(a) Definitions. As used in this Section, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) "Facial covering" means a cloth or other covering of the nose and mouth secured by ties, straps, or loops over the ears or is in some other way snug-fitting to the lower face. A facial covering may be factory-made, sewn by hand, or improvised from household items such as scarfs, bandanas, t-shirts, sweatshirts, or towels and may also be referred to as a "mask."
(2) "Pandemic" means a disease occurring over a wide geographic area affecting a high proportion of the population, but in this definition requires an official declaration of emergency by the Village of Council of Yellow Springs pertaining to any pandemic.
(3) "Public place" means any indoor or outdoor place open to the public, including most businesses, streets, sidewalks and government-owned facilities, but excludes private residential property as well as private businesses that are not open to customers or visitors, as well as government-owned real estate which has restricted or controlled access to employees and other authorized individuals.
(4) "Social distancing" means maintaining a distance of more than six feet of physical proximity to other individuals, except for those who reside together or are abiding by other governmental restrictions on group gatherings with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity.
(b) During any pandemic emergency declaration by the Village Council, all persons in the Central Business District of the Village and on Village-owned properties shall cover mouths and noses with a facial covering in the following situations:
(1) When inside any indoor public place if social distancing is not possible;
(2) When waiting in line to enter an indoor public space.
(3) When outdoors in public places if physical distancing is not possible.
(c) Exemptions. The following individuals may be exempt from wearing facial coverings:
(1) Persons under the age of ten years old;
(2) Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a facial covering including obstructed breathing or those who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance;
(3) Persons who are hearing impaired or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired if the ability to see mouth movement is essential for communication;
(4) Persons for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk related to work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines;
(5) Persons obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the facial covering is necessary to perform the service;
(6) Patrons seated at a restaurant or other establishment with food or beverage service, while eating or drinking, provided they wear facial coverings until served and until the server has attained social distancing;
(7) Athletes engaged in a sports activity that allows social distancing;
(8) Motorists and passengers in or on a motor vehicle and cyclists regardless of whether the vehicle is fully or partially enclosed or socially distanced from pedestrians;
(9) Persons engaged in any lawful activity during which wearing facial covering is prohibited by law.
(d) Enforcement. No anonymous complaints shall serve as the basis for probable cause for investigation. Any person may report an alleged violation to the Yellow Springs Police Department to request enforcement but shall, as a condition of such reporting, agree to serve as a competent eyewitness in any proceedings before Yellow Springs Mayor's Court or Xenia Municipal Court. Any Village personnel who observe a violation as an eyewitness on Village-owned property or public places may issue a verbal or written warning in lieu of citation if a law enforcement officer is unavailable to respond within a reasonable period of time, which may result in multiple warnings but not necessarily an increased penalty.
(e) Penalty. Any person who violates the provisions of Section (b) without claiming an exemption shall be issued a written warning and advised to wear a facial covering immediately on the first infraction reported or observed. A documented second violation, if observed by law enforcement or confirmed through investigation of a complaint or warning, may result in a citation for violating Village Codified Ordinance 660.16
(b) as an infraction subject to a fine of up to $30. Any subsequent violation within two months of the first citation, if convicted of the first offense, may result in a citation as an infraction subject to a fine up to $50. If charged under the repeat offender specification, law enforcement shall, in the charging instrument, include the date of conviction for the first violation. Upon conviction of a violation of this Section as a first or subsequent offense, the sentencing court may, in addition to or in lieu of the penalties provided in this Section, require the person to complete community service.
(Ord. 2020-13. Passed 7-8-20.)