It’s part of an effort to fight coronavirus.
Pikesville, Md (KM) Maryland State Police and other police agencies across the state will be enforcing the Governor’s executive order requiring all residents to stay at home to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus. They can only venture out to purchase food or medicine, go to their essential jobs or seek medical care.
“It just an enforcement to remind ;people we’re dealing with a life pandemic with this coronavirus,” says Spokesman Ron Snyder with the State Police. “If you don’t need to be out, please stay home.”
He says it’s for everyone’s own good. “Thousands of people have lost their lives. And these efforts are not being made to punish anyone, but to keep people alive.”
But Snyder says this executive order doesn’t mean you have to stay cooped up in your home all the time. “People can still go out and take a walk. People can still go out and walk your dog You can still mow your lawn. But we’re asking you if you do those things, adhere to social distancing guidelines. Make sure you’re in groups of ten people or less,” he says.
State troopers will not be stopping people just to see if they’re travels are essential. “If they in the course of their regular duties, such as arriving at crash investigation or traffic stop or criminal investigation, and the trooper develop information that indicates that the driver was engaged in non-essential travel, then enforcement action can be taken after consulting with the state’s attorney’s office of that particular jurisdiction,” say Snyder.
According to the Governor’s executive order, violators would be charged with a misdemeanor, and, if convicted, could be sentenced to less than a year in prison, a fine of up to $5,000 or both.
But Snyder believes most Maryland drivers will adhere to the law. “For the most part, people have been compliant,” he says. “All you have to do is look out on the roads and traffic has been next to nothing in many parts of the state.”
By Kevin McManus