The city of San Antonio has issued more than 2,500 warnings and 67 citations for violating the stay-at-home order, according to an enforcement report. Among the violators were the Planet K smoke shops in San Antonio.
The city of San Antonio has issued more than 2,500 warnings and 67 citations for violating the stay-at-home order, according to an enforcement report. Among the violators were the Planet K smoke shops in San
The city of San Antonio has issued more than 2,500 warnings and 67 citations for violating the stay-at-home order, according to an enforcement report. Among the violators were the Planet K smoke shops in San Antonio.
The city of San Antonio has issued more than 2,500 warnings and 67 citations for violating the stay-at-home order, according to an enforcement report. Among the violators were the Planet K smoke shops in San
The city of San Antonio has issued more than 2,800 warnings and 104 citations for violating the emergency declarations, according to an enforcement report.
Officials had received over 9,800 calls reporting violations as of Monday.
READ MORE: The latest news and features about coronavirus in San Antonio
The social distancing orders, intending to slow the spread of COVID-19, first went into place on March 18. The most recent, a third addendum to the eighth emergency health declaration, went into effect on June 26.
Several of the early citations were issued to locations of the Planet K smoke shop chain.
The chain’s owner, Michael Kleinman, refused to shut down until the city revoked its certificate of occupancy for a Planet K on Austin Highway, authorizing the disconnection of all electric, gas and water service there “due to risk to life.”
READ MORE: Planet K defiant in face of coronavirus
After May 5, seven weeks passed without officials issuing a citation, but enforcement picked up once more in late June as COVID-19 cases spiked.
Multiple city departments — Code Enforcement, Parking Enforcement, Metro Health and the San Antonio Police Department — are enforcing the order.
Here are the citations issued so far:
July 25
– A caller reported that an employee was not wearing a mask at the Pollo Loco drive-thru at 11820 Bandera Road. A manager, working alone and not wearing a mask, went to talk to another employee within six feet. A citation was issued.
– Officials conducting a proactive inspection at Cambridge Auto Center, located at 9823 Fredericksburg Road, saw two mechanics standing less than six feet apart while not wearing masks. The owner stated that he doesn’t believe in the facemask policy. A citation was issued.
July 24
– Officials conducting a proactive inspection at QuikTrip, located at 2707 NE Loop 410, saw an employee walk into the store without a mask on. The store’s manager said he also walks into the store at the beginning of his shift without a mask. A citation was issued.
July 23
– A caller reported that people were not wearing masks at Ken’s Tire Shop, located at 1346 Fair Ave. Officials found that the manager and employees were not wearing masks. A citation was issued.
July 22
– A caller reported that people were not wearing masks at North Star Dodge, located at 7242 San Pedro Ave. None of the customers and few employees were wearing masks or practicing social distancing.
Customers put their masks on upon the officers’ request. Police spoke with the manager about the staff violation and issued a citation.
July 20
– Inspectors found that staff at Life Time Recover, located at 10290 Southton, were not wearing masks. A citation was issued.
July 18
– Officials conducting a proactive inspection at Brake Check, located at 8650 Marbach Road, found seven employees congregating in the bay area without masks. One employee was within two feet of a customer without a mask.
Officials spoke with the manager about the violation and issued a citation.
– Officials were called to Brake Check, located at 13495 Interstate 10 West, for people not wearing masks. They found that the proper signs were posted but two mechanics were not wearing masks. A citation was issued.
– Employees in the kitchen at Las Palapas, located at 23725 Interstate 10 West, were not wearing masks and crossing one another. A citation was issued.
– Officials were called to North Star Mall for people not wearing masks. They saw six employees from three different stores — Daniels Jewelry, Aman’s Jewelry, and American Cookie Factory — not wearing them.
All of the employees corrected the issue immediately, except for an American Cookie Factory employee who was not willing to wear a mask correctly. The employee was cited along with the three store owners.
July 17
– Officials conducting a follow-up inspection at Sushiholic, located at 11619 Bandera Road, found that the proper signs were posted but the owner was preparing food without a mask. He put his mask on when asked to do so. A citation was issued to the owner.
– Officials were called to La Perla Del Pacifico, located at 7911 Culebra Road, for a violation of CDC guidelines. They found that signs were not posted as required and tables were not separated by six feet for social distancing.
The restaurant was allowed to have 44 people inside. There were 33 patrons eating and no one was taking count when more patrons walked in. A citation was issued.
July 11
– Police conducted a follow-up inspection of Highlanders Bar and Grill at 5562 Fredericksburg Road to verify compliance with the guidelines. Officers saw two people drinking on the premises.
They told the owner that the bar could only serve to-go and curbside with food. The owner was asked to wear a mask when interacting with the officers but refused to do so. He also refused to provide his identification. Two citations were issued to the owner.
July 10
– Police received a call reporting that people were not wearing masks or social distancing at Taqueria La Tapatia at 4731 Rigsby Ave. Officers saw one employee not wearing a mask and two others with masks around their necks. A citation was issued.
– Police received a call reporting that people were not wearing masks at an MG Building Materials Millwork Division construction site at 4825 Rittiman Road. Officers saw two employees congregating without masks and spoke with the manager who was not wearing one.
A citation was issued to the business.
July 8
– Police received a call reporting that the Smitty Motorcycle Clubhouse bar at 1850 E. Houston St. was open for business with loud music. An officer found the bar operating in violation of the declaration and a citation was issued.
– Police received a call reporting that people were not wearing masks at the O’Hanna Academy gym at 15062 US 281 North. Employees adjusted their masks once they saw the officers and a warning was issued.
However, the employees were not wearing the masks despite the warning, police said, and citations were issued to both employees.
– Police received a call reporting that people were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing at Alamo Distilling Company at 2030 E. Houston St. Officers made contact with the person in charge over the phone and were denied entry to the building. The individual refused to provide his identification.
Officers saw that a health and safety plan was not posted and a citation was issued to the property owner.
– Police received a call reporting that employees were not wearing masks at Anderson Garage at 7560 Bandera Road. An officer found that the proper signage was posted but there was no screen between customers and the person at the counter.
The owner at the counter was not wearing a mask and refused to do so upon request. A citation was issued.
July 7
– Police received a call reporting that no face masks were being worn at Brown Coffee Shop at 812 S. Alamo St. An officer found no signs displaying the instructions for social-distancing and face masks. A stop work order was posted and a citation issued.
July 4
– Police received a call reporting The Drink bar at 200 Navarro St. was open for business. An officer had warned the owner that he was violating the emergency declaration orders but the owner refused to close.
The SAPD Vice Unit found 10 to 15 people drinking inside the bar. A citation was issued to the owner.
July 2
– Police received a call that Web House Café and Bar at 320 Blanco Road was allowing customers to drink inside. The manager said the establishment was making most receipts from food, not alcohol, so they could be open. He said they had applied to TABC for an exemption and had not heard back.
Officers advised that the bar must shut down the dining room but could do take out and delivery of alcohol with food orders. A stop work order was posted and a citation was issued.
July 1
– At Wetmore Family Dentist, officers found customers and staff not wearing masks and no signs posted. A citation was issued to the dentist’s office, located at 13499 Wetmore Road.
June 30
– Officials checking for proper signs at a Northside gym called The Pit, located at 8506 Speedway, found that the signs had not changed. They posted a placard to file a case and issued a citation.
June 27
– Police were called for a Brown Coffee Company employee allegedly not wearing a mask. Officers saw the server without a mask and a municipal court case will be filed. The coffee shop is located at 812 S. Alamo St. in Southtown.
– Police were called to 809 Riverwalk for a river barge company allegedly not requiring passengers to wear masks. Based on an officer observing employees and customers not wearing masks, an official warning was given and a municipal court case will be filed.
– Police were called to 2711 Treble Creek for people at Gold’s Gym allegedly not wearing masks. An officer explained the mask ordinance to a manager as they observed some members not wearing their mask in the gym. A municipal court case will be filed.
– Police were called to 4319 S. New Braunfels for employees at Sonic allegedly not wearing masks while serving food. An officer watched a server approach vehicles and deliver orders with no mask on. The manager was told to have servers put on masks within 6 feet of customers. A municipal court case will be filed.
– Police were called to 6059 La Cima for employees at La Michoacana allegedly not wearing masks. An officer saw one cashier with a mask around her neck and another worker with no mask. A patron also had no mask. Everyone complied when the officer enforced the mask rule.
The manager said he had several incidents of patrons cussing him out over a facemask. The officer suggested he contact SAPD to escort belligerent non-compliant customers off the premises. A municipal court case will be filed.
– Police were called to 1560 Bandera for an employee at Walgreens allegedly testing positive for COVID-19 and not sanitizing store. Officers observed all employees wearing masks but not wearing them properly. Social distancing practices were in place. A municipal court case will be filed.
– Police were called to 1003 Culebra for Quintanilla’s Restaurant allegedly operating over capacity and staff not wearing masks. An officer found that the location was maintaining capacity just under 75 percent.
Several employees were not wearing masks. The manager said masks are provided to them but they take them off as soon as he steps out. A municipal court case will be filed.
– Police were called to 2838 N. Loop 1604 E. for people at El Chaparral allegedly not wearing masks. An officer saw two employees in the kitchen not wearing masks. A municipal court case will be filed.
– Police were called to 5138 Blanco for employees at Los Angeles allegedly not wearing masks. An officer saw all employees wearing masks.
The restaurant’s mask rules said they were “preferred.” The officer told the manager it should say “required” and the manager said she would have the signed changed by the end of the day. A municipal court case will be filed.
May 5
– Police found the Cantina Sports Bar, located at 6565 Babcock Road on the Northwest Side, open for business. Approximately 50 people were inside the crowded bar, none of whom were social distancing or wearing a mask — including the owner.
The bar was selling alcohol and police did not observe anyone eating food. The owner told police he could no longer afford to remain closed. He would rather fight a citation in court than close the bar. A citation was issued to the owner.
– Police received a call reporting that Porta Rosa Bar at 1221 Broadway St. was hosting an opening night party. The caller said a large number of people were inside the bar and on the patio, failing to social distance or wear masks. Officers found the location open for business.
Advised to close the bar, the manager said he would comply. Police received two more calls and an officer responded for the second time in an hour. The bar was still operating with a large number of people inside. A citation was issued.
May 2
– Police officers, responding to a call for a shooting, found a large group of people conducting an illegal 8-liner gambling operation at a South Side home. They found that no one was shot or injured at the residence, located on the 700 block of Grosvenor St.
The officers cited 34 individuals for violating the emergency declaration.
April 27
– Police received a call reporting that the Planet K at 1015 E Mulberry was open. Officers saw customers inside the store and posted a stop work order.
April 26
– Police received a call reporting that the Planet K at 1015 E Mulberry was open for business. Officers observed customers inside the store. An employee told police the store would not comply with the curbside-only requirement. A stop work order was posted.
April 22
– Police received a call reporting that Firme Copias Tattoo Shop was open. At the business, located at 10520 Culebra Road, officers observed a customer in a tattoo chair with an artist next to him. The artist was not wearing a mask.
Officers told the artist that the business was not allowed to be open.
The artist admitted he was allowing private sessions and did not indicate whether he would stop work. He told police he would fight the citation in court.
April 18
– Police received a call reporting 10 people inside the Smoke Shadowz store at 1429 W. Hildebrand Ave. Officers watched two individuals enter the store separately. The owner said the customers were picking up wholesale orders. Officers told the owner no customers were permitted the enter for any reason. A stop work order was posted at the entrance. The owner secured the entry door and gate.
April 15
– Police received a call reporting an open barber shop at 10223 Ironside Dr. The owner told officers that he was only cutting employee’s hair. The owner had been previously informed that the business must be closed. A stop work order was posted on the door.
April 10
– Officers received a call reporting a vendor selling Easter baskets and piñatas in a parking lot at Nacogdoches and O’Connor roads. The man had been given a warning the previous day for the same violation. Officers cited the man and advised him he had to close down. He packed the items and left the location.
April 9
– Police received a call reporting an open barber shop at 114 N. Ellison Dr. An officer observed an employee cutting hair and asked the owner for identification. The owner refused, became irate, and removed a stop work order from the door.
April 7
– A fourth citation was issued to the Mega Vape on S.E. Military Drive. The owner refused to close, so the city revoked its certificate of occupancy.
April 6
– The Michaels store at 415 W. Loop 1604 South was open. Police cited the store and issued a stop work order.
– The Mega Vape on S.E. Military Dr. was cited for being open with customers.
April 5
– The Michaels arts and crafts store at 17700 U.S. 281 North was cited for operating. The store was told they could only be curbside and issued a stop work order.
– The city revoked the certificate of occupancy for the Planet K on Austin Hwy.
April 4
– The Planet K on West Ave. was cited for being open. The manager told police the store was restocking items while closed and turning away customers.
– The Planet K on Evers Road was cited for being open. A sign said “curbside only” but police advised employees the store should be closed.
– The Planet K on Austin Hwy. was cited for being open for business. Police met with the manager and a stop work order was posted.
– The Mega Vape on S.E. Military Dr. was open with employees present. The store was cited and a stop work order was posted.
– Police cited the Planet K on Goliad for being open and posted a stop work order.
April 3
– The Planet K on Evers Road was cited for being open and refusing to close.
– Officers spoke to an employee at the Planet K on Goliad. The employee called the manager, who refused to allow the employee to close the store. The owner arrived and also refused to close.
– Mega Vape at 2603 S.E. Military Dr. was cited for operating.
April 2
– Officers cited a Planet K store at 11202 West Ave. for defying the emergency declaration and operating on April 1 and April 2.
– A caller reported the Planet K at 2803 Goliad was open. When police responded, employees said the owner was forcing them to work and called the owner. The owner refused to close, saying he was within his rights to be open, and a citation was issued.
– After a seventh notification to the Planet K at 5619 Evers Road, a citation and closure was issued.
– A Planet K at 2130 Austin Hwy. was cited for being open with customers inside.
April 1
– Officers responded to a reported shooting-in-progress at Towering Oaks Apartments (7710 Oakdell Way). Police discovered a BB gun and issued citations to three men for public intoxication and violating the public health order.
– Police visited the Texas Vape Stores location at 1518 Austin Hwy to see if the store was complying with the order. The “open” light was on and officers took that as evidence of a violation.
Mark Dunphy is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @m_b_dunphy
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