Nassau County authorities have arrested an 18-year-old Lengthy Island man underneath a newly enacted masks ban.
Earlier this month, Nassau County Republicans passed a landmark bill banning face masks in public areas, citing public security and the necessity to fight crime throughout protests.
The laws, dubbed the Masks Transparency Act, acquired overwhelming help with a 12-0 vote, as seven Democrats abstained from the method.
This laws establishes a misdemeanor offense for mask-wearing in public, punishable by hefty fines and potential jail time.
Exceptions are made for non secular and well being causes, however the overarching aim is evident: to boost public security by making certain that people can’t conceal their identities.
Presiding Officer Howard Kopel emphasised the need of the invoice in gentle of rising antisemitic incidents linked to masked people since Hamas’ assault on Israel.
County Govt Bruce Blakeman expressed his intention to signal the invoice, asserting that “folks shouldn’t be allowed to cowl their face in a fashion that hides their identification when in public,” aside from these with legitimate medical or non secular causes.
Penalties for sporting masks illegally embrace as much as one 12 months in jail and a $1,000 fantastic.
Omar Ramirez Castillo was taken into custody on Sunday for sporting a ski masks in public, marking the primary enforcement of the regulation.
The arrest occurred after police responded to reviews of suspicious habits within the space.
Castillo, who was wearing all-black clothes and a ski masks, was discovered carrying a 14-inch knife hid in his waistband, Long Island Press reported.
Authorities charged him with fourth-degree felony possession of a weapon, second-degree obstruction of governmental administration, and violation of the newly minted Masks Transparency Act.
Nassau County Govt Bruce Blakeman praised the arrest as a “success” for the brand new regulation.
“Our law enforcement officials had been ready to make use of the masks ban laws in addition to different components to cease and interrogate a person who was carrying a weapon with the intent to have interaction in a theft,” Blakeman mentioned in a press launch.
“Passing this regulation gave police one other instrument to cease this harmful felony.”
