The Sacramento Police Department will continue to enforce the “stay-at-home” public health order by leading with education rather than punishment but threatens fines or even arrests for “blatant violators” of the order, according to a press release issued by the department on April 15.

According to the release, this decision came after hundreds of people gathered in the street in Sacramento on April 12 for a sideshow car meetup that involved not only defiance of the stay-at-home order, but also reckless driving that resulted in damage to a California Highway Patrol cruiser. 

“Generally speaking the Sacramento Police Department, and all other law enforcement agencies within Sacramento County, have taken an educational approach when it comes to violations of the Health Order. This is still the primary focus, with the exceptions being sideshows and large house parties,” the SPD public information officer team said in an email to the Current. “We are still taking an educational approach with most other violations of the Health Order. This directive is the same for every law enforcement agency within Sacramento County.” 

Neither the police department’s public information team nor the news release specified exactly what is meant by “blatant violations” beyond car meetups and large house parties, however, Sheriff Scott Jones said in the press release that people “completely disregarding the order” could potentially face a fine of up to $1,000 or serve 90 days in jail.   

“It is important to know that the police department does not set the punishment for a violation.  The penalties listed are possibilities that would be determined by the District Attorney’s office and the court process,” the SPD PIO team said. “As stated in the press release our enforcement of the Health Order is focused on sideshows and large house parties.” 

Though the directive is unclear to the public on what constitutes a “blatant violation,” the SPD says they are united in providing education to the Sacramento community about how to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“All of Sacramento law enforcement is united in our desire to keep our communities safe, and in our willingness to enforce the order against unreasonable violations,” Jones said.