Enforcing the Rules

“I know there’s a lot of things going on out there and if you’re going to voice your opinion at least do something about it”, says Michael Oxbrough.

Some business owners in Delaware are choosing to operate outside of state-mandated guidelines.

In one case – the owner of Cafe on the Circle in Georgetown is allowing patrons to eat on his patio when he is only supposed to be open for carryout and delivery.

So how are police and state leaders handling situations like this?

“Its more of a community approach. Where we don’t want to force an act, especially in a pandemic where its hard times enough in our society today”, says Laurel Police Chief Dan Wright.

Chief Dan Wright says its a sticky situation but if a business is blatantly disobeying the law, they would get a letter first to cease and desist, then local police would be called in.

“We would be contacted by the Department of Justice and then we would have to get an order for that person for violating Title 20 “, says Chief Wright.

In the Georgetown case, state leaders say local police went out to talk to the owner but no citation was issued.

“When law enforcement visited, the owner said he had questions about the order. He was told by law enforcement that he needed to removed the table he owned”, says Mat Marshall of the Delaware Department of Justice.

Marshall says the owner complied that day.

But in a post on Facebook live this morning, the owner indicated his patio is open for business.

“Its about damn time we open up all these businesses. Patio’s open see you soon guys! Have a great day”, says Oxbrough.

But Chief Wright and the DOJ say penalties for this kind of thing could be stiff and might include jail-time.