Cuba Fire Rescue fully supports New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham’s executive orders mandating the wearing of face masks in public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the declared public health state of emergency. The Village of Cuba has instructed all civic personnel to abide by the order. A $100 fine may be issued for non-compliance. A copy of the full Directive can be read using the link below.
The New Mexico Department of Health’s June 30, 2020 Public Health Emergency Order (“June 30 PHEO”) requires all individuals to wear a mask or cloth face covering in public settings except when eating, drinking, or exercising, or unless a healthcare provider instructs otherwise.
In accordance with Section 12-10-10, all state and local law enforcement agencies which enforce the mask/face covering requirement of the June 30 PHEO are directed to enforce the requirement under following enforcement criteria:
- A citation should only be issued to a person who is intentionally disregarding face covering requirements. This includes individuals who know that their refusal to wear a mask/face covering violates the law and have purposefully chosen not to comply, it does not include individuals who are inadvertently out of compliance with requirements.
- Law enforcement should enforce mask/face covering requirements in outdoor public areas, including but not limited to public parks, streets, sidewalks, lines for entry, exit or service, and recreation areas, only when a distance of at least six feet cannot be maintained from any non-household members.
- Law enforcement should also respond to any reports of an individual who is refusing to wear a face covering inside of a building that is open to the public, including any business.
- Law enforcement should enforce the requirement in healthcare settings, including but not limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician’s or dentist’s office, veterinary clinic, or blood bank.
- Law enforcement should also ensure that the requirement is being following by individuals in line waiting for or riding on public transportation or paratransit, or while riding in a taxi, private car service, ride-sharing vehicle, or other for-hire vehicle.
In a July 3 letter from New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas to the Governor, Balderas “agrees that the orders have the full force of law and are enforceable by state and local law enforcement.” Read the full text of the Attorney General’s letter using the link below.