The Transportation Security Administration is warning travelers that refusing to wear a mask at the airport could result in a hefty fine. To enforce President Joe Biden's executive order requiring all travelers at airports to wear a mask, the agency plans to issue fines to people who aren't covering their faces.
The fines start at $250 and could grow to at least $1,500 for repeat offenders. The agency said that the fine could be even higher based on "aggravating or mitigating factors."
The TSA began enforcing the mask mandate on February 2. The mandate, which also applies to trains, buses, and other forms of public transportation, is set to expire on May 11 but can be extended if the coronavirus is still running rampant across the country.
The agency said it will in contact with airlines and transit agencies across the country to track people who violate the mandate. The TSA has created a phone number for other agencies to call so they can report people who refuse to wear a mask.
"They will report violators to TSA, and TSA may penalize those who refuse to wear a mask within the transportation networks," said TSA spokesman R. Carter Langston.
Most airlines already required passengers to wear masks. The airlines took a hard line against passengers who refused to cover their faces, removing them from flights and, in many cases, permanently banning them from flying. Their policies resulted in several altercations between angry passengers and airline employees.
According to Fox News, nearly 3,000 people have been banned from flying since the summer. Delta Air Lines has banned more passengers than any other airline, putting 880 people on their no-fly list.
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