So far, law enforcement agencies in Sacramento County have focused on educating people who violate the COVID-19 stay-at-home order issued by public health officials in an effort to get voluntary public compliance. Now, because large groups of people have recently gathered for parties or other activities, police and sheriff's deputies are ready to start making arrests. The order went into effect on March 20, and it requires people to stay at home unless they need to go out for what are deemed to be essential reasons.
However, on April 12th Sacramento Sheriff’s Department deputies and Sacramento police broke up “sideshows” that took place throughout the county. There were estimates of 100 or more people who had gathered on public streets to watch drivers perform illegal stunts with their cars. In one case a car trying to escape officers also collided with a police vehicle and left two juveniles in that car with injuries that required a trip to the hospital.
Over the past three weeks, law enforcement agencies in Sacramento County have also responded to calls involving large house parties and other gatherings that were clearly in violation of the order.
That's why, in addition to citations, law enforcement agencies throughout the Sacramento region will begin conducting enforcement on reoccurring or blatant violations of the order.
“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.”
“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 also stated.
Violating the order is a misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine between $50 and $1,000.