Enforcing masks indoors: Businesses are off the hook this time.

Illinois' mask mandate returns Monday with one big change for businesses: This time, they won't face fines if they fail to get scofflaw patrons to comply.  "That's a significant change for us," said Rob Karr, president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. "That's a relief to our members that the enforcement expectation is not on the retailer." 

"Unless there was a threat to welfare, most of our members said the response from police was largely, 'What do you want us to do?'" he said. The policy regarding mask enforcement at each police department is different. "We do not enforce mask mandates," Naperville police Cmdr. Michaus Williams said. "If a business calls over a customer refusing to leave the establishment for not wearing a mask, it becomes a trespass issue and we will respond."

Karr was referring to cases where store employees or customers were killed in confrontations over masks in states like Michigan, Georgia and New Mexico.

Business owners, Karr said, are urged to post signs at all entrances and remind customers about the mandate if they aren't wearing a mask. "If you have a public address system, utilize it," he said. "After that, you've done your job." Police acknowledge customers might be frustrated by the reintroduction of masking indoor at businesses, but they certainly don't expect a wave of calls about unruly customers.

"Everyone's been through this before," said South Barrington Police Chief Tom Roman. "It's old news for everyone."

 Daily Herald staff writers James Fuller and Katlyn Smith contributed to this report.https://www.dhbusinessledger.com/news/20210827/enforcing-masks-indoors-businesses-are-off-the-hook-this-time-what-will-suburban-police-do