WTF? Gov. Jay Inslee Wants Restaurants To Keep A Log Of Customers When Washington State Allows Reopening

“Would you like a side order of governmental overreach with that?” In Washington, servers won’t even need to ask.

As Washington state begins the second phase of its 4-phase reopening process, restaurants who offer dine-in services are being required to adhere to draconian rules if they want to be open to the public. So says the office of Washington Governor and former Democratic Presidential contender, Jay Inslee.

One of the new rules includes creating a “daily log” of customers who are dining in. The log will be kept for 30 days and is to include customer’s names, contact information, and the date and time that they were in the establishment. This is to “lay the groundwork” so that the customer can be traced if the state government decides to start tracking its citizens.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s office on Monday issued a set of coronavirus requirements that restaurants must abide by when they reopen, one of which requires them to create a “daily log” of their customers’ comings and goings.

The state is now entering phase two of a four-phase plan to reopen businesses in the state. Restaurants that want to offer dine-in services must “create a daily log of customers and maintain that daily log for 30 days, including telephone/email contact information, and time in,” according to The Seattle Times.

The measure is said to lay the groundwork for a trace program if the government decides to start tracking the movement of its citizens.

Source: Fox News

There are 13 requirements that have been outlined by the state for dine-in service:

1. Hand sanitizer should be available at entry for all staff and patrons (assuming supply availability).
2. No bar seating is permitted during Phase 2. If an establishment has bar seating it must be closed off to prohibit use.
3. If the establishment does not offer table service, they must have protocols in place to ensure adequate social distancing at food and drink pick-up stations, and seating within their dining area.
4. All parties and tables must be 5 guests or less.
5. Guest occupancy must be 50% of maximum building occupancy or lower as determined by the fire code. Outdoor seating is permitted but must also be at 50% capacity. Outdoor seating does not count toward the building occupancy limit. Outdoor seating must follow all other requirements in this document.
6. Tables must be placed far enough apart when measured from occupied chair to occupied chair, to ensure dine-in guests seated at a table are a minimum of 6 feet away from guests at adjacent table, or there must be a physical barrier or wall separating booths or tables.
7. It is strongly suggested customers wear a cloth face covering anytime they are not seated at the table (while being seated or leaving, or while going to the restroom). 8. Buffets and salad bars are not permitted at this time but may be addressed through subsequent interpretive guidance.
8. If the establishment offers table service, create a daily log of all customers and maintain that daily log for 30 days, including telephone/email contact information, and time in. This will facilitate any contact tracing that might need to occur.
9. Single-use menus are required for in-person dining.
10. Any condiments typically left on the table (ketchup, soy sauce, etc.) must be single-use or sanitized after each use.
11. Restaurants must have implemented a plan to ensure proper physical distancing in lobby/waiting areas/payment counters.
12. Minimize the number of staff serving any given table. It is strongly recommended that one staff person take a table’s order, bring all of their beverages/food/utensils, take their payment, etc.

Not included in the list, but still required, is the daily screening of employees for the coronavirus before their shift begins.

Does this seem Constitutional to you? Can the government demand that private businesses–restaurants, at that–keep a log of their customers that can be requested at will by authorities?

It seems like Washingtonians might be subjected to this kind of thing if they want to grab a cheeseburger at some greasy spoon:

Washington state is at least being honest that they’re considering tracking their own citizens just like the Chinese government does. This isn’t even the (allegedly) anonymized data that is already being gathered by Google and Apple, this is with names, phone numbers, email addresses.

Why would a restaurant comply with this for the privilege of reopening with restrictions? Simple: desperation. The government knows it, so we’ve got some tinpot dictator wannabes like Inslee slipping on the jackboots and attempting to squash freedom under the guise of “public health.”

It’s clear that these authoritarians don’t trust their own citizenry and want to impose regulations to restrict freedoms. Do you notice that seems to be the go-to for these (mostly) Democrat governors?

If a grocery store or a big box store can open safely without the same restrictive measures, surely pizza place can do it, too.