Violating Gov. Whitmer's Stay at Home Orders Could Cost You $1K

Anyone who violates Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Stay at Home order could be facing a fine of $1,000 in addition to criminal charges.

Fox 17 reports that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) issued an Emergency Order on April 2, allowing fines of up to $1000 for violators. Prosecutors are are also able to pursue criminal penalties against violators.

MDHHS Director Robert Gordon said in a release,

“A person can have coronavirus without knowing it. They can spread the disease to others who can spread it to others. The only way to stop the spread is social distancing. A civil penalty and potential licensing actions send a strong message to Michiganders that social distancing is essential to saving lives.”

According to a release from the Michigan State Police:

Law enforcement agencies across the state are authorized to investigate potential violations of Executive Orders 2020-11, 2020-20 and 2020-21 and coordinating as necessary with their local health departments to enforce this Emergency Order within their jurisdiction.

Here is a reminder on what those Executive Orders are:

Executive Order 2020-11: This order bans large gatherings of more than 50 people and temporarily closes schools. Thursday April 2, Gov. Whitmer issued Order 2020-35 which closed all K-12 school buildings in Michigan for the remainder of the school year.

Executive Order 2020-20: This order expands upon the closure of dining rooms in restaurants and bars to include "non-essential personal care services" such as hair salons, nail salons, and spas.

Executive Order 2020-21: This is the stay The Stay at Home Order which suspends activities that are not necessary to sustain or protect life.

To suppress the spread of COVID-19, to prevent the state’s health care system from being overwhelmed, to allow time for the production of critical test kits, ventilators, and personal protective equipment, and to avoid needless deaths, it is reasonable and necessary to direct residents to remain at home or in their place of residence to the maximum extent feasible.

Any tasks or activities essential to the health or safety of an individual, family or household may still be performed. Find more on the activities and tasks deemed "essential" here.

As of Thursday, April 2, Michigan has recorded more than 10,000 cases of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) with 417 deaths. You can find the current COVID-19 case numbers in the state of Michigan here.