No citations issued for mask violations in Georgetown County, and it’s not alone
There have been no citations issued in Georgetown County for violations of the county’s mask order that went into effect July 3.
Georgetown is not alone. There have been no citations issued in neighboring Horry County by police in any town that has a local mask ordinance, including Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. At least one couple were issued citations at a restaurant in Surfside Beach, which didn’t pass an ordinance. The citations fell under a statewide executive order issued by Gov. Henry McMaster.
While violating the mask order in Georgetown County is a misdemeanor subject to a $25 fine, the Sheriff’s Office, Pawleys Island Police Department, and Andrews Police Department all have not issued citations for violations of the mask order, according to spokespeople from each agency.
“No citations have been needed to the minimal calls that we have received due to those found in violation immediately complied or had left the area,” Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver wrote in an email.
“We don’t have any restaurants or anything like that, so there’s really no place that would be enforced,” added Ryan Fabbri, town administrator for Pawleys Island.
Last week, the Georgetown County Council extended the emergency order requiring face masks until Oct. 26.
The emergency order requires those above the age of 10 to wear a mask or face covering when entering grocery stores, retail stores, restaurants, or pharmacies. Employees are also required to wear masks while interacting with the public.
Jurisdictions with mask mandates showed a 46% greater decrease in coronavirus cases during a four-week period compared with jurisdictions without mask mandates that saw an average 30% increase in coronavirus cases during the same four-week period, according to the state health department.
Exceptions to the mask requirement include religious exclusions and health conditions that prevent the wearing of a mask.
Jackie Broach, Georgetown County’s public information officer, said that the medical and religious exemptions don’t necessarily give people a pass to enter a business without wearing a mask.
“You can still be asked to leave a business if you don’t have a mask, even if you have a medical or religious exemption,” she said.
Broach said the exemption means that businesses may have to find other ways to serve customers who are exempt from wearing a mask, including curbside pickup.
The mask mandate in Horry County will now remain in effect until Oct. 30 and affects all of the unincorporated areas, including Socastee, Carolina Forest, Little River, Bucksport, Longs and Garden City. Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Conway all have separate face mask mandates that are currently in effect. Surfside Beach did not enact a mask ordinance.
This story was originally published September 16, 2020 at 2:42 PM.
