LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11) – Nassau County lawmakers are proposing a ban on masks used for "concealing an individual's identity in a public place."
The law proposes banning masks not worn for health or religious reasons in an effort to curb criminal acts. Gov. Kathy Hochul pushed for a similar law that would apply to New York City subways.
It would ban facial coverings on public property for people over the age of 16. For private properties, it would be up to the owner's discretion.
The law also proposes that anyone caught wearing a face covering could be charged with a misdemeanor and punished with a fine of no more than $1,000 or a prison sentence for up to a year.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.