As Santa Clara County phases out its final pandemic-related order, businesses are still frustrated over the millions of dollars in fines issued during the last year and a half.
A small number of businesses have managed to get their fines overturned on appeal, according to reporting by The Mercury News. But many complain that the county’s enforcement system has been administered unfairly.
In the last year, the county fined nearly 400 business owners for a total $4.9 million in civil penalties for breaching coronavirus restrictions, such as not posting store capacity signs in storefronts.
The other six counties in the Bay Area that have issued fines for similar infractions have only racked out a combined $82,000 from 68 businesses.
Business owners in the community would like to see some leniency as the state economy bounces back. "The reason for a lot of these fines and regulations are no longer where they may have been, let’s say, 6 to 8 months ago," said Derrick Seaver, CEO of The Silicon Valley Organization.
Responding to the criticism, County officials point out that the vast majority of complaints were resolved after a simple warning.
"These were very serious," said Santa Clara County Counsel James Williams, of the infractions made by businesses. "I think that it’s our community’s expectations that people follow the line – most people did."
