State police issue 2 citations, 8 warnings for ‘stay-at-home’ violations

State police have issued two citations and eight warnings to date for violating a statewide “stay-athome” order issued a week ago by Gov. Tom Wolf, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. Scott Price said during a press call Tuesday.

“As time goes on … we will be continuing to encourage compliance, but the intent is if folks don’t comply then we will begin issuing more citations and enforcing the violations,” Price said. “The other concern obviously is that we’ve had some nice weather the last day or two, weather is improving, and it’s potentially somewhat more of a concern that folks are out and about, and in violation of the stay-at-home orders going forward.”

None of the warnings or citations was issued by the Troop K Media Barracks overseeing Delaware County.

“Law enforcement is focused on ensuring residents are aware of the stay-at-home order and informing the public of social distancing practices, and while the order is mandatory, voluntary compliance is preferred,” said state police Commissioner Col. Robert Evanchick in a release. “Troopers maintain discretion to warn or issue citations, and their decision is specific to the facts and circumstances of each particular encounter.”

Price said troopers are not stopping cars coming into the state at the borders or pulling over cars to enforce the order, but warnings or citations might be given during an unrelated vehicle accident or traffic stop. Both citations that were issued came from that context.

“We’ve taken the posture that we’re warning, we’re encouraging, we’re educating,” said Price. “But eventually, if there is continued non-compliance, then we will move more into more of an enforcement posture.”

Price also gave an update on enforcing an order that all “nonlife-sustaining” businesses close their doors in the midst of the pandemic. As of Tuesday, he said, there had been 541 investigations due to business complaints and 178 warnings issued, but no citations.

Typically, Price said that complaints are made by residents. Once received, troopers will check to ensure the business is not listed on a waiver registry maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. If the business is not on the list, he said, troopers might go out in person to talk with the owners or call them, as all nonemergency situations are being handled over the phone as much as possible.

Price added that licensed establishments falling under the purview of the state police’s Liquor Control Enforcement are a bit higher. For that category, Price said there had been 14,000 investigations, six citations and 56 warnings under the purview of the liquor code.

Overall, though, Price said mitigation efforts to stem the spread of coronavirus across the state appear to be having an impact, even as Wolf announced Tuesday that the virus is now present in all 67 counties of the commonwealth.

Price pointed to traffic volumes on the Pennsylvania Turnpike as one piece of tangible data indicating residents are taking the orders seriously. Non-commercial traffic volume in down 76.5 percent and commercial volume is down 27.5 percent over the past two weeks, according to Price.

“We’re relying on all Pennsylvanians to look out for one another, to help us meet the mandates of our public safety mission,” said Price. “At the end of the day, though, for all of us, this is a public safety mission. It’s an unconventional one, it’s a position we haven’t been in before. We’re learning every day and we hope we’re getting better every day to keep the folks of the commonwealth safe.”