Milwaukee Health Department to increase citations for businesses not following orders

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Health Department is still working out its new safety plan for businesses, but will be more aggressive in enforcing its existing orders.

Health department leaders tell a city council committee they're scrapping the warning letters and going straight to issuing citations.

Deputy Commissioner Claire Evers wants the council to increase the $500 fine for businesses not following the rules.

"In some situations it's not motivation for compliance with operators, it's just considered the cost of doing business, especially when they can make a lot more money having over capacity," Evers said. 

The health department only checks on businesses with complaints, saying it can't check every business in the city.

It is asking for help from police when its inspectors check on businesses at night.