TSA: Riders who refuse to wear masks face fines

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) late last week stepped up its enforcement of a recently implemented federal mask mandate on public transportation, announcing that people who violate the order could face fines of up to $1,500.

Last month, President Joe Biden signed an executive order requiring passengers to wear masks when they are in airports and bus and rail stations, as well as on passenger aircraft, public transit service, passenger railroads and over-the-road buses operating on scheduled fixed-routes. The measure was ordered in an effort to reduce the risk of travelers spreading the coronavirus.

Late last week, TSA updated its guidance on the measure, saying that the civil penalty for those who refuse to comply could face fines that range from $250 for the first offense up to $1,500 for repeat offenders. Based on substantial aggravating or mitigating factors, the agency may seek a sanction amount that falls outside those ranges, TSA officials said in a press release.