The Illinois State Police (ISP) announced they “will not issue any criminal misdemeanors to individuals for violations of temporary emergency rules or executive orders” set in place by the state government due to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.
ISP will not arrest or jail any individual “for a violation of the Executive Orders or emergency rules.”
ISP encouraged people “to continue to do their part to maintain public health.” They urged “voluntary compliance.”
The note did not specify what kind of citations a business might receive or if they will go to the extreme with the Class A misdemeanor.
The announcement comes almost a week after Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued new emergency rules that say businesses that violate the stay-at-home order would be considered breaking Illinois Department of Health regulations.
The rules state businesses can receive a Class A misdemeanor, which could result in fines between $75 to $2,500 and possibly less than a year in jail.
Instead, ISP may issue citations “to entities such as corporations, LLPs or other business entities consistent with state and constitutional law.”
Pritzker’s executive order requires everyone over the age of two to wear a mask when out in public. Unless you have a specific reason to be out and about, citizens “are ordered to stay at home or at their place of residence.” If outside of their home, everyone must “maintain social distancing.” He also closed playgrounds, funplexes, water parks, etc.
[Featured image via Facebook]
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