Elon Musk defies lockdown rules

Fremont, May 12: Tesla CEO Elon Musk is restarting its California factory in defiance of local government efforts to contain the coronavirus.

In a tweet on Monday, Musk practically dared authorities to arrest him, writing that he would be on the assembly line and if anyone is taken into custody, it should be him.

State law allows a fine of up to 1,000 a day or up to 90 days in jail for operating in violation of health orders.

The plant in Fremont, a city of more than 230,000 people south of San Francisco, had been closed since March 23.

Early Monday, the parking lot was nearly full at the massive factory, which employs 10,000 workers, and semis were driving off loaded with vehicles that may have been produced before the shutdown.

The restart defied orders from the Alameda county Public Health Department, which has deemed the factory a nonessential business that can't open under virus restrictions.

The department said on Monday it warned the company was operating in violation of the county health order, and hoped Tesla will "comply without further enforcement measures" until the county approves a site-specific plan required by the state.

The department said it expects Tesla to submit such a plan by 5 pm on Monday.

We look forward to reviewing Tesla's plan and coming to agreement on protocol and a timeline to reopen safely," the statement read.

No agency appeared ready to enforce the order against Tesla.

County sheriff Sgt. Ray Kelly said any enforcement would come from Fremont police. Geneva Bosques, Fremont police spokeswoman, said officers would take action at the direction of the county health officer.

County supervisor Scott Haggerty, who represents Fremont, said officials were moving toward allowing Tesla to restart May 18, but he suspects Musk wanted to restart stamping operations to make body parts needed to resume assembling electric vehicles.