Police to Step Up Enforcing Health Order

THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

Sacramento Police will be taking a tougher stance on enforcing the Sacramento County stay-at-home order, which includes fines, it was announced today.

The announcement comes after multiple sideshows over the week and countywide reports involving large house parties and other gatherings since the order was issued on March 20.

“We know that the vast majority of our community will continue to comply with the public health order, and an educational approach will still be effective,” said Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn. “This move towards limited enforcement addresses those that blatantly put the community at risk by engaging in obvious violations of the public health order.”

Health and Safety Code 120295 states that violating either a state or a local isolation order constitutes a misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine between $50 and $1,000. Each day of violation is a separate offense with jail and/or a fine between $50 and $1,000.

Government Code 8665 provides that anyone who violates, refuses, or willfully neglects to obey any lawful order or regulation during a State of Emergency is guilty of a misdemeanor. The penalty for a violation of this code is up to 6 months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

The order asks that people shelter in their homes and not gather in groups. It does allow people to exercise outdoors, shop for groceries and other activities considered “essential.”

Now, in addition to citing appropriate vehicle code and penal code violations, law enforcement agencies throughout the Sacramento region will begin conducting enforcement on reoccurring or blatant violations of the health order.

“It is important for folks to understand that all of Sacramento law enforcement is united in our desire to keep our communities safe, and in our willingness to enforce the order against unreasonable violations,” Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said.

In addition to Sacramento, the cities of Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Galt, Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County Parks Police, Fulton-El Camino Parks, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office will also be stepping up their enforcement of the stay-at-home order.