New York City increases social distancing fines to $1,000, Mayor de Blasio says

Elderly people practice "social distancing" while seating on a Central Park bench during the Coronavirus pandemic outbreak. New York City has increased social distancing fines to $1,000, Mayor de Blasio says.
Elderly people practice "social distancing" while seating on a Central Park bench during the Coronavirus pandemic outbreak. New York City has increased social distancing fines to $1,000, Mayor de Blasio says.

The city is increasing the maximum fine for violating social distancing rules to $1,000, Mayor de Blasio said Sunday.
The increase — double the previous maximum fine — came as the weather is getting nicer and Hizzoner warned people to avoid the temptation to hang out in groups.
“My message to people is, please be smart and careful, take care of yourselves, take care of others. Keep going with social distancing, keep staying home,” he said.
“For anyone who doesn’t understand that message, even though I have said it a thousands times … we’re going to have to get tougher and tougher.”
People gather to watch the sun set behind the Throgs Neck Bridge at LIttle Bay Park in the Queens borough of New York.
People gather to watch the sun set behind the Throgs Neck Bridge at LIttle Bay Park in the Queens borough of New York.(Frank Franklin II/AP Photo)
The mayor’s office did not immediately share how many fines have been given out since de Blasio announced the policy on March 29.
De Blasio acknowledged the fine hike comes as the economy is reeling.

“If you said to me, ‘We’re in the middle of a horrible crisis. We’re in the middle of an economic crisis on top of that. People don’t have money’ — I agree,” he said. “That’s why we don’t want to give fines.

“But the first thing we have to do is save lives.”

He said NYPD officers, Parks Department staff and other city officials would step up enforcing rules barring people from standing closer than 6 feet away from one another starting Sunday.

He also repeated calls for New Yorkers to report large groups and individuals violating social distancing rules by snapping a photo and texting it to 311.

“This is not snitching; this is saving lives,” the mayor said. “You gotta do it, if you care about protecting human lives.”


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