Mask ban in Nassau County
Nassau County has given the green light to a controversial bill that would criminalize wearing a mask in certain situations. FOX 5 NY’s Jodi Goldberg takes a closer look at the thorny privacy issues the bill raises and some questions about its enforcement.
LONG ISLAND – Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is expected to sign a bill on Wednesday that would ban masks in public.
During a council meeting last week, district representatives voted to ban masks in public.
The Republican-controlled House voted along party lines to ban masks in response to the increasing number of mask-wearing protesters.
The bill was introduced by Nassau County Assemblyman Mazi Pilip, who says the policy is intended for those who intend to cause harm and leaves the decision to the police at their discretion.
“Unless someone has a medical condition or it is necessary for religious reasons, people should not be allowed to cover their faces in public in a way that conceals their identity,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said in a statement.
Critics say the bill would violate the First Amendment, but supporters say it would prevent protesters who commit harassment or violence from evading accountability.
No concrete plans have been announced yet for implementing such a ban in Nassau County, but lawmakers say medical reasons or religious requirements would be ignored.
Nassau County Police Chief Patrick Ryder said officers would be able to tell the difference between someone wearing a mask for criminal reasons and someone wearing it for medical or religious reasons.
However, he did not explain how exactly.
What happens if you wear a mask in public?
Phillip says the recent attacks on the Jewish community were carried out by people wearing masks to hide their identities.
The new law would ban face coverings on public property for people over 16 years of age.
The law also states that anyone caught wearing a mask could face up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine.
Mask bans in NYC
New York passed a law banning the wearing of face masks in public in the 1800s in response to anti-rent protests. It was repealed by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2020 as part of a pandemic public health campaign, and masks were also made mandatory for subway riders through September 2022.
The mask ban had previously been criticized by civil rights groups, who argued that it was being selectively enforced to break up protests in which people wanted to conceal their identities to avoid legal or professional consequences.
Supporters argue that the bill would prevent protesters who commit harassment or violence from evading accountability.
