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Coronavirus News: NYC to fine social distancing violations

Monday, March 30, 2020

Coronavirus News: NYC to fine social distancing violations

NJ Burkett has the latest details on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio saying that people who ignore social distancing guidelines will be fined.

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says the time for warnings has come and gone. People who ignore social distancing rules will now be fined.

Those fines would be between $250-$500.

On the subways, they are asking people to wait for the next car if a train pulls up and is crowded. They also want straphangers to call 311 when they see crowded cars.

Officers will respond and they're already spot checking.

When it comes to parks and playgrounds, the city is still watching those areas.

They're taking down equipment like basketball nets and soccer goals when they find too many people using them.

The mayor said he will shut down playgrounds if needed.

"They're going to give people every chance to listen. And if anyone doesn't listen, then they deserve a fine at this point. And I don't want to fine people when so many folks are going through economic distress, but if they haven't gotten the message by now and they don't get the message when an enforcement officer's staring them in the face saying, I don't want to fine you, but if you don't change what you're doing, I'm going to have to, well, you know, that person then deserves the fine," de Blasio said.

We know of one man who was arrested in Gravesend Saturday night.

Neighbors called 311 complaining about people drinking and gambling inside a club that appeared to be shuttered.

Officers found a dozen people inside. Vasil Pando was arrested, and is facing several charges including reckless endangerment.

That was the first arrest under the mayor's executive order.