President Joe Biden.Photo: Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty Images
“Tonight, I’m announcing that the Transportation Safety Administration — the TSA — will double the fines on travelers that refuse to mask,” Biden, 78, said during aCOVID-19briefingon Thursday.
He added, “If you break the rules, be prepared to pay.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversees incidents involving travelers while they are aboard an aircraft. As of Tuesday, they reported that already in 2021 there have been a total of4,184 unruly passengerswith 3,057 of those incidents being mask-related.
Under the FAA’s zero-tolerance policy, they’ve given outmore than $1 million in fines so far this year, the agency reported in mid-August.
A single passenger can get slapped with a maximum of $37,000 per violation, however, the FAA notes that one incident canresult in multiple violations.
Stock photo of a flight attendant.Getty
Biden’s announcement coincided with the TSA’s Thursday announcement thatthey are doubling their fines for mask violators, too. TSA oversees all public transportation on the ground, including airports, trains, buses, and more. They operate independently from the FAA although their policies overlap.
TSA said their civil penalties for those who violate federal mask mandates is now in a range between $500 to $3,000 — with repeat offenders getting the higher fines. Previously, their civil penalties ranged from $250 to $1,500.
“Wearing a mask protects the traveling public and all of the personnel who make the travel experience safe, secure, and comfortable,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas said in a statement. “We will continue to enforce the mask mandate as long as necessary to protect public health and safety.”
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TSA Administrator David Pekoske added, “We appreciate the majority of travelers each day who voluntarily follow the requirement, but find this action necessary to maximize the protections for those who use and work within the transportation system, and to contain COVID-19. By doubling the range of penalties, we seek to reinforce the importance of voluntary adherence.”
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source: people.com
