Local officials respond to Cooper's request for civil penalties
Governor Roy Cooper sent a letter to local leaders encouraging the use of civil penalties to enforce Executive Order 181 which required businesses open to the public to close by 10:00 pm and encouraged citizens of North Carolina to remain indoors from 10:00 pm until 5:00 am.
“What the governor is seeking to do is conniving and dangerous to everyone in the state who cherishes their freedoms and balance of government,” said Lenoir County Commissioner Eric Rouse. “Under the veil of public health, he is trying to expand his powers into areas of government that he would not otherwise be permitted to or have authority over.”
Not everyone agrees with Rouse’s assessment of the order. Kinston Mayor Dontario Hardy stated there would be action taken against individuals found in violation of the order.
“We will be following the order for sure and talking to individuals that could be in violation. We will be warning individuals who are not following the order and if they continue, we will follow up with the enforcement action. Everyone must do their part,” said City of Kinston Mayor Don Hardy.
Those who continue to refuse to comply may be charged with a level 2 misdemeanor according to Hardy. A class 2 misdemeanor sentence is 1-60 days of active, intermediate, or community punishment and fines up to $1000 per N.C. Stat. § 15A-1340.23.
“The Chief of Police will have our officers respond and investigate every call pertaining to any violation of the order,” said Hardy. “If individuals are committing crimes after the curfew hours, they will be charged for their crime and a violation of the curfew.”
Not everyone has taken such a firm stance pertaining to the executive order.
“It is my hope that we don’t attempt to turn peaceful law-abiding citizens into criminals,” said Lenoir County Commissioner J. Mac Daughety.
In Jones County, they are doing everything they can to encourage citizens to do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“As to enforcing the new EO, I’m not sure we are in the position to take on an enforcement role of a state EO,” said Jones County Manager Franky Howard.
