$10K Fines For CT Businesses Defying Coronavirus Rules: Lamont

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont will let municipal law enforcement and health officials drop the hammer on businesses violating coronavirus rules with a fine of up to $10,000. The previous maximum fine was $500.

Lamont's executive order allowing for the high fine will go into effect Thanksgiving, just in time for Black Friday.

“Particularly as we approach Black Friday and the start of the holiday shopping season, we want to stress the importance of following public health protocols to protect both customers and workers,” Lamont said in a statement. “Working together, we can get the spread of COVID-19 under control while mitigating the impact that it is having on our economy.”

Retail stores are allowed to have up to 50 percent capacity. Face masks must be worn by customers and staff.

Local health directors or their designees can issue the fines with the support of law enforcement.

The state's other fines, including $500 for organizing an event over capacity limits (currently 10 indoors or outdoors), $250 for attending events over capacity limits, and $100 for failure to wear a face mask when in public remain in effect. The $500 fine for violations of the state's travel advisory also remains in effect.

“While the overwhelming majority of businesses in Connecticut have shown an incredible amount of leadership and have been fantastic partners in this front, we have seen a small number of businesses in flagrant violation of these public health rules, and that’s all you need to cause a super-spreading event that leads to a large number of cases and hospitalizations," Lamont said in a statement.

The Connecticut Restaurant Association asked for Lamont to also use a carrot to help the restaurants and businesses that are struggling and following the rules.

"The Governor himself has said that the vast majority of restaurants are doing what they're supposed to in order to keep customers and employees safe," said Connecticut Restaurant Association Executive Director Scott Dolch in a statement. "Our industry will continue to stand with him and call out anyone who isn't following the rules. But if Connecticut is going to use fines as a stick, it should also use state grants as a carrot for restaurants that are following the rules while struggling to keep their doors open."

The association is asking for Connecticut to use more of its CARES Act funding for small business grant programs.