HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210903MODEREK S.K. KAWAKAMI, MAYOR
MICHAEL A. DAHILIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR
News Release
For Immediate Release: September 3, 2021
COUNTY OF KAUA‘I
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
SARAH K. BLANE, CHIEF OF STAFF
(808) 241-4900
New emergency rule establishes fines for COVID safety violations
LĪHUʻE – Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami issued a new emergency rule establishing fines of $250 for
individuals and $500 for businesses and organizers for noncompliance with the State of Hawai‘i’s COVID
safety rules.
“This new rule will allow for better enforcement of mask rules, gathering and capacity limits,
and event requirements with fines instead of misdemeanor offenses,” said Mayor Kawakami. “The
highly contagious Delta variant is spreading through our community. We all need to follow the rules to
slow the spread of this disease while our case counts are at a record high. Please avoid large gatherings
this holiday weekend and in the weeks to come, for the health of our community.”
“Establishing lesser offenses and penalties than a misdemeanor will allow officers to more
efficiently enforce the safety rules,” said Kauai Police Department Assistant Chief Mark Begley. “We
hope these fines will be a good deterrence as we work to slow the spread of COVID-19.”
The new emergency rule implements authority granted by the State Legislature in response to
the pandemic earlier this year in Act 185, which allowed for implementation of alternative, lesser
offenses and penalties than a misdemeanor to make enforcement more meaningful and efficient.
Mayor’s Emergency Rule #26 was approved by Governor David Ige on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. It
creates a new set of emergency period infractions for noncompliance with the Governor’s Emergency
Proclamation Related to the COVID-19 Response and the Governor’s Executive Order No. 21-05.
This rule establishes fines for individuals and entities that do not comply with statewide rules
on:
the wearing of face coverings;
indoor and outdoor gathering sizes;
guidelines for restaurants, bars, and social establishments;
notifying and consulting with the County in regard to professional events and following County
rules for those professional events; and
restrictions on indoor capacity.
Mayor’s Emergency Rule #26 also grants the County’s liquor control investigators and park
security officers the power to enforce this rule and issue notices of emergency period infractions, in
addition to the Kaua‘i Police Department. Park security officers may also issue notices of parking-related
traffic infractions.
Any individual violating the Governor’s Emergency Order on face coverings or on gatherings,
restaurants, bars, and social establishments will be fined $250 for each infraction. Any owner/operator
of a gym, restaurant, bar, or social establishment violating or not enforcing the Emergency Order will be
fined $500 for each infraction. Any professional organizer, social host, individual, or owner/operator of
an entity organizing or hosting a gathering or event violating the Emergency Order will be fined $500.
To view Mayor’s Emergency Rule #26 and for more information on the County of Kauai’s COVID-
19 emergency rules, visit http://www.kauai.gov/COVID-19.
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