Ignoring public health orders could mean imprisonment and a hefty fine for a mountainous county in Colorado amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Violating public health orders in Pitkin County now entails high-level misdemeanors in Colorado.
Mountain County law enforcement officials, including those in Aspen, Snowmass Village and Basalt, will now issue misdemeanor fines for “egregious public health violations”, such as large parties and meetings.
Offense to offenders is considered a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 18 months in prison and / or a $ 500 to $ 5,000 fine.
“Sending a letter a week after it says ‘Don’t do it again’ is not as clear as a ticket stuck in the hand the night it happens,” Aspen’s assistant police chief, Bill Linn, told The Aspen Times in a recent interview.
Focusing on the need to strengthen the security of the pandemic, police officers will patrol to look for signs of large crowds, such as noise complaints.
“We are not spying on you,” says a joint press release from Upper Valley public security agencies.
The increase in enforcement of the public health order comes with a significant increase in transmission rates for COVID-19, which resulted in the mountain county returning to the level of red restrictions last week.
The new public health order came into force in Pitkin County on Saturday, January 17, banning dining in restaurants and increasing monitoring of public health requirements at ski resorts. Accommodation reservations were also restricted to a single family per unit.
Despite having one of the highest COVID-19 incidence rates in Colorado, Pitkin County has experienced a steady decline in rates for almost a week.
For more information, visit https://covid19.pitkincounty.com/.