Pa. State Police enforced COVID-19 rules during Labor Day weekend | The Numbers Racket

Over Labor Day weekend, the Pennsylvania State Police’s Liquor Control Enforcement Officers paid some 2,389 licensed liquor establishments a visit to ensure the businesses were abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements issued by state officials. 

Here’s what they found: 

Over the four-day period, officers performed a total of 2,389 checks, issued 22 notices of violation and 36 warnings for failing to follow COVID-19 requirements. 

The compliance checks were unannounced and could occur anywhere in the commonwealth, but officers chose to focus on areas experiencing higher COVID-19 transmission rates.

Among the requirements officers were checking for were: 

• Requiring all customers to wear masks while entering, exiting or otherwise traveling throughout the restaurant or retail food service business (face masks may be removed while seated). 
• Requiring employees to wear masks at all times;
• Providing at least six feet between parties at tables or physical barriers between customers where booths are arranged back to back;
• Ensuring maximum occupancy limits for indoor and outdoor areas are posted and enforced.

By Enforcement Office

There are nine Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement offices statewide. 

Bureau 1: Philadelphia, checked 261 licensed establishments and issued two warnings related to COVID-19 mitigation efforts. 

Bureau 2: Wilkes-Barre, checked 366 licensed establishments, issued three warnings related to COVID-19 mitigation efforts and six notices of violation related to COVID-19 mitigation efforts. 

Bureau 3: Harrisburg, checked 122 licensed establishments, issued five warnings related to COVID-19 mitigation efforts and three notices of violation related to COVID-19 mitigation efforts. 

Bureau 4: Pittsburgh, checked 598 licensed establishments, issued 13 warnings related to COVID-19 mitigation efforts and four notices of violation related to COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

Bureau 5: Altoona, checked 256 licensed establishments, issued no warnings and one notice of violation related to COVID-19 mitigation efforts. 

Bureau 6: Williamsport, checked 214 licensed establishments, issued one warning and no notices of violation related to COVID-19 mitigation efforts. 

Bureau 7: Punxsutawney, checked 208 licensed establishments, issued four warnings and five notices of violation related to COVID-19 mitigation efforts. 

Bureau 8: Erie, checked 90 licensed establishments, issued seven warnings and no notices of violation related to COVID-19 mitigation efforts. 

Bureau 9: Allentown, checked 274 licensed establishments, issued one warning and three notices of violation related to COVID-19 mitigation efforts.