Albert Lea Wine Bar Faces $3000 Daily Fines For COVID Violations
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Albert Lea, MN (KROC-AM News) - Another southern Minnesota business is being fined $3000 per day for violating the COVID restrictions imposed by Governor Tim Walz.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says a Freeborn County Judge has found the owners of The Interchange Wine and Coffee Bistro in Albert Lea in contempt of court for willfully violating a temporary restraining order issued by the court on December 23rd. The order issued today imposed the daily $3000 fine for each day the business is open for indoor dining in violation of the governor s pandemic order effective today. The judge also noted the governor has now modified the order to allow limited indoor dining and drinking beginning Monday.
Freeborn County District Court ruled that The Interchange willfully violated court orders preventing on-premises dining, which was implemented by Gov. Tim Walz's executive orders .
2nd Minnesota restaurant found in contempt of court for violating Walz order
The Interchange in Albert Lea was found in contempt of court by Freeborn County District Court.
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A second Minnesota restaurant owner has been found in contempt of court for remaining open for dine-in service in the face of Gov. Tim Walz s executive order that has banned such service at bars and restaurants since Nov. 17.
While the order will expire this weekend and be replaced Monday with an order from Walz that allows indoor dining at 50% capacity, The Interchange Wine and Coffee Bistro has been found in contempt of court by Freeborn County District Court and will be fined $3,000 for every day it continues to violate the governor s order.
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Lakeville restaurant Alibi Drinkery has been defying Governor Walz s executive order to shut down in-person dining since the middle of December. On Thursday, the Dakota County District Court imposed a $3,000 fine per day that they remain open.
Governor Walz announced that there would be no indoor dining for the time being in mid-November. Based on Alibi s Facebook, they re-opened despite these orders on December 16th. Photojournalist Aaron Lavinsky captured some photos from that day showing people less than 6 feet apart and not wearing masks.
The Dakota County District Court had imposed a temporary injunction on Dec. 31 but Alibi continued to violate the orders, according to KSTP. Because the restaurant continued to violate orders, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison s office says that the court found Alibi Drinkery in contempt and is now fining them $3,000 per day. Keith Ellison said, I am grateful that the court recogniz