’n Partee and Natasha Cheatham said those numbers are unreasonable.
“That’s a lot of money for some people. For some people that’s rent, that is more than rent,” Cheatham said.
“A $1,000 fine, which seems more than most traffic offenses, which is crazy, just for not having a mask on, and I’m outside,” Partee said.
According to the health department, so far no one has been fined.
To report people or businesses for not following the public health order, call (317) 221-5500.