York issues first citation against business for failing to comply with coronavirus closure order

City isn't releasing business's name at this time, but says its an electronics retailer

• Ed Mahon
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  Ed Mahon comes to Spotlight PA from PA Post, where he covered state politics and policy, produced radio stories that were broadcast on public media stations throughout the state and on NPR’s national newscasts, and co-wrote a weekday newsletter. Prior to joining PA Post, Ed worked for six years as an investigative and political reporter for the York Daily Record, part of the USA Today Network. His reporting on failures in Pennsylvania’s system for protecting domestic abuse victims was a finalist in the national 2018 Livingston Awards for Young Journalists in the local reporting category. He was also part of a team whose coverage of the criminal justice system, including the aggressive use of civil asset forfeiture by York County prosecutors, received the 2018 G. Richard Dew Award for Journalistic Service from the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. Before joining the York Daily Record, Ed covered K-12 education at the Centre Daily Times in State College and worked as a stringer for suburban sections of The Philadelphia Inquirer. He grew up in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

 Ian Sterling for WITF

A York Police vehicle is parked outside the station on Oct. 18, 2019.

The City of York issued its first citation to a business alleged to be violating Gov. Tom Wolf’s closure order, according to a spokesperson for the city.

In response to the spread of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania, Wolf on Thursday ordered more than 100 types of businesses to close their physical locations. The list of banned businesses includes barber shops, gyms and many types of retail stores. Enforcement began Monday

York city investigators contacted about 400 businesses to check compliance, said Philip Given, the city’s acting director of economic and community development. They found three businesses out of compliance and issued warnings on Monday and Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Given said, an electronics retailer remained out of compliance.

“All of this is a concern because it’s public to public contact that needs to be limited right now, which is why the governor’s orders are so important right now,” Given said. “And as a community, we need to take them very seriously.”

Given declined to name the business, but he said the information would likely be released through an open records request.

“We’re not looking to put any individual establishment on blast and have their name in the newspaper, in the media,” Given said. “But ultimately we want compliance.”

The Wolf administration has recommended two main penalties for businesses that violate the governor’s order: a $10 to $50 fine or a $25 to $300 fine. Business owners can contest the citation, but if they lose in court and don’t pay the fine, they could face up to 30 days in jail. Given said the York businesses faces a $25 to $300 fine.

On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania State Police said troopers issued 44 warnings on Monday and Tuesday and no citations.

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