What would be considered a “bad” demerit score?
The numerical score is just an indicator. There is no failing grade. However, a rule of thumb is that any score of 30 demerits would represent a very serious condition and could result in action to suspend the permit. State law does indicate that when total demerits exceed 30, the establishment must take immediate actions to correct all their critical violations and begin corrective actions on all other violations within 48 hours, If a facility scores 30 demerits or more, a mandatory follow-up inspection is required within 24 hours. Sometimes a single violation can cause immediate closure, An example would be sewage backing into a restaurant. The establishment could be perfectly clean otherwise and well run but would be closed immediately until proper corrections had taken place. This would be only a three-point demerit. Conversely, an establishment may have a numerically high demerit score but during the inspection the problems are corrected (COS=corrected on-site). Despite a high dem
