Berkeley considers $100 mask fine: These California cities already have pricey penalties in place

ByAlix Martichoux KGO logo

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Berkeley is the latest city in the Bay Area to consider adopting a fine for those not wearing a face covering.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- If for some reason you are not motivated by science or basic human compassion for others, there's another reason you should wear a mask or face covering in California: It's the law.

Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide mask mandate requiring pretty much everyone to wear a face covering when outside your home and near other people. (Yes, there are exceptions but no, political beliefs are not one of them.)

How exactly the mask mandate is being enforced depends on local jurisdictions. Some towns are depending on people's goodwill, and others are forcing violators to pay up.

Berkeley is the latest city in the Bay Area to consider adopting a fine for those not wearing a face covering. The city council will consider the issue Tuesday night, and is likely to adopt a $100 fine for first-time violations.

Berkeley would join more than 20 other cities and counties in California with similar penalties in place.

These California cities and counties have implemented fines for not wearing a mask or face covering in public:

Beverly Hills: $100 fine for the first offense, $200 for second, $500 for third and subsequent offenses
Berkeley: Considering $100 for first violation
Calabasas: $100 for first violation
Contra Costa County: $100 fine for an individual's first violation, $200 for second and $500 for third; $250 for a business's first violation, $500 for second and $1,000 for third
Costa Mesa: $100 fine
Duarte: $100 for first offenses, $200 for second offenses, and $500 for every subsequent violation within a one-year period from the initial offense
Fremont: $100 fine
Glendale: $400 for the first fine, $1,000 for the second fine and $2,000 for the third
Hermosa Beach: Citations will come with fines of $100 for the first violation, $200 for a second violation and $500 for each subsequent violation of the face mask requirement within a one-year period.
Irvine: Penalties up to $500 per day
Manhattan Beach: $100 for the first violation, $200 for the second and $350 for subsequent violations
Marin County: Fines between $25 and $500 for individuals, and between $250 to $10,000 for businesses
Monterey: $100 for first violation
Napa County: Fines between $25 and $500 for individuals, and between $250 to $10,000 for businesses
Salinas: $100 for first violation, $500 for second and $1,000 for subsequent
San Mateo County: $100 fine for the first violation, $200 for the second and $500 for additional violations within a year; business fines between $250 and $3,000
Santa Clara County: If you get caught without a face covering it could cost you up to $500. The price goes up for violations by businesses, they face fines up to $5,000.
Santa Cruz County: $100 for first offense, $200 for the second and $500 for a third within a year
Santa Monica: $100 fine for an individual's first violation, $250 for second and $500 for third; $500 for a business's first violation, $750 for second and $1,000 for third
Sonoma County: Fine of $100 for individuals, fines between $1,000 and $10,000 for business violations
West Hollywood: $300 for first violation
Yolo County: Fine between $25 and $500 for individuals; fine between $250 to $10,000 for businesses