MTA, LIRR riders without masks to face fines starting Monday

Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order Thursday, saying anyone violating the mask rule will be issued a $50 fine.

News 12 Staff

Sep 14, 2020, 11:33 PM

Updated 1,583 days ago

Share:

Starting Monday, riders could face a $50 fine for not wearing a face covering on the LIRR and MTA subways and buses.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order Thursday, saying anyone violating the mask rule will be issued the fine.
Police will be enforcing the rule, and train crews can call ahead to have officers meet a train if there's a problem passenger on board.
Masks have been mandatory for MTA riders since mid-April, and the agency says about 90% of riders have complied since then.
The MTA released video of LIRR President Phil Eng handing out masks Monday morning at Jamaica Station. He said LIRR mask compliance is even higher than the rest of the public transportation system.
"The survey we did on the LIRR, just last week showed 95% compliance in our system, and personally I've observed near 100% compliance," he said.
News 12 was at the Hicksville train station Monday afternoon and saw about five out of 30 people not wearing masks. 
The LIRR now reports daily weekday ridership is 26 to 28% of normal capacity, so there is still plenty of space to keep distance on the train as well.  
The MTA has put vending machines selling masks and other personal protective equipment in hundreds of transit stations.