People who don’t wear a mask on public transit are looking at steep fines from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) following President Joe Biden’s executive order.
The TSA will start with a fine of $250 for the first time someone is caught not wearing a mask and increase that up to $1,500 for future violations. They also reserve the right to fine people even more than $1,500 in some circumstances.
As the agency explained:
“Based on substantial aggravating or mitigating factors, TSA may seek a sanction amount that falls outside these ranges.”
‘The Right Thing To Do’
According to TSA official Darby LaJoye, the move is the “right thing to do for the TSA workforce, for our industry stakeholders and for passengers.” LaJoye also says it “will help prevent further spread of COVID-19 and encourage a unified government response.”
Biden’s Jan. 21 executive order made masks mandatory on all federal land – except apparently himself later talking with no mask next to the Lincoln memorial. His order also made masks a must-wear for any time on public transport and in bus stations, airports, railways, and any other in-between points while transiting.
The TSA fines might not be all that people who don’t wear masks deal with either, since transport operators like bus and rail services may also levy additional fines of their own on top of the federal fines.
TSA: Mask violators on federal transportation face $250 fine, up to $1,500 for repeat offenders
— Ana Cabrera (@AnaCabrera) February 5, 2021
Keeping the Public Safe?
Even though COVID infections have started to miraculously fall at a huge rate now that Biden is president, it’s still a dangerous and unpredictable virus. Requiring the public to do something like wear a mask surely isn’t too much to ask, right?
It depends. For one thing, basic cloth masks don’t actually appear to do much to stop the virus except basic reduction of airborne transmission if someone is coughing or having visible symptoms. And if someone is having external symptoms they shouldn’t be out in public or taking public transport to start with.
Dr. Anthony Fauci has even admitted that the basic masks don’t do much to stop the transmission of the disease, and there are hundreds of videos of people testing out how cloth masks work for stopping respiratory particles. The answer is: they don’t. At all. They tested showing cold breath in winter or using smoke to demonstrate how the fibers do nothing to stop small particles the size of the virus.
Masking the Truth
N95 masks are more effective if secured firmly around the nose, or even better masks, although infection is still fully possible around the eyes. The practice of double masking is even more dubious, with some leading health authorities like Fauci saying it “can’t hurt” and others saying it could actually be dangerous and recycle dangerous infectious air flows.
At the end of the day, the problem with the mask mandate is that it’s lying about the science and demanding conformity in the guise of public safety. This is a pretty low-down moment for a nation founded on liberty and a person’s right to take the risks they decide to take on their own.
Wearing an effective mask is definitely recommended, but complying and virtue signaling so you can dodge a fine and obey the government is basically peak progressive performance art.
Nonetheless, nobody wants to get hit with a $1,500 or more fine, so expect to see all masks all the time whenever you go to catch the bus or get on public transport of any kind. No word on how it will work if police are looking to identify or catch suspects or criminals using public transport when everyone is wearing a mask.
