Ticketing for Social Distancing Violations?

By an edhat reader

A friend reports getting a $400 ticket for violating social distancing regulations in Los Angeles (Rowland Heights). Does anyone know how this is legal? Is there a statute or does the emergency declaration allow such ticketing?

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Written by Anonymous

What do you think?

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24 Comments

  1. CC says NO to tickets. Doesn’t want a police state. The City Council really don’t get that a portion of the people will never follow the rules if there are no consequences for them. They don’t care about the consequences for the rest of us. We need to recall the City Council and the mayor. They follow. They don’t lead. And the decisions they consistently make are not for the benefit of residents but for their special interest groups.

  2. The Governor specifically stated that we can get outdoor exercise as long as we practice social distancing. Edhaters always want to be the Police. The real police just don’t want you committing crimes. Be good and everything will be alright!

  3. I was at the bank today and I met a guy in line who runs a landscape business. He was given a legal warning and told to shut down. How does that make sense? How much human to human interaction is involved in landscaping? And it provides work for those who can least afford to be laid off.

  4. SBROBERT – was he working by himself? If not, could be that it was to protect employees who might be working together in close proximity. Sucks about those getting laid off, but you’re better able to provide for your family/yourself if you’re alive. That’s what a lot of people keep missing I think. NO job (except “essential” ones) is worth your life. That’s just how we have to do things now.

  5. I can’t speak with authority on how he runs his business. But I have worked as a landscape crew member myself. And I have seen such crews working at our building. I don’t ever remember seeing people working together in close proximity. If ever there was a business that involves no human contact, this is it.

  6. OP – it’s possible. Sheriff Brown said he might ticket “frequent violators.” What were the circumstances? I would say it’s legit unless your friend was merely outdoors by himself or with family/housemates.

  7. People who are repeatedly violating the order (eg, playing team sports, partying closely at the beach, etc) should be fined. I’d be interested though, to hear what happened in this situation to result in a ticket.

  8. 12:07 – if they were in close groups of unrelated/different household groups, then yes, ticket them. I’ve been out walking and going to the beach almost every day out here in Goleta and have not seen these close groups. I’ve seen lots of friends and neighbors who are also outdoors at a distance, and yes, even waved to them or yelled “hello,” but I have yet to see people in groups like others seem to be concerned with.

  9. A warning or polite intervention should suffice. Mere police presence is enough. No need to ticket and cause rancor. Mischief makers like the idiots who set off fireworks last weekend however, should cool their heels in a cell for a day or two.

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