Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a June 29 statement that his department won’t enforce the county’s decision to close beaches during the upcoming Fourth of July weekend.
The county made the decision to close the beaches earlier in the day after nearly 3,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported on June 29, a record high, bringing the county’s total number of cases to more than 100,000. Those who violate the closure could be subjected to a fine of up to $1,000.
“It’s the responsible decision to protect public health and protect our residents from a deadly virus,” County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said.
Villanueva said in a statement to Fox 11 Los Angeles, “We were not consulted on the beach closure and will only assist our beach cities in closing parking lots and traffic enforcement on [the Pacific Coast Highway]. In regards to enforcing the beach closure, we will not be enforcing it because we are ‘Care First, Jail Last.’ ”
However, the sheriff department’s Lost Hills Station, which oversees Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu and Westlake Village, announced on Facebook and Twitter that it would be enforcing the closures.
