Denver Officials Increase Enforcement Of Public Health Orders

DENVER, CO — Denver public health investigators and deputies have teamed up to increase the enforcement of public health orders. Citations have been issued to businesses that aren't complying with guidelines, but customers who refuse to follow the mask order can also receive citations, officials said.

The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment and the Denver Sheriff Department have been monitoring businesses, particularly during evenings and weekends, officials said.

The enforcement teams are looking at whether businesses have posted required signage, promoted social distancing and adhered to the maximum capacity for patrons. Businesses that don't follow the state's 10 p.m. last call order can also be issued citations, officials said.

Businesses can be ticketed if their employees are not wearing masks, or if more than 10 percent of their customers are not wearing masks.

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Denver continues to see more new coronavirus cases than any other metro-area county, public health officials said.

Since May, enforcement teams have issued 30 citations, mostly for face covering violations; however, 12,416 warnings have been issued, according to the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment.

A citation requires a mandatory court appearance with a maximum of $999 per violation and up to 300 days in jail, to be determined by a judge.