GOLDEN — Jefferson County health authorities filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to compel Bandimere Speedway to comply with coronavirus-related public health orders after several thousand people attended a rally at the track to protest those same orders.
Jefferson County Public Health’s district court suit seeks an injunction requiring the Morrison race track to comply with an earlier court order that it get county approval for large events. Conditions include limiting individual crowd sizes to 175 people and other social distancing and mask-wearing measures.
County authorities contend a “Stop the COVID Chaos” rally on Tuesday violated those conditions.
Bandimere attorney Randy Corporon couldn’t immediately be reached by telephone for comment.
A district court judge on July 21 denied a county request to issue a permanent restraining order against Bandimere for lapses in social distancing and other protocols the track had agreed to before a July 4 holiday celebration attended by about 7,500 people. The judge did order the track to comply with state and county health orders going forward.
A county order requires businesses planning outdoor activities with gatherings of up to 175 people to submit safety plans before the events are held. The state requires mask-wearing in public spaces, among other measures.