HCSO plans on enforcing mask requirement order starting Friday

HCSO plans on enforcing mask requirement order starting Friday

Requirement will be enforced.

The hamilton county sheriff's office is planning on enforcing it, but the sheriff says they want to be reasonable.

By the end of the week hamilton county deputies will be enforcing a facial covering requirement.

A face mask mandate, the county mayor announced on monday.

Hamilton county sheriff jim hammond: "this is certainly not something he'd wish he'd have to do no more as sheriff, but i think we have to look at the realities with what's happening with this virus."

Violators of the mask rules can be fined 50 dollars and given jail time.

But, hamilton county sheriff jim hammond says it's not his goal to actively look for people breaking the rules.

Hamilton county sheriff jim hammond: "it's not my intent as sheriff as i think any police chief to harass people about this.

We want to ask them to be safe.

We want to talk to folks and give warnings of what could happen and hopefully they will comply with it."

Sheriff hammond says they'll be giving warnings up front.

Hamilton county sheriff jim hammond: "in every call that we get.

In every call that we observe we will try to be very reasonable.

We will in a friendly manner say 'look you know what's going on.

You many not be aware that there is a mandate about the masks, but you really need to cover up if the circumstances allow it."

If you repeatedly violate the mandate, sheriff hammond says that will likely be noted.

Hamilton county sheriff jim hammond: "probably, if we got a repeated complaint and we did have to issue a citation we will note that in our report and it will be up to the judges what they in imposing a sentence."

The sheriff says people are reponsible for getting their masks.

You can pick up a free one at the health department.

We have a copy of the mask order with its exceptions on our website, wdef-dot-com.

With school leaders