ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A proposed New Jersey law would make it a crime if people refuse to wear a face mask in stores during the coronavirus crisis. Penalties would range up to a $500 fine and 30 days in jail.
Earlier this week, state Assembly members Ralph Caputo (District 28) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (District 37) introduced a bill that gives new teeth to Gov. Phil Murphy’s order to wear masks when shopping indoors.
If passed into law, A-4453 would make it illegal for someone without a mask to enter any store that has a sign posted about mask requirements. The law would treat the crime as a petty disorderly persons offense. It would take effect immediately and would remain in effect for the duration of the state of emergency declared in Executive Order No. 103.
The bill has been referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
“We need to look at the facts based on what we know right now, which is that wearing a mask around other people — especially indoors — significantly reduces the spread of this deadly virus,” said Caputo, who represents Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Newark and Nutley.
“This is truly a matter of life and death which we cannot take lightly,” Caputo urged. “Although many residents have been following [Gov. Phil Murphy’s] mask mandate, those who aren’t put us all at risk.”
There needs to be some sort of penalty to drive home the point that the mandate isn’t optional, he added.
“One way or another, we’re all in this pandemic together, and must all do our part to prevent the spread of this virus,” Caputo said.
Vainieri Huttle said that masking up in stores is a “critical” step to protect business owners, staff and customers in the pandemic.
“Wearing a mask is a show of respect for the health of others around you as well as the sacrifices that have been made during this difficult time,” she said. “I believe that this legislation is an important step in ensuring that New Jersey continues on the right track towards recovery.”
Vainieri Huttle represents Alpine, Bogota, Cresskill, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Fort Lee, Hackensack, Leonia, Northvale, Palisades Park, Rockleigh, Teaneck and Tenafly.
Here’s Patch with the original story.https://patch.com/new-jersey/bloomfield/refuse-wear-mask-store-new-jersey-may-make-it-crime?utm_content=newjersey&utm_campaign=blasts&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social
It sucks seeing America die before our eyes and being powerless to stop it. We are well on our way toward becoming the rebirth of Nazi Germany.
Michael De Fortuna
MY OPINION!!!!!!About damn time! If everyone complied maybe we can get this state back open before Christmas. If you believe in corona or not as long as people walk around with no masks they can say it’s still being passed around if we all wear masks they can’t keep using the virus to keep shit closed
The state will be back open after Nov……….and they will use ANYTHING to keep the economy tanked until then. The masks are a dog and pony JOKE, nothing more.
Paul Zuzzio I don’t believe in the political theory sorry
Jennifer Polito Kelly Then you are niave……..sorry for you.
Paul Zuzzio let me guess your a trump supporter lmao
Jennifer Polito Kelly
Jennifer Polito Kelly Swing and a miss……..but please go 0 for 4 in being wrong. By your statements you are def a brain dead Biden Murphy fan though…..
Why do the manufacturers explicitly state on the packaging that these masks do not prohibit the spread of covid 19 or any other virus? They are a sham. Period. If they actually worked, the manufacturers would be advertising their benefits. It’s so sad that so many people in NJ can’t think for themselves and refuse to question very obvious bullsh&t and then blame the people who do. Stop being a sheep and everything would open up.
Paul Zuzzio I said it was my opinion why the fuck you care go fuck yourself you loser
Paul Zuzzio no dumb ass but I sure ain’t for that clown trump
Yep…..thin skinned emotionally unstable snowflake that thinks her “opinion” should equate to MANDATED punishable law for everyone else. Proto-fascist in training. And easily triggered by the looks of it……real stable right there. Thanks for playing though
Your a joke get a life
Jennifer Polito Kelly ppl are too selfish to do that unfortunate
Amazing how people “sharing” their opinions suddenly get defensive and angry. You realize “sharing” is optional?
Jennifer Polito Kelly *you’re*
Kimberly Cooper you can join the other asshole and fuck off too lol it’s my opinion why do either of you need to criticize it
Christina Foggia-Dunn that right there shows the type of person you are no bitch your not better because you have spell check clown
Jennifer Polito Kelly oh y calm down chicken
Little.
It’s always ok to fine people for something
You don’t like. Just remember that when they get around to fining something you do.
It will happen
Erin Kasaba because people will
Deny plain and simple fact to eat the shovels full of shit being sold.
Fear is the number one people controller
Annette Crawford Hall go stalk another post I wish I could see you people when your not behind your computers make your own comment get off mine
Annette Crawford Hall obviously you didn’t read my comment what a fool
A bunch of keyboard tough guys I never said I was for the mask fools read what I wrote god damn your clowns
Jennifer Polito Kelly LMAO…..actually dumb dumb, this is OCSN’s. You want an echo chamber of stupid then post on your own page and stay off the public ones……otherwise suck it up buttercup.
Jennifer Polito Kelly oh trust
Me doll I would have no issue tell you straight to your face.
You do you and I will do me.
Do I feel people should be fined for not wearing a stupid cloth over their face…. no I do not. It’s the dumbest shit ever.
Annette Crawford Hall no you wouldn’t cause I’d catch a charge to be able to see you out in public you think your a tough guy talking shit on someone else’s post when you misunderstood what you read
Suzanna Alicia these clowns right here lmao
But I have a medical condition! ????????
Lanie Joyce some ppl do have severe asthma.
Andrea Magliocco-Reeves actually Harvard Medical published a study that non allergy triggered asthmatics are at higher risk for Covid 19. Everyone needs to just wear the masks and stop with the overreaching of excuses.
Lanie Joyce I have a medical condition it’s call severe asthma and I refuse to go anywhere without my mask, not wanting to wear a mask is just excuse people are using. It’s mostly a vein attitude that people have, it’s all about the looks not their health. I have no problem wearing on in the store while shopping.
Andrea Magliocco-Reeves I’ve had have bronichal asthma since 8 and I can still tolerate a mask. I don’t believe in the whole mask thing but if wearing it will help open up our country I’ll deal with it.
Vicki Tartas not over reaching. I can not wear the mask for more than a few mins. I can’t breath…
Not that I would wear one anyway.
I am not delusional enough to believe that cloth over my mouth is going to stop anything.
Look around you when you are all masked up…
Key pad- filthy
Shopping cart- filthy
Money- filthy
Everything I touch in the store has been touch by hundreds before me.
It’s stupid..
Annette Crawford Hall stop being a big crybaby, good lord! And I don’t need a lesson on where germs can be found. Just wasn your hands and use sanitizer if soap and water arent available. Practice social distancing. It’s not rocket science its common sense. And if it’s so stupid and you refuse to do it just stay home in your bubble so the rest of us can go about our daily lives and get over this thing already! Try showing concern for others instead of just for yourself.
Piss off Trenton. Private property/business owners making a requirement to enter their store is one thing, and they are well within their rights to do it…..including eating the consequences, good and bad, of such a rule. But a MANDATE from the state OR ELSE is nothing but Unconstitutional nonsense………piss off.
Paul Zuzzio
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! A BLM/Antifa lover calls someone else “mentally ill”. That’s so cute………
We all pay a price when we decide to live in a society. You can either pay it via taking on the responsibilities, or paying a fine for being a jerk. Take your pick
Put people in jail for not wearing a mask? But yet we let the criminals out of jail. Why didn’t King Murphy give them masks and keep them behind bars? What an asinine! I wear a mask so before you make your rude comments.
Annemarie English He is clearing the jail for people who don’t follow his orders…. next he’ll be lining them up for the train
Pat McEvilly Parker he really needs to stop already. I know at least 3 people that made an appointment to go for the test. One said the line was too long one could not make it and another forgot to go. All 3 received a phone call a few days later that they tested positive for Covid. They never even went. It’s all lies.
I love how liberals 1) pick and choose what laws to enforce 2)cowtow to ACTUAL criminals and 3) disregard established immigration laws.
But there’s so many articles by specialists that state “masks do NOT protect against Covid 19”
Yeah nope
Good
Michael Delprete Sarah Aponte
Amber Aponte so bs
Chris Aponte completely bs
Really hate this state and the king running it ????????
They can put their masks where the sun don’t shine????
Jaynie Cennamo I hope you don’t catch ir.
Jaynie Cennamo be stupid
They would make a fortune enforcing it on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk
Yeah ok! Is this before or after they let more prisoners out? Asking for Governor Murphy!
I have bad heart issues and I wear a mask, yes it hinders my breathing, but least I am still breathing! It’s a no brainer
Robin Brown I have Asthma and anxieties, yeah the mask does affect my breathing some, but like you said I’m still breathing. ????????????
30 days in jail? There releasing child molesters right now because of covid.
Scott Therrien they are making room for mask violators!!! LOL
I’m on board. Fine the entitled bitches.
Oh we still talking about the Scandemic ?
Kevin Owens ah i see we have a doctor in the comment section! please enlighten all of us!
Martin Brown look at the numbers!
Kevin Owens oh you mean the rising case count? cause people are still getting it because masks aren’t nationally mandated and somehow became a political symbol?
These days everyone has cameras, isn’t it about time everyone did their civic duty and started posting pics of politicians being scofflaws even for the most minor incident?
oh boy i’ve been waiting for this one: here’s a pro tip all you anti-maskers (who are supremely the more stupid compared to antivaxxers) if this ordinance goes into effect, maybe you should leave if you don’t like it!
Martin Brown well it’ll be most certainly found unconstitutional but hey. ????????♂️
Matt De lmao washington quarantined troops at valley forge in 1776, but hey keep thinking so!
Martin Brown oh, 1776? When was the Constitution established?
Matt De holy fuck it amazes me that people in 1918 were able to wrap their minds around wearing a mask during a pandemic, but give every backwater piney access to facebook and all of a sudden they’re constitutional scholars and doctors. honestly dude, who says medians are constitutional? that little yellow line in the road seems like just some paint to me. show me in the constitution where it says i have to stay on one side of them?
Martin Brown what amazes me is that people think 2020 and 1918 are the same thing. ???????????? “
“constitutional scholars”
You talked about valley forge in 1776. First of all the military thing is irrelevant. Secondly the Constitution wasn’t even operational until 1789. That’s like 3rd grade shit.
“Backwoods piney” you couldn’t afford half my mortgage.
Umm the median is operated by the DOT. Lol all laws must be Constitutional. ???????????????? truly US regulation 36 CFR 4.12
Show me in the Constitution where it says I have to wear a mask because you’re scared.
Sad it has to come to this. If people would just think of others and wear the mask it wouldn’t have to come to the point of handing out fines.
Good luck.. ill get a envelope going with extra money to pay my fines
F off
Fine them once, then jail them for second offense. These are the same assholes who love to say “people deserve to be fined and arrested or beaten or killed because they refused to follow simple commands “ Wear A Damn Mask
Good
I hope it passes
Fuck that lol assholes
Anything to make another buck
I agree .. Shit if I have to put mine on to walk in a store, then you sure as hell have to put yours on . ????
Patricia Lorraine Zennario
REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER
https://www.facebook.com/DiamondandSilk/videos/771449880291527/
When are you people going to realize hundreds of thousands of people died, millions are still out of work and millions of businesses have closed down not because its a political stunt, or not caused or continuing because of the Democrats or Republicans. It’s a damn deadly pandemic. If people would do what they are suppose to and listen to doctors not politicians and maybe get their head out of their ass and realize that by not wearing a mask and going to very large gatherings is just plain stupid. I will wear mine until I know it’s safe for me, my family and my friends to be safe. This is my Opinion and I don’t need any nasty comments back at me. For all the people who think they know better, good luck .
Susan Lockwood millions will be back to work next week cause the 600 a week ran out.. also your numbers are just a little exagerated.. but if your worried about at 98 percent recovery rate, maybe stay home and hide under yout bed with your mask on and be safe while the rest of us live
Ed Cooper your funny, that’s why quite a few states have had dramatic increase in positive tests and hospitals are getting full again. Enjoy your summer
Ed Cooper ????
Susan Lockwood all essential workers who test positive must test until negative to return to work. Each positive test on the same person adds to the positive total. Elective surgery is back on. If you are positive and go in for elective surgery or to have a baby you are quarantined and listed as a Covid hospitalization. Know where the numbers are coming from. Death rates continue to drop.
Tammy Watson a positive test is a positive test no matter how you look at it. I’m happy that numbers are lower but look at Florida and California as 2 examples who knew better and now they have the highest numbers ever. I’m just saying it’s not going to kill people to follow the guidelines on wearing a mask, but not wearing one might.
Susan Lockwood stop letting the news lie to you
Steven Jenkins where do you get your info?
You go to jail but didn’t they let criminals out. So glad i left jersey
Brian Koskowski NJ let them out of jail also
99.6% survival rate, how long are we going to pander to this?
John Schnell really this ridiculous already
John Schnell nov 4
FUCK YOU MURPHY…YOU SHOULD BE SHOT.
Terri Czerwinski you first
Vicki Tartas
Vicki Tartas I agree with you on that ????????
Laura Supko oh sorry ????
Credible threat of violence? Or just some baby that doesn’t want to wear a mask? Which is it?
Billie Morgan who are you talking to?
This is ridiculous…you can all wear government-mandated muzzles, I’ll be over here with my healthy immune system ????
NEW TEETH????
Dana Michelle I love it!
It’s not law it’s a mandate, I didn’t vote for it and you can’t force me too! Fuck off. I am not a sheep
John Sorrentino lol you sound like a 5 year old little boy having a temper tantrum. Crazy how a small scrap of cloth can send people over the edge so easily ????????????
Vicki Tartas it’s not about the cloth, it’s about the government overreach when the “science” doesn’t back it up. Safe to protest but not worship? Come on.
Tammy Watson not safe to vote either but you can stand in line at stores and for hours at motor vehicle
Tammy Watson huh? But the science has proven masks and social distancing DO work. Stop it with your rights are being infringed upon argument already and just do what’s right! And enough about the protects that took place months ago. Quit parroting the outcry of the typical uninformed Trump supporter.
Vicki Tartas National Academies of Science: Single layer masks, double layer of low grade quality, and lightweight cotton masks achieve as little as 1% filtration. So unless your wearing an N95 which I haven’t seen anyone wearing, your wasting your time.
Vicki Tartas also saliva droplets remain in the air 8-14 minutes. Therefor social distancing is also not an effective measure. You can walk into the room 5 minutes after the infected person left and still inhale the virus. The only thing that will stop a virus is herd immunity.
Vicki Tartas agree but the sheep will wait inline for the vaccine. Funny how they drank the cool aid so easily
Tammy Watson agree but the sheep will wait inline for the vaccine. Funny how they drank the cool aid so easily
Jail for not wearing a mask? Seriously? Yet NYC criminals get a free out of jail card?
We should let the junkies out to make room for these unmasked criminals that roam the streets. I think it will be great for the mental health of this country. ????????
Unfortunately you have people who think spikes and hospitalizatioms are outta control all over tje usa… notice they dont say bout increase deaths just cases and thats if you can believe the so called positive cases.. stay home and hide, let the rest of us live
Ed Cooper I don’t believe in all the numbers. I don’t believe the tests are accurate which is already been proven and I don’t believe I need to wear a mask to stay alive because wearing the mask suppresses your immune system. I will wear the mask when I go into the storeBut not the whole time I can’t
Ed Cooper right on!
Sorry i have a medical exemption
Lynn Marie me too! Dr. Note and all
Jersey Mike HM And I probably will have to get back to thanks for the info. The mess gives me severe anxiety
Patricia Lorraine Zennario me too!
#maskholes
Fuck you MURPHY ????
Great. Just hope it’s enforced. Retailers were hoping for this.
But they were letting people out of jail
I mandate Governor Phil Murphy to wipe that stupid look off his face. He’s the only one who should be wearing a mask. Got a face only a mother could love
Steven Jenkins
Most laws are a direct result of ignorance or lack of common sense. Not sure where Jersey falls on that spectrum…basically there are just a bunch of obnoxious idiots here.
Stick that shit up your a$$
fuck them
So many sheep
As a retail worker…. THANK YOU
But..you can burn a building down and call it a night..????♀️????♀️
Jennifer Meyer omg right?
People are wearing their dam masks in stores do shutup about it
It’s all about CONTROL and COMPLIANCE. This has never been about helping NJ business.
Do the “peaceful protestors” get arrested for not wearing masks?
Do you wear your seatbelt? Do you wear a shirt and shoes in a public place? Do you stop at stop signs? Red lights? Wear the mask! Stop acting like 2year olds!
Why is it so hard to make masks mandatory in every state!? It truly just boggles my mind!
they are mind control devices not safety devices…why not make fkn common sense mandatory! like supplements to boost immunity and oh by the way HCQ treats the virus and would have eliminated a lot of deaths if the democrat leaders would have allowed it…
Ron Fox
Great seeing some of you support living in communist America over a virus with a 99% survival rate.. Fucking morons.
Good.
Idiot’s everywhere.
Ok … this is a bit extreme. I understand you want to rape up for more money, but how about just having someone by the door (like most do) and not let someone in without one?
Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
For the purpose of Section 242, acts under “color of law” include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within their lawful authority, but also acts done beyond the bounds of that official’s lawful authority, if the acts are done while the official is purporting to or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties. Persons acting under color of law within the meaning of this statute include police officers, prisons guards and other law enforcement officials, as well as judges, care providers in public health facilities, and others who are acting as public officials. It is not necessary that the crime be motivated by animus toward the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin of the victim.
The offense is punishable by a range of imprisonment up to a life term, or the death penalty, depending upon the circumstances of the crime, and the resulting injury, if any.