Starting Monday, indoor businesses in Los Angeles that don’t comply with the city’s COVID-19 vaccine verification mandate could face citations and fines.
L.A.’s requirements for checking vaccine status — one of the strictest in the nation — went into effect three weeks ago on Nov. 8. Enforcement of the ordinance begins Monday, officials said.
What kind of fines do businesses face?
Operators of indoor businesses like restaurants, bars, gyms, and large outdoor events may be issued a citation for not complying with the vaccine verification ordinance.
For a first violation, the business would receive a warning and a notice to correct.
For a second violation, businesses could get an administrative fine of $1,000. If they’re found in violation a third time, they could get a fine of $2,000.
Fines of $5,000 could be given for a fourth and any subsequent violation.
What businesses are included?
L.A.’s sweeping vaccine verification program, called SafePassLA, covers a variety of indoor food and beverage establishments, gyms and fitness venues, entertainment and recreation venues, personal care establishments and indoor city facilities.
Examples include:
- Coffee shops, restaurants, bars, breweries and wineries
- gyms, fitness centers, dance studios, kickboxing gyms and fitness boot camps
- movie theaters, concert venues, convention centers and live performance venues
- Sports arenas, bowling alleys, arcades, card rooms, play areas and museums
- Senior centers
- Tattoo and piercing parlors, spas, salons and barbershops
- cafeterias, food courts and hotel ballrooms
Outdoor events with 5,000 to 9,999 attendees are also included. For these events, attendees can opt to show a negative coronavirus test taken within 72 hours of entry instead of vaccine proof.