Is Not Having a Mask in Flight Worth $ 250 for You?
At this stage of the pandemic, we don’t need to (again) tell you why it is important to wear a face mask on an airplane. It’s not a new concept, but what’s new is the fine structure that was announced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on Friday.
If wearing a mask for protection from infection and / or for the general good was not motivated enough, there may be a risk of a fine. Here’s what you need to know.
How TSA will implement the federal mask mandate
Many airlines have introduced rules requiring passengers to wear face masks since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. But unlike 9/11 , when federal regulations were in effect requiring significant changes to airport security, individual airlines did not comply with industry standards.
That changed on February 2, 2021, when President Joe Biden’s decree came into effect, requiring the use of face masks in all transport sectors. This mask mandate will apply when you drop off your checked baggage at an airline counter or go through the TSA security screening process. There are two exceptions: for children under 2 years old, and for people with disabilities who cannot wear a mask.
How fine structure works
Anyone who refuses to wear a mask at the TSA checkpoint will not receive permission to enter the terminal and gate and face a civil fine. On February 5, TSA announced that civil fines will be enforced in the form of fines ranging from $ 250 for the first offense and up to $ 1,500 for repeat offenders.
However, there appears to be little room for the TSA to maneuver: “Based on significant aggravating or mitigating factors, the TSA may require a sanction amount that goes beyond these limits,” the agency said in a statement .
TSA has also provided instructions to airlines and other transport system operators on how to report violations to the mask mandate so that fines can be imposed if necessary.