Amarillo City Councils Moves Ahead With New Business Covid-19 Safety Measures

With a 4 to 1 vote, the Amarillo City Council passed a plan to fine businesses where people are found to be ignoring rules that are placed to calm the pandemic.

Before businesses would start getting fined, the Environmental Health Department will go out and educate business owners on what to expect during this time.

After that, a city judge could order owners to pay up to $2,000 for things like customers not wearing masks or gathering in groups of more than 10 people.

Councilwoman Elaine Hays, who voted against the order, said she thought authorities now had the attention of a public that sometimes didn’t wear masks but Councilman Eddy Sauer said in a crisis, you can’t wait to see if a wake-up call works.

The City of Amarillo plans to post the full ordinance soon.