Michigan businesses now prohibit customers who don't wear a face mask from being served. | Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels
Michigan businesses now prohibit customers who don't wear a face mask from being served. | Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels
The Michigan Retailers Association says it will not be able to enforce Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's executive order requiring face masks to receive service, Michigan Capitol Confidential reported.
The association noted that it was impossible to enforce the government mandate, which was issued on July 10.
"Notably, the order includes various exemptions, and it still allows individuals to enter a public space without a mask if they cannot medically tolerate it," the Michigan Retailers Association said in a statement, according to Michigan Capitol Confidential. "Determining the validity of an ambiguous exemption is an impossible task for a retailer. And now, even retailers acting in good faith could be subject to severe licensing sanctions based on the actions of noncompliant customers."
The association believes that enforcing the mandate should fall on the police and not the retail establishments; however, the executive order makes clear that retailers who violate the order run the risk of having their license temporarily suspended.
The Michigan Retailers Association commends Whitmer's efforts in trying to curb exposure to COVID-19 by urging consumers to wear masks, but it doesn't agree with how she went about getting it enforced.
"While retailers and retail employees appreciate Gov. Whitmer’s efforts to increase the number of residents wearing masks when in enclosed public spaces, we are frustrated that she did not leave the policing to law enforcement officers,” the Michigan Retailers Association said in a statement, Michigan Capitol Confidential reported. “This puts retail employees in potentially dangerous situations when they’re forced to confront unmasked customers.”
The association also asked residents to wear masks so that they wouldn't cause trouble for retailers.
“We worry for retail employees’ safety and disagree with the overly aggressive penalties for retailers,” the association continued in its statement. “When shopping, please wear a mask and understand that retailers are not to blame for the state’s mask requirement.”
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