Minnesota Officers Are Now Enforcing Stay At Home Order

According to the Duluth News Tribune as of yesterday Monday April 6 eight people have been charged in Minnesota with violating the emergency orders. A violation of this order could result in a misdemeanor charge and a fine of $1,000 or 90 days in jail. The violations have been issued in the following counties. Faribault, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington, Traverse and Mille Lacs.

Officials with The American Civil Liberties Union are monitoring this situation very closely to ensure that it does not show a disproportionate amount of people of color  being arrested and charged. So far in every county where an actual arrest has been made, that person had more charges then a violation of a stay at home order and one of the people was a business owner who refused to close his non-essential store.

Cottage Grove Police Captain Randy McAlister said " We have made lots of traffic stops since the order went into effect and nobody else has received this citation."  And his department has received multiple complaint calls none of which have led to arrests, the main goal is to educate the public.

As hard as this may seem and starting to get on peoples nerves it is essential that we continue to social distance and stay at home in order for this pandemic to slow down and eventually go away...the sooner the better.