If you are traveling in a transportation system in the United States and you refuse to wear a mask or an appropriate covering over your nose and mouth, you could be fined between $500.00 and $1,000.00 by official representatives of the Transportation Security Administration for your first offense — and if the offense is the second one which is committed by you, you could be subject to a financial penalty of between $1,000.00 and as much as $3,000.00.
Penalties Doubled For Travelers Who Refuse to Wear a Mask
The doubling of the ranges of civil penalties which may be charged against individuals who violate the federal mask mandate in transportation systems in the United States — including those which are covered by the Security Directive of Sunday, January 31, 2021; and subsequent amendments, implementing the mask mandate — became effective as of Friday, September 10, 2021 as ordered by the current president of the United States.
The executive order which was issued by Joseph Biden, “Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel, directed applicable agencies to take action to require mask-wearing in airports and on certain modes of public transportation, including on many airplanes, trains, maritime vessels, and intercity bus services”, according to this official statement from The White House of the United States as part of The Path Out of the Pandemic. “TSA has extended its implementing orders for air and ground travel through January 18th, 2022, and the President’s plan will double fines for those who are not in compliance. The President’s plan will also ensure that masking requirements remain in place on the other modes of transportation as we continue to battle COVID-19.”
The federal mask mandate for public transportation was originally set to expire during the month of September of 2021.
Updated signage has been provided by the Transportation Security Administration at airports pertaining to the increased civil penalties for first and second offenses, in areas under the control of Transportation Security Administration — but the federal agency does not currently place signs in railroad or other surface transportation venues.
The Federal Aviation Administration of the United States has already received at least 4,385 cases pertaining to unruly passengers in 2021, which has increased by a multiple of greater than ten times when compared to previous years. A minimum of 3,199 disputes over the federal mask rules aboard airplanes were cited in almost 73 percent of those cases. Greater than one million dollars in fines have already been issued by the federal agency.
“And, by the way, show some respect”, Joseph Biden said in this speech on Thursday, September 9, 2021. “The anger you see on television toward flight attendants and others doing their job is wrong; it’s ugly.”
Final Boarding Call
I have been loathe to report specific cases of unruly behavior — along with the plethora of videos posted on social media channels which demonstrate it — at The Gate primarily because they are little more than sensationalistic fodder which are designed primarily to entertain and call attention to the offenders for views; and they do not promote civility or offer any solutions.
Regardless of the position one might have in terms of whether masks should be worn at all times during transportation, unruly behavior is inexcusable and should not be tolerated.
In the meantime, please refer to these articles which were posted at The Gate pertaining to wearing masks:
- Vaccinated People No Longer Need Masks — Except When Traveling as Only One of the Exceptions
- …So How Long Can You Keep Your Mask Off Aboard an Airplane While Eating or Drinking?
- Tightly Fitted Masks Reduced Exposure By Approximately 95 Percent, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Masks Must Be Worn While Traveling: Mandatory Order by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Disgusting How Masks Seem to Be Everywhere
- 14 Reasons Why Anyone Would Want to Wear a Mask
- 14 Reasons Why Anyone Would Refuse to Wear a Mask
- The Debate Over Wearing Masks
- Face Covering? No Face Mask? Why Seemingly Conflicting Information From Two Reliable Sources
- Should Passengers Be Required to Wear Masks Aboard Airplanes?
- Earth Day 2020: More Littering of Contaminated Gloves and Masks From the 2019 Novel Coronavirus
- Stop the Spread of Littering Contaminated Gloves and Masks, Please
- Update August 4 2020: Face Masks Required at These Rental Car Facilities in the United States
- Face Masks Required at These Rental Car Facilities in the United States Effective as of July 27, 2020
- Face Mask Policies Further Restricted by Marriott and Delta Air Lines
- Face Mask Requirements to Become Standard at Lodging Properties in the United States
- Stricter Requirements for Wearing Masks By Delta Air Lines
- Georgia Governor Sues Atlanta Mayor to Block Mask Requirement
- Is Wearing Masks Required or Not in Atlanta and Its Airport?
- Update: Passengers Must Wear Face Coverings or Masks With These Airlines Based in the United States
- Passengers Must Wear Face Coverings or Masks With These Airlines Based in the United States
- Are Masks Effective Against 2019 Novel Coronavirus That People are Stealing Them?
All photographs ©2020 by Brian Cohen.
