The lockdown of businesses across America has lead to desperation for business owners and for their customers. The local police are now getting involved in ridiculous undercover stings (see below) to try and bust salon owners for opening up. Don’t the police officers have more important things to do?

Several cases in Texas have been in the news for breaking lockdown orders. One hair salon owner defied orders to stay closed and two women were arrested for trying to make a buck doing nails and eyelashes while there is a lockdown (see below). The latest case in Texas is the first time the person who put the order in place is the one who broke it:

Beaumont, Texas Mayor Becky Ames (R) is in hot water after she broke her own lockdown order to go to the nail salon.

She was photographed last week entering The Nail Bar leading to an investigation by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The owner of the nail salon could be facing a $1,000 fine.

Ames released a statement of apology to the citizens of Beaumont:

“I promise there was no malice intended,” she wrote in a statement.

“I should never have entered the salon last Tuesday. I did not intend to take personal privilege while asking others to sacrifice, and for that, I am truly remorseful.”

TWO WOMEN ARRESTED AFTERUNDERCOVER STING:

Ana Isabel Castro-Garcia and Brenda Stephanie Mata were arrested in Laredo, Texas, by undercover cops posing as customers looking for nail and eyelash treatments.

They were offering beauty services at home and violating lockdown measures put in place during the coronavirus crisis.

Local police told the Beaumont Enterprise they launched investigations after receiving anonymous tips from the Laredo Police Department app:

“Both of the violators independently solicited customers via social media. On both cases, an undercover officer working on the COVID-19 task force enforcement detail made contact with each solicitor to set up an appointment for a cosmetic, beauty service that is prohibited under the emergency ordinance.”

Each woman was charged with violation of an emergency management plan, a Class B misdemeanor that carries a punishment of up to 180 days in jail, a $2,000 fine, or both.

How will a fine help these desperate business owners who want to open back up? The fine only worsens their hardship.